The road to parenthood is paved with lots of questions – some are easier to answer than others. Find out what Atlanta pediatricians say are the top concerns of new and expecting moms and dads. You may find that many other parents worry about the same things you do:

1) Feeding. According to Dr. Vivian Lennon at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, “If a mother is breastfeeding [which is best], it’s not easy and doesn’t always come easy. [There are] always a lot of questions about this … questions about how much, how often.”
If mothers can’t breastfeed, they often want to know what formula is best. According to CHOA, all infant formulas currently approved for use in the United States are nutritious. “We would recommend a standard, milk-based infant formula; these contain nearly all the ingredients needed by a growing baby,” explains Ellen O’Leary, clinical nutritionist at Egleston Hospital.

2) Safety. Parents want to know, “Where should the baby sleep? How do I lay them in the crib?” says Lennon. “Parents ask about baby proofing and what babies should wear when they sleep.” Lennon recommends that babies be laid down in cribs on their backs and that “nothing should be in the newborn’s crib,” including blankets, toys, etc.

Dr. Kelly Hulsey from Gwinnett Medical Center says parents are also concerned about outside safety, exposing their infants to the sun, using bug spray and sunscreen. “I recommend not using sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months old,” she says.

3) Growth. Dr. Laura Zucker at Northside Hospital says parents often ask, “Is my baby growing well and getting enough to eat?” Doctors will take routine measurements every few months to make sure the child is growing well. Parents can tell if their babies are getting enough to eat by how often they urinate; it should be at least six times a day.

4) Development. “Parents wonder when babies should do [certain] things,” says Lennon. “Every baby is different, but there are milestones you should look for. Generally, babies should start sitting up around 6 months old, crawling between 6 and 9 months old, and walking by age 1. However, it’s not so much about what age your baby can do things but whether or not they are progressing. I recommend that parents discuss the different milestones of their child’s growth during every check up.”

5) Immunization. Zucker says, “There are concerns about what shots their babies will get and what the potential side effects are.” Within the first two years, some of the shots babies will need are the Rotavirus, Hepatitis B and Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccines. Babies may get fussy and experience fever, mild diarrhea, vomiting, or swelling where the shot was given. However, serious side effects from vaccines are very rare.

6) Skin. “Babies get a lot of rashes,” says Lennon. “Parents want to make sure these are normal and how to treat them. It’s better to let a newborn’s rash run its course. A baby’s skin is very delicate. Except for treating diaper rashes, nothing should be used on the skin unless absolutely necessary. Anytime a parent has a serious concern about a rash, the pediatrician should be contacted. Your doctor will let you know when to use medicated creams or lotions.”

7) Stools. “Many parents wonder if there is something wrong with their babies’ stool patterns,” says Zucker. ”Babies have soft and sometimes colorful stools that can be kind of scary because they are not what you are used to seeing. As they get older [passed one year of life] and get on a regular diet, their stools will look more normal, like adult stools.”

8) Illness. “How do I know my baby’s sick?” is another concern that Lennon hears. “I tell parents that every question and every concern is valid. If you aren’t sure if something is normal or OK, just ask. You know your baby and their patterns; if you see a change, it’s better to ask about concerns than worry about looking silly. There is no silly question when it comes to your child’s health.”

9) Sleeping. “Among new parents, there are often concerns about their babies’ sleep patterns. They want to know how they can encourage better sleeping habits,” says Zucker. “Parents should do the same thing every night before bed. You can create a soothing environment with a bath, calm music or reading. Don’t rock babies until they are completely asleep because this will create a habit of needing to be rocked to sleep. Instead, put them to bed relaxed but awake so they can learn to fall asleep in the crib by themselves.”

10) Behavior. “Parents often worry about startled behaviors in infants because they think they are seizures,” says Dr. Moo Lee at Southern Regional Medical Center. “The startles are really just exaggerated reactions to noise stimulation or temperature change.”

“Parents are concerned about potty training, how to do it and when to start,” says Dr. Steven Leard at Henry Medical Center. “Parents also have concerns about their children’s behavior and want to know how they should discipline them – time outs, punishment, rewards, etc.”

– Compiled by Deanna Mingo