Newborn Care — First Weeks at Home in Korea

Bringing a newborn home in Korea means navigating both universal newborn care challenges and a few Korea-specific considerations — postpartum care culture (sanhujoriwon recovery centres are widely used), the timing of the first health check, and seasonal extremes from hot humid summers to cold dry winters.

Feeding: Breastfeeding is recommended exclusively for the first 6 months by WHO and Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare. Korea's hospitals and postpartum care centres have lactation consultants. Breastmilk is perfectly suited to a newborn's needs and provides important immune protection. If formula feeding, use commercially prepared infant formula — never diluted cow's milk. Feed on demand (every 2–3 hours in the first weeks) and watch for adequate wet nappies (6+ per day from day 5) as a sign of adequate intake.

Sleeping: Newborns sleep 14–17 hours per day in short cycles of 2–3 hours. Always place baby on their BACK to sleep (reduces sudden infant death syndrome risk dramatically). Use a firm, flat sleep surface. Room-sharing (baby's cot in parents' room) is recommended for at least the first 6 months.

Umbilical cord care: Keep the stump clean and dry. Fold the nappy below the stump. The cord usually falls off within 1–3 weeks. Signs of infection (redness, swelling, discharge, smell) require prompt medical attention.

Newborn jaundice: Yellowing of skin and eyes is common from days 2–5 due to normal breakdown of foetal red blood cells. Most mild jaundice resolves by 2 weeks without treatment. Jaundice appearing in the first 24 hours or severe yellowing requires urgent evaluation — bilirubin at high levels can cause brain damage.

First appointments: In Korea, newborns should register for the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children within the first weeks for the first postnatal check. The BCG and Hepatitis B vaccines are given at birth in hospital.