A newborn's behavioral state comes from one of his six states of consciousness. These states include two sleep states, three awake states and one transitional state.

There is nothing more disconcerting for parents than seeing their infant in pain and and not knowing why or what to do to help him. This is often the case with silent reflux in newborns.

Melatonin is a hormone that is released from your pineal gland and helps regulate your newborn baby's sleep and wake cycles. Your newborn's body releases more melatonin when outer conditions are dark and less when it is light outside. Melatonin is available over the counter for sleeping difficulties.

Influenza, often referred to as the flu, is a contagious illness caused by the influenza virus. Symptoms include fever, a runny nose, a sore throat, fatigue, headaches and muscle aches. Most people sick with the flu get better in a few days.

Your newborn is likely exposed to several contaminants and germs. A mother’s antibodies are still inside her newborn, actively working at fighting off infections and illness until his immune system is developed at around 6 months of age.

If your newborn is showing sign and symptoms of a cold, making sure he gets the proper care and treatment is a priority. One sign of a severe cold and chest congestion is a slight rattling in the chest -- this may also be referred to as wheezing.

New parents want to ensure that their children are getting the proper nutrition. They also want to be sure their newborn has properly functioning intestines. For these reasons, many parents monitor the food intake and stool output of their newborn.

Newborn babies can contract viral infections including the common cold. Indeed, babies are typically more susceptible to catching a cold than children or adults, as their immune systems are not as developed. If you notice any cold symptoms in your infant, consult his pediatrician.

Newborn babies have several unique characteristics that may surprise their parents. Because newborns have been recently exposed to a variety of hormones from their mothers, they may have swollen nipples or even release some milk from the nipples.

Life with a newborn baby would be less stressful if babies came with an instruction manual. Many new parents don't know when to take a newborn to the emergency room -- or to the doctor's office, for that matter. When you have a sick baby, every symptom appears life-threatening to inexperienced parents.

Your newborn infant’s immune system is still immature when you bring her home from the hospital. Unless you keep everyone who may be sick away from her, she is going to be exposed to illnesses and develop colds or gastrointestinal illnesses.

Newborns can experience congestion for a variety of reasons including illness and allergies. Congestion may interfere with your baby's ability to feed and cause her general discomfort. Since babies lack the skills and abilities necessary to blow their own noses, you must clear your baby's nasal passages for her.