Moulton Street resident John Tuckerman opened his front door yesterday around noon to find a newborn girl enclosed in a canvas bag.
"A child has been left on my doorstep," Tuckerman said in his 911 call.
The infant, its umbilical cord still attached, was hours old, police said. Newton-Wellesley Hospital spokesman Brian O'Dea said doctors estimate the girl was born sometime between 9 and 11 a.m. yesterday.
"All I know is that when my husband went out to get the mail, he found a little baby," Toula Tuckerman said. "Instead of coming in with the mail, he came in with the baby."
Police arrived at the home shortly after noon to find a healthy, black baby with thick hair. Tucked inside the vanilla-colored bag with the child was a note that read, "Please take care good care of this child."
The baby was taken to Newton-Wellesley Hospital and is doing fine.
"She was very alert. She was eating well and she took a bottle right away," said hospital spokeswoman Rachel Kagno, who expects the 6.4-pound infant to remain in the hospital for another day or so before she is transferred to the Department of Children and Families.
Police are searching for the mother, who could face charges of abandonment of a child and child endangerment.
"In a situation like this, police are interested in finding out obviously who the mother is," said Lt. Bruce Apotheker, who was outside the home fielding questions from reporters.
Gail Spector and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
