How to look after your baby's health

You probably didn’t realise it at the time, but the moment you became a mum you also became a nurse...

If only they could talk…

You know she’s not hungry and she’s just had a nap, so she can’t be over-tired. But something’s definitely upsetting her. If you sense that your baby’s not well, chances are you’re right.

After all, you know her better than anyone. M&B paediatrician, Su Laurent, advises: ‘Trust your maternal instincts: you’ll know when your child is ill and when you need to seek help. You’ll also know when to cuddle her and what to say to reassure her.’

Fortunately, most minor health problems can be eased by a combination of commonsense, Calpol and cuddles.If you’ve tried all this and she’s still fretful, see your GP or health visitor.

If your baby just seems under the weather, keep an eye on her temperature – but don’t let her overheat. You’ll need to bring it down if it’s high. The best way to do this is to strip her down to her nappy and sponge her down with tepid (not cold) water, and give her the correct dose of infant paracetamol.

Offer her plenty of cool drinks or breastmmilk, and, the best medicine of all, plenty of attention. Toddlers too need babying when they’re unwell and will often revert to baby talk and behaviour, so snuggle up together with a favourite book or toy.

Why cuddles work wonders

We all know how reassuring a hug – from your partner, a friend or your own mum – can be when you’re feeling low or unwell. Cuddles have the same effect on your baby, and most mums find that when their tot’s poorly, they instinctively offer more physical contact.

‘Research shows that our state of mind and emotions has a big influence on healing,’ says Su Laurent. ‘If your tot believes in the power of your special kisses, she’ll start to feel better almost immediately. A spoonful of infant paracetamol  always seems to work far faster on my children than it takes for it to be absorbed into the body!

Many studies have shown that tiny or sick babies in particular can benefit hugely from skin-to-skin care with their mother. This ‘kangaroo care’ is practised in special care baby units throughout the world, and helps to stabilise babies’ temperatures and regulate breathing. It also encourages bonding between mother and baby. Of course, your baby doesn’t have to be very ill to benefit.

Simply cuddle her close to your bare chest and she will feel safe and secure. At night-time, she might need more cuddles than usual, so try to go with the flow; don’t worry too much about her routine being disrupted – now isn’t the time to be too strict with routines.

When you’re breastfeeding, your baby will get a double dose of comfort: being close to you is soothing, and breastmilk contains endorphins, chemicals that suppress pain.

Rock-a-bye baby

Different children respond to different soothing techniques when they’re not well. Some babies love being rocked – the motion stimulates cells in their inner ear and has a calming effect – but others don’t enjoy the sensation, especially if they’re in pain.

If your very young baby’s arching her back and thrashing about – perhaps because of colic – you could swaddle her in a sheet and cradle her in your arms. Being closely wrapped helps prevent her from drawing up her legs and may ease her distress.

Talking to your baby in a soothing voice, or singing her a lullaby, can also make her feel heaps better. It doesn’t matter what you say – what’s important is your tone of voice. Keep it consistent, loving and calm.

You’ll find you also use eye contact and facial expression to soothe and relax your baby when she’s out of sorts.

‘I fed him round the clock’

Sally Brown, 35, mum to Jude, 14 months

‘Whenever Jude’s under the weather, I find that the best way to soothe him is to breastfeed him as often as he likes. A few months ago, he had a cold and was grouchy and grizzly. I snuggled him up under my T-shirt, stuck on a video (for me!) and cuddled him for hours. The combination of constant comfort through sucking and lots of fluids did the trick, and it was far less stressful than leaving him to cry and work himself up into a state. I instinctively felt that feeding on demand was what he needed, and I was right.’

‘My baby needed extra care’

Marie Gyllren, 32, mum to Amorina, 22 months

‘When Amorina fell over in the bath and hit her head, she didn’t cry instantly and I was worried she’d really hurt herself. I rang NHS Direct, who advised me to take her straight to A&E. There, the doctor pronounced her fit and well, but I knew something wasn’t right. She wasn’t smiling as much as usual, and her appetite was very poor. She’s usually such a contented child, but she just wasn’t happy.

‘When she hadn’t improved after a few days, I took her to see a cranial osteopath. The difference immediately after the treatment was remarkable: I had my baby back, with her enormous appetite and a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. I’m so pleased I followed my instincts and got her the treatment she needed.’

You can fix it!

You’ll be able to diagnose and treat most of the following yourself:

• Fever If your child’s face is hot and she looks flushed, check her temperature with a thermometer. If it’s over 37.5˚C (99.5˚F), give her the correct dose of infant paracetamol to help bring it down. See your GP if she’s under three months.

Dress her in light clothing, sponge her with lukewarm water and give her plenty of cool drinks. Call the doctor straightaway if she has a temperature of 39˚C (102.2˚F) or above, or has a fit (febrile convulsion).

• Vomiting and diarrhoea Give your baby frequent drinks of cooled, boiled water and if you’re breastfeeding, feed her more frequently. See your GP if she’s not better within 12 hours or if she looks dehydrated.

• Constipation If your baby strains and cries when she’s doing a poo, and her stools are hard, a change of diet can help. Increase her fluid intake, and if she’s on solids, give her more fruit and veg.

• Cold Give your tot lots of drinks to ‘flush out’ the virus and spoon-feed her if she finds it difficult to take the breast or bottle and breathe at the same time. If she starts wheezing or develops a cough, fever or rash, see your GP.

• Cough Sit in a steamy bathroom with your child to help clear her airways. Raise the head of her bed or cot to help drain away mucus.

• Teething She’ll have tender gums, hot cheeks and may be irritable and feverish. Soothe her with cool teething rings, infant paracetamol and homeopathic teething granules.

• Tummyache/colic Your baby will be tense and drawing up her knees to her chest and screaming fit to wake the neighbours. Try massaging her tummy, carrying her (upright) in a sling or going for a drive. Remedies such as Infacol can also help. See your GP or health visitor if you’re finding it hard to cope.

• Earache This can be very painful and your child might lose her appetite and find it hard to sleep. Infant paracetamol will help and a warm (not hot) water bottle held against the affected ear may be comforting for toddlers. See your GP as she may need antibiotics.

• Chickenpox Your toddler will develop itchy spots that blister. Cut her nails and try not to let her scratch because this can lead to infection and scarring. Ease the itch with calamine lotion and see your GP if she’s very uncomfortable.
• Nappy rash This starts as small red dots and can get very sore if untreated. Let her go without a nappy as much as possible – the air will help to heal her skin. Change her nappy frequently.

If you are at all worried about any of your baby’s symptoms, see your doctor.

Who you gonna call?

 NHS Direct on 0845 4647 gives free advice 24/7.
 The Meningitis Research Foundation runs a free 24-hour helpline. Call 0808 800 3344.

Four medicine cabinet essentials

Always keep these handy:

1 Thermometer

2 Infant paracetamol (always read the label)

3 Ibuprofen liquid (can be given three times in 24 hours). Follow the instructions on the bottle. Children should never be given aspirin.

4 A syringe for giving medicine.

When to call a doctor

While it’s not generally necessary to see your GP if your baby or child has a cold, it’s always worth seeking reassurance if you’re atall concerned.

If your child develops any of the following symptoms, you should seek help immediately.

*Fever that dowsn’t go down after taking the right steps

*Pale complexion and lethargy

*Any illness that continues for more than three days without showing signs of getting better

* Vomiting, headaches, listlessness

* An unexplained rash

* Refusal of fluid