Contents

Know more about this
(or any other) subject?

Show off your know-how at Quamut Wiki.

Learn more with these titles from Barnes & Noble

Great Expectations: Baby's First Year

What to Expect the First Year

Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer

Baby Bargains, 7th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furinture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more!

Humble Bumbles' Baby Journal: A Keepsake Journal for Baby's First Three Years (Featuring the Adorable Humble Bumble Characters)

Previous:
Naps and Sleeping

Next:
How to Babyproof Your Home

Infant Health

Nearly all babies catch colds and develop skin rashes from time to time. Health issues such as these are typically minor and easily treated. To help prevent serious medical problems, be sure to get your baby immunized and know what to do when your baby is ill.

Well Baby Visits

Your doctor will want to see your baby for well baby visits on a regular schedule. Though doctors’ preferences vary, most doctors will want to see your infant:

Every month until six months of age
Every three months from nine to eighteen months of age
At two years of age
Every year thereafter

Immunizations

At nearly every monthly checkup, your baby will receive one or more immunizations to prevent various life-threatening diseases. Some vaccines, such as the polio vaccine, are given more than once.

Many vaccines have minor side-effects, such as mild to moderate fever or redness, swelling, and pain at the injection site. These are normal.

When to Call the Pediatrician

Anytime you’re unsure about whether to call your pediatrician for help or advice, you should call—it’s always better to err on the side of caution. Some symptoms require immediate action, while others are not as urgent.

When to Call Your Pediatrician Immediately

Allergic reaction: Hives, swelling of tongue, lips, or eyes
Dehydration: Dry diapers for more than a few hours, sunken eyes, irritability, lethargy, or signs of extreme thirst, including dry mouth or dry tongue
Difficulty breathing: Blue lips or skin, rapid breathing, wheezing
Fever: Any fever in a baby under two months old; temperature above 100.5°F for a baby 2–3 months old; temperature above 105°F for an older baby; or anytime the baby has been exposed to extreme heat or sun
Yellowing of the skin (jaundice): Typically lasts only briefly and is usually harmless in newborns; if an older baby develops jaundice, call your pediatrician immediately.

When to Schedule an Appointment with Your Pediatrician

Behavior changes: Any sudden, unexplained changes in your baby’s behavior
Blisters: If they develop from diaper rash or if they are yellow, crusty, and oozing
Ear infection: Symptoms include fever, fatigue, pain, nausea, and clicking sounds when swallowing
Fever: Fever over 101°F that lasts three days in a baby more than three months old; any fever combined with constant cough or loss of appetite
General unexplained illness: Any extended periods of time in which your baby is inconsolable or extremely lethargic
Persistent eczema: Tiny, red, itchy, oozing, crusty bumps on the skin, often starting on the cheeks and spreading
Vomiting: If vomiting persists for more than one day, or if there is projectile vomiting

Treatments for Common Infant Symptoms

Symptom		Treatment
Congestion		Use a humidifier in your baby’s room; clear congestion with nasal aspirator; increase fluids; use nasal decongestant if your pediatrician recommends
Cough		Use humidifier; increase fluids; use cough medication if prescribed
Constipation		Consult physician about modifying your baby’s diet
Diarrhea		Consult physician about modifying your baby’s diet; never give anti-diarrheal medicine without a prescription
Croupy cough		Your baby sounds like a barking seal; steam up bathroom using hot shower and sit in the steamy air with your baby on your lap; if croup leads to difficulty breathing, call your pediatrician
Diaper rash		Use diaper ointment at changings; increase changing frequency; allow some diaperless time each day; if rash persists, call your pediatrician
Fever		Increase fluids; don’t starve a fever; keep your baby cool (bundling can lead to heatstroke); consult pediatrician before using antifever medicine
Itching		Calamine lotion; warm (not hot) bath
Sore throat		Avoid acidic foods and drinks; if symptoms persist, call your pediatrician
Teething (may start around six months)		Apply cold teething rings to gums; if your baby refuses food, try cold, soft foods such as applesauce

If any of these conditions worsen over a few days, call your pediatrician.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden death of an infant during sleep. SIDS is rare—fewer than two infants out of every 1,000 die of SIDS—but the syndrome still causes 3,000–6,000 deaths a year; 90% of SIDS occurrences happen in the first six months of life.

The exact cause of SIDS is not well understood. However, you can follow these steps to help reduce the risk:

Have your baby sleep on his back: If you believe there’s some medical reason that necessitates stomach sleeping, always consult your pediatrician first.
Clear out the crib: Keep the crib clear of everything other than the mattress and the sheet—no blankets, toys, pads, bumpers, or pillows. If your baby seems cold, dress him in warmer clothes rather than using a blanket.
Don’t overheat: Keep the room near 72°F.
Use only the crib’s firm mattress: Don’t let your baby sleep on soft surfaces such as waterbeds, couches, or comforters.
Breastfeed: For unknown reasons, breastfeeding decreases the risk of SIDS.
Don’t smoke: Secondhand smoke significantly increases the likelihood of SIDS.