Baby Problems

 

Common Cold in Babies

This is a common headache for all mothers but there's little you can do except ride it out, and help your child get plenty of rest and liquids (increase the amount of vitamin C-rich fruit juices). If he's feverish, you can give him paracetamol suspension under a doctor's direction. Don't give him any cold remedies without consulting your GP. In children under one year old, over-the-counter cold medications often do more harm than good, and cough medicines have been shown to be no better than a non-medicated syrup for easing symptoms.

 

Nonetheless, there are some remedies to ease his discomfort:

 

If your baby is congested, elevate the head of the mattress with an old towel or two. Sleeping at an incline may help relieve your baby's postnasal drip. (Do not use pillows to prop your baby up — they can pose a suffocation hazard — or pillows under the mattress.)

 

Because babies are too young to blow their noses, the best way to help them breathe more easily is to wipe their noses. You can also apply petroleum jelly to the outside of your baby's nostrils to reduce irritation. If your child is having trouble breastfeeding with a stuffy nose, you may like to ask your GP to prescribe saline drops to apply to each nostril 15 minutes before a feed. Some parents then use a suction bulb to clear the nose of salt water and mucus.  You can also try out infant nasal drops like Nasoclear but with advice from your doctor only.

 

Try a cool mist vaporiser to moisten the air. Or take your baby into the bathroom with you, turn on the hot water or shower, close the door, and sit in the steamy room for about 15 minutes. Remember to change your baby into dry clothes after the steam bath.

 

If your child has a stuffy nose without any other symptoms, check his nostrils for foreign objects. You never know: even little ones are capable of putting things up there.

 

Colds are a fact of life. Once you've survived your baby's first one, you'll know what to expect with the next.

 

Crying Babies

 

Crying is baby's only means of communicating his needs especially during early days. The crying bouts are bound to lessen as they age, after around three months.

 

The normal infant cries an average of 2 1/4 hours each day during the first 4 weeks. This peaks around 5 weeks at 2 3/4 hours each day and slowly declines until about 10-12 weeks. After 3 months, crying becomes more deliberate, purposeful and much less often. 

 

There are many reasons that your baby might be crying. They cry when they have to burp or are wet, soiled, tired, hungry, sleepy, hot or cold, bored with his surroundings or is ill, or just lonely. If you have tried feeding and cuddling and the soothing tactics that usually work, all without success, there may be some other reason.

 

The baby may be having colic, if he cries inconsolably and regularly for 2-3 hours at about the same time each day, usually the late afternoon or evening. Colic may appear at about three weeks and continue until about 3- 3 1/2 months. Although this crying can occur at any time, it usually worsens in the evening. If it is colic try to cope with it , without resorting to medications unnecessarily.

 

Whatever the reason, respond to his crying immediately. As time goes by, you'll learn what your baby's crying means. If feeding cues accompany crying, it's usually a sign of hunger.  If your baby's crying sounds are different from normal it may be because of some illness or colic. Remember to call your doctor if your baby shows any symptoms that are unusual for him. Furnish the doctor with details of babies routine- when he cries, eats and sleeps, as well as the pattern of bowel movements so that he could make a proper diagnosis.

 

Feeding is the most effective way to soothe a crying baby. If you are bottle- feeding try giving some water also. If that doesn't calm her down, there are many things you can do. Try holding your baby over your shoulder, or place your baby on his or her stomach across your knees or arms. Rituals such as rocking your baby back and forth in your arms or rubbing her back or stomach rhythmically or patting her legs rhythmically, swaddling your baby in a blanket, distracting her with some noise or with bright colourful objects etc often work to soothe your baby.

 

 

Teething in Babies

 

This is probably the most worrying issue with mothers because as the baby is small and can’t explain herself it is difficult to understand the pain she may be having due to her teething.

 

Teething usually starts around six months of age, but it differs. Some babies have their first tooth by fourth months also while others can have delayed toothing as late as the twelfth month.

 

Teething usually starts with the lower front tooth followed by the upper front tooth and then side upper  and lastly the side lower ones.

 

Teething is usually associated with following signs:

 

Drooling

 

Chin or Face Rash that occurs due to continuous drooling

 

Pain inn the gums due to inflammation

 

Diarrhea which is common with most babies

 

Low fever or common cold symptoms

 

Refusal to eat food due to pain and swelling in the gums

 

Inability to sleep due to irritation in gums

 

Biting everything that is chewable or not

 

Tips to handle Teething:

 

Try giving water filled teethers but please take products of good companies only as sometimes they can burst and the water may get filled in the baby’s mouth

 

You can also try some Homeopathic medication like Biochemical compound 21 but check with a Homeopathic Doctor before.

 

Try giving some chewable fruits like apple pieces, bananas or veggies like cucumber, carrots but cut in length so that small pieces don’t get stuck in the baby’s throat.

 

 

 

 

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