{"id":143632,"date":"2025-03-19T12:09:26","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T12:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/blw\/what-to-do-when-your-baby-is-sick\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T12:09:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T12:09:26","slug":"what-to-do-when-your-baby-is-sick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=143632","title":{"rendered":"What to do when your baby is sick"},"content":{"rendered":"


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What is important when they\u2019re poorly (and what\u2019s not)<\/u><\/h3>\n

This is not a definitive list of every sign that a baby could be unwell, just the things I know concern parents:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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What is important when your baby is unwell:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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What is less important:<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fever<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Appetite for solids<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Any rash<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Snot colour<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Playing\/alertness<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The exact number on the thermometer<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fluids in and out<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Being tired<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Vomiting<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\u00a0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The best way to tell a baby has a fever is by you feeling them. Thermometers are the second best way.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The whole story comes from looking at all of him: feeding, happiness rating, activity levels. \u00a0I always tell my patients \u201clook at the baby not the temperature\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

The best way really to tell if your baby has a fever if to feel him yourself. If he feels hot and looks red, if his forehead, chest or back feels hot, that is a good way to tell. You are used to touching him and you\u2019ll easily spot the difference. If you are feeling more comfortable with a thermometer, measuring a temperature above 38 is a temperature. All children under 6 months with a fever either measured on a thermometer or by your hand, should go to the doctor for a consult. You can safely bring a temperature down with medicine such as paracetamol or ibuprofen suspension: both of these drugs reduce fever and ease pain in babies.<\/p>\n

Hydration<\/u><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

No matter whether baby has a cold or anything which involves a temperature, drinking is the most crucial thing. It takes hours, not days, for babies to get dehydrated. Having a fever, vomiting or having diarrhoea uses up water and that all needs to be replaced.<\/p>\n

For babies who\u00a0 still only drink milk,\u00a0 the milk and cool, boiled water are essential. If baby is already weaned and drinking diluted juice as well as milk offer that. Whatever drink he wants, \u00a0let him have. Work out how much baby normally drinks and half it.If he drops below your 50% level, you must seek advice from your doc.<\/p>\n

The best way to tell if baby is hydrated is weeing. Gauge this on the number of wet nappies \u00a0he normally has and if it is around the same or a bit less then \u00a0he\u2019s fine. Dry nappies for more than half a day indicate dehydration. Dry lips, dry mouth and no tears are also good ways to indicate he\u2019s dehydrated.<\/p>\n

Rash <\/u><\/h3>\n
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\"\"<\/u><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

I could list for you all the rashes I see in babies under one and it would be an entire book.<\/p>\n

If your baby is unwell, particularly if he is hot, a rash serves not<\/strong> as a signal for you to try and diagnose it, but simply for you to head to the doctor. We don\u2019t expect you to tell the difference between roseola and heat rash. Rashes scare parents and that\u2019s completely understandable because of the fear of meningitis. The rash of meningitis does NOT disappear when you press it with a glass. This is a 999 call. <\/strong><\/p>\n

He won\u2019t eat<\/u><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

No matter how unwell a baby is, even with the most minor of colds, they don\u2019t eat their solids. This shouldn\u2019t alarm you or concern you. It is a sign something is amiss\u00a0 but it is no more sinister than that. It is certainly not a sign they are desperately unwell, as it happens even with the mildest of colds. Still offer him food as normal, perhaps just his favourite. If he eats carrots or yoghurt every day for a few days it doesn\u2019t really matter while he\u2019s unwell. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Snot, snot and more snot<\/u><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Snot is as normal a part of parenting as nappies or milk. Babies get snotty a lot but no-one has a great answer as to what to do about it.<\/p>\n

Let me bust a well-known snot-myth: green snot does not mean baby needs an antibiotic. This is an urban-myth that is not true. Green snot just means he has, well, green snot. It\u2019s probably an infection yes, but is most likely to be a virus that needs no special treatment.<\/p>\n

Some snot-busting ideas.<\/p>\n

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  • Humidify his room: cheaply with a wet towel on a warm radiator. Or you can buy a humidifier. Moistening the air \u00a0makes snot looser and easier to dribble away<\/li>\n
  • Tilt the cot slightly: if he sleeps ever so slightly upright, snot can dribble out his nose to clear his airways<\/li>\n
  • Feed little and often as congestion can stop him taking a good feed<\/li>\n
  • Baby vapour rubs can help loosen hard congested mucous from his little nose.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    As yet we have no medicine you can give babies that miraculously gets rid of this gunk. Believe me, if we did, I\u2019d buy shares.<\/p>\n

    This is an excerpt from Keep Calm, The New Mum\u2019s Manual<\/a> by Dr Ellie Cannon <\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n