Regardless of whether you’re a new parent or not, questions and issues about infant and toddler health can surface at any time. At times like these, it would be great to at least have the basic knowledge of what to do first and how to go about it.
Being parents of infants and toddlers don’t need to be a nerve-wracking ordeal each time your precious bundle falls sick. Although anything to do with infant and toddler well-being is no trivial matter, staying calm and positive goes a long way in dealing with young children’s health issues. A BabyTalk Special Supplement.
TAKING YOUR CHILD’S TEMPERATURE
Basic knowledge
If your child feels warm or seems under the weather, it’s probably time to check his or her temperature. Aaah, sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Yet if you’re new to it, it can turn out to be quite a challenge. Which type of thermometer is best? Are thermometer guidelines different for babies and older children? Here’s what you need to know to take your child’s temperature.
Know your thermometer options better
A glass mercury thermometer was once a staple in most medicine cabinets, however, they may break easily and allow the mercury to vaporize or be inhaled. Today, digital thermometers come highly recommended.
Regular digital thermometers use electronic heat sensors and can be used in the mouth, armpit, or rectum. Digital ear thermometers also called tympanic thermometers, use an infrared ray to measure the temperature inside the ear canal. Other more ‘fancier’ options include digital pacifier thermometer and temporal artery thermometer — basically an infrared scanner to measure the temperature of the temporal artery in the forehead.
If you want to get a single thermometer for the entire family, a regular digital thermometer is probably best. However, if you plan to use the digital thermometer to take a rectal temperature, get two digital thermometers and label one for oral use and one for rectal use. Don’t use the same thermometer in both places.
How accurate will it be?
Rectal temperatures provide the best readings for infants. Ear or oral thermometers are the best options for babies and older children. However, do be aware that earwax or a small, curved ear canal may interfere with the accuracy of the temperature taken. Armpit temperatures and temperatures measured with a pacifier thermometer are considered the least accurate methods. The reliability of temporal artery thermometers hasn’t yet been verified.
Carefully read the instructions that came with your thermometer. After each use, clean the tip of the thermometer with soap and lukewarm water.
For safety and not to mention so that the thermometer stays in place, don’t leave your child while his or her temperature is being taken.
Thermometers — According to age
The best type of thermometer or more accurately, the best place to insert the thermometer, in most cases, depends on the child’s age.
From birth up to three months. For newborns, use a regular digital thermometer to take a rectal temperature. Turn on the digital thermometer and lubricate the tip of the thermometer with petroleum jelly. Lay your baby on his or her back and gently insert the lubricated device 1/2 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) into your infant’s rectum. Do not proceed if there is too much resistance. Hold the thermometer in place for about a minute or until the thermometer signals that it’s done. Remove the thermometer and read the temperature.
From three months up to four years. For older babies and toddlers, you can use a digital ear thermometer, a digital pacifier thermometer, a temporal artery thermometer, or an armpit temperature. Carefully follow the instructions that came with the device. To take an armpit temperature, first, turn on the digital thermometer. When placing the thermometer under your child’s armpit. Make sure the device touches the skin. Hold the thermometer tightly in place for about a minute or until it signals that it’s done. Remove and read.
When to see a doctor
A fever is a common sign of illness, but that’s not necessarily anything to be panicky about. In terms of health, fevers play a key role in fighting infections in the body. If your child is a year old or above and is drinking fluids without fuss, sleeping well, and is active, there’s usually no reason to even treat a fever.
If you want to give your child medication to treat a fever, stick to paracetamol (Panadol for Babies/Children or others) unless otherwise advised by your doctor. Don’t use aspirin to treat a fever in anyone below the age of 18.
In general, contact your child’s doctor if your child:
- Is below three months of age and has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
- Is above three months of age and has a temperature up to 102°F (38.9°C) and seems unusually irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable
- Is above the age of three months and has a temperature of 102°F (38.9°C) or higher that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medication or has a temperature that lasts more than one day
When reporting a temperature to your child’s doctor, give the actual reading, and state how the temperature was taken.
HOW TO GIVE A BABY MEDICINE
Which parent can’t relate to the stress of trying to get a struggling child to take much-needed medicine? In many cases, the baby senses that the parent is nervous or upset, thus aggravating the situation. In situations like these, it can be quite a challenge to remain positive.
Giving medicine safely
Firstly, do make sure you have been storing your child’s medicine correctly so that it would be still consumable. Secondly, be sure you are administering the correct dose, or else your child will be keeping poorly for longer than necessary.
Before you give your baby any medicine, read the instructions carefully, and check the bottle or packet for the expiry date. If it is past the use-by date, throw the medicine out, even if the bottle is full.
There should be a note on the packaging that tells you how the medication should be stored. Some medicines need to be stored in the fridge. While others will need to be kept in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight.
Recap medicines and put them away as soon as you’ve used them. Although it’s easy to lax and leave a bottle or pack of meds lying around especially if it’s 3 am and you’re sleepy and tired, always make it a habit to store medicines well out of children’s reach as soon as you’re done with them. There have been one too many incidents worldwide of medicine overdose/poisoning by little ones who don’t know any better and consumed the whole bottle after finding the fruity flavored taste all too delectable to resist.
Giving a baby medicine orally
Most children’s medicine that has to be given orally has pleasant flavors about them. Some babies take them without a fuss. Just as many, however, for some unknown international reason, tend to put up a good fight!
Giving an unwilling baby medicine by mouth can be traumatic for both baby and parent. Your soothing reassurance and a loving hug when giving medicine should to some extend help calm your little one down. Other than that, here’s what you also need to do:
- Wash your hands.
- Shake the bottle before opening.
- Measure out the correct amount of medicine using an oral syringe. Do not use a kitchen spoon or you will be more likely to administer the incorrect dose.
- Hold your baby upright in your arm and gently insert the tip of the oral syringe into his or her mouth.
- To prevent gagging, aim at the area between your baby’s gums and the inside of her cheek.
- Push the plunger bit by bit to squirt small amounts of medicine into the side of your baby’s mouth.
- Allow your baby to swallow before continuing to push the plunger.
- Give your baby her usual milk or a little water afterward to wash down the medicine.
- When you’ve finished, wash the syringe in warm water.
If you are faced with a little protestor, you can also try the following:
- Get someone to act as a helper.
- Wrap your baby tightly in a towel so she can’t push the medicine away.
- If she clenches her teeth or purses her lips, ask your helper to gently press your baby’s nostrils together so that her mouth opens. Once the medicine is inside the mouth, gently hold your baby’s cheeks together, making a “fish mouth”. This will help prevent splitting. Stroke under your baby’s chin to encourage swallowing.
Administering a suppository
Your doctor may think your baby should have her medicine via a suppository. Suppositories are usually shaped a little like a pellet. You’ll need to gently insert the suppository into the opening in your baby’s rectum.
Once inside your baby’s bottom, the suppository quickly dissolves and goes into effect.
Your doctor may also prescribe suppositories if your baby is found to be suffering constipation. Here’s how to make it an easy process:
- Wash your hands.
- Warm the suppository in your hands before taking off the wrapping.
- Hold up your baby’s legs.
- Moisten the tip of the suppository with lubricating jelly. If you don’t have any jelly, dip the suppository in some tepid water. Water that is is too hot may melt the suppository.
- Hold the suppository between your index finger and thumb. Gently push the suppository with your index finger into your baby’s bottom.
- Push the suppository in far enough that it doesn’t slip out again. Suppositories are usually placed rounded-tip first. In some cases, a doctor may suggest you put the blunt end first to stop the suppository slipping out.
- Hold your baby’s buttocks together for while before replacing or putting the nappy back on.
- Offer your baby a hug/cuddle and gentle words to distract from any uncomfortable feeling in his or her bottom.
GETTING THROUGH THE TEETHING BLUES
Your baby’s first tiny tooth may be reason enough for you to smile and rejoice, but at the same time can be a tough time for both of you. Your baby may have months of discomfort to get through before the both of you can truly heave a sigh of relief. It may be well into his second year before there is a complete set of milk teeth to show for all the discomfort that has to be endured. Here, we offer some useful tips to help you and your baby survive the teething process.
Teething can take quite a lot out of your baby (and you). Most babies cut their first tooth at around five to six months. All in, from a toothless grin to a cheeky, gleaming smile, it might take your baby all of three years to get through.
Your baby’s last teeth, which are the second molars, found in the upper and lower back of his mouth, should be in place by his third year.
Will teething be painful for my baby?
Yes, and it probably won’t be much fun for you either. Your baby may be in pain and drool for a month or two before his tooth appears This could sometimes mean sleepless nights for the both of you.
To ease his suffering, your baby may start biting. Don’t get upset, as this behavior is not out of anger but mainly because of the discomfort of teething. Give him something to bite on like a teething ring or you could try gently applying teething jelly to his gums to ease the pain.
Helping your baby get through the teething period:
- Give your baby something cool to chew on, such as a chilled teething ring or a whole, a peeled carrot that’s been in the fridge. NOTE: Please stay close to your baby when he is chewing on anything in case of accidental choking.
- Rub some teething gel onto your little one’s gums. This can be purchased from a pharmacy.
- If your baby is really in distress, you can give him the correct dose of age-appropriate paracetamol or ibuprofen. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure about the dosage.
VOMITING: WHEN IT’S NORMAL AND WHEN IT’S NOT
Is it normal for my baby to vomit?
Vomiting is quite common for babies especially in the early weeks as they adjust to feeding and as their bodies develop. You can tell when your baby is vomiting rather than just regurgitating (bringing up small quantities of milk) because there will be a lot more coming out, not just a few teaspoons trickling down his chin. It can be frightening for your baby, so he’s likely to cry and this, in turn, could be a nervous situation for new parents.
There may be many causes for your baby to vomit — even a prolonged bout of crying or coughing can trigger this reflex. So you may have a lot of vomiting bouts to contend with in your baby’s first few years.
A bout of vomiting will generally subside six to 24 hours after it starts, without any particular treatment. As long as your baby seems otherwise healthy and continues to gain weight, there’s usually no need to worry.
When should I worry then?
During your baby’s first few months, feeding problems would be inevitable to some parents and so would vomiting. In many incidents, the baby’s tummy is found to be too full. After the first few months, a sudden onset of vomiting is more likely to be caused by a stomach virus, such as gastroenteritis, which is often accompanied by diarrhea.
Your baby may also have vomiting bouts during:
- a cold
- urine infections
- ear infections
However, parents of older babies should be warier of vomiting bouts as it could be a symptom of more serious illnesses. Call your doctor if you notice any of the following warning signs in your child:
- Signs of dehydration, including a dry mouth, lack of tears, and fewer wet nappies than usual (less than six nappies a day).
- Sunken fontanelle, (the soft spot on a baby’s head).
- A bulging fontanelle.
- A fever, with a temperature of 38 degrees C or higher if he is younger than three months, or 39 degrees C or higher if three months or older.
- Refusal to breastfeed or bottle-feed.
- Vomiting for more than 12 hours.
- Vomiting with great force.
- A non-blanching rash (one that does not fade when the skin is pressed).
- Sleepiness or severe irritability.
- Shortness of breath.
- A swollen abdomen.
- Blood or bile (a green substance) in the vomit.*
- Persistent forceful vomiting in a newborn within half an hour of eating.
*Blood or bile in the vomit: Normally, this would be no cause for worry. It may happen when the force of regurgitation causes tiny tears in the blood vessels lining the food pipe (esophagus). Your baby’s vomit may appear a little reddish too if blood from a cut in the mouth has been swallowed or if the baby had a nosebleed in the past six hours.
However, call your doctor if your blood continues to appear in your baby’s vomit or if the amount increases. Most parents would not be thinking that far but it would be a good idea to swap Green bile can indicate that the intestines are blocked, a condition that needs immediate attention.
Persistent or forceful vomiting in a newborn within half an hour of eating: This may be due to pyloric stenosis, a rare condition that is most likely to begin when your baby is a few weeks old, but could show up at any time before he reaches four months.
Pyloric stenosis is an abnormal condition that may affect the gastrointestinal tract during infancy — it can cause your baby to vomit forcefully and often and may cause other problems such as dehydration and salt and fluid imbalances. Immediate treatment for pyloric stenosis is extremely important. The baby vomits when a muscle controlling the valve leading from the stomach into the intestines has thickened so much that it won’t open up enough to let food through. The problem is simple to remedy with minor surgery, but it does require immediate medical attention.
Dealing with vomiting, calmly
Children do get sick and usually, it’s nothing to panic over. Like every other part of parenthood, it’s something you’ll soon get used to, and there are steps you can take to help him get better:
- Keep him hydrated: A baby who is having a vomiting spell is losing precious fluids. It’s important to replace these fluids so he won’t get dehydrated. To do this, give him sips of oral rehydration solution (ORS) a few times an hour, alongside his usual breastmilk or full-strength formula, and water. Do not offer fruit juices or carbonated drinks to a sick baby or toddler.
- Easing back into a routine: If your baby hasn’t vomited in the past 12 to 24 hours, you can start to go back to the usual diet but with plenty of fluids. Start with easy-to-digest foods such as cereal or yogurt if your child has been consuming it before. You can also try soups and if your child is over 12 months and fancies it, clear, ice lollies.
- Encourage rest: Sleeping helps. The stomach contents empty into the intestines during sleep, relieving the need to vomit.
- Don’t give your child anti-nausea medicines (prescription or over-the-counter), unless your GP has prescribed them.
- If your baby attends childcare or nursery, keep him at home until at least 48 hours after his last episode of vomiting.
