Keeping Your Baby Healthy

Babies go through so many developments in the first year. Just when you think you have a handle on what's going on, it changes. Many new developments are normal. But there are some things to keep an eye out for.

Diarrhea
In the early months, babies who have been fed breast milk or formula have mustard-like, soft stools. That's not diarrhea. Diarrhea is considered to be very loose, watery stools produced more than six or eight times a day. Diarrhea may stem from a viral infection, so let your doctor know.

Extra sleepy babies
In a very short time, you'll get a sense of how much sleep is normal for your baby. If you find that he's sleeping a lot more than usual, talk to your doctor to help find out the cause.

Baby's delicate eyes
Babies are often born with one or both tear ducts blocked.  They usually open in a couple weeks, when the baby starts producing tears. If not, you may notice mucus around the eyelid. This usually isn't harmful, but it could lead to infection if the duct remains blocked. Call your baby's doctor if you notice anything unusual around his eyelids.

Fever
If your baby seems cranky or feels especially warm, take his temperature. If his rectal temperature is over 100° F., contact your doctor.  

Vomiting
It's common for babies to spit up now and then, especially very young ones.  The cause might be gas, overeating, or overstimulation.  But when vomiting becomes forceful or, if it's accompanied by fever or diarrhea, contact your pediatrician.  And for more information on issues that may be feeding related, see tolerance issues.

Rash
Scaly patches on your baby's scalp might be "cradle cap."  Sometimes just washing the hair and gently brushing off the flakes every day helps control it. The condition will usually go away after your baby's a few months old.

Infections
A common yeast infection is called "thrush." You'll know it by white patches in the mouth. It's a yeast infection that's easily treated, so call your baby's doctor.

With fingernail, toenail or umbilical  infections, you'll notice redness around the area. Again, call your pediatrician.

Colds and Sniffles
Many babies get colds before they're three months old. If your baby has a cold, he may have a slight cough, runny nose, and a temperature a little higher than normal.  A stuffy nose is especially uncomfortable for young babies, who can't breathe well through their mouths.

You can help your baby through a cold by using a cool mist humidifier in his room. And maybe using a bulb syringe to suction mucus gently from the nose. This is helpful especially before feedings, so your baby can breathe better.  Don't give your baby any medications for colds unless you speak with your doctor.

A gentle reminder about a serious subject: SIDS
There's another health-related issue for young babies that's really important to talk about. That's SIDS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  That's the term for babies who die unexpectedly during sleep.

You've probably heard about SIDS, and you've probably been given some advice about how to prevent it. Here are the main things you really should do to help prevent SIDS:
Most importantly, put your baby on his back to sleep, not on his stomach.
Keep the temperature in your baby's room warm, but not hot. A comfortable temperature for you is probably comfy for him, too.
Use a firm mattress and don't have any thick, fluffy padding under your baby, such as lambskin.

Also, if you ever notice that your baby stops breathing, even for a few seconds, let your pediatrician know immediately.

SIDS affects one or two babies out of a thousand in their first few months of life. And that's one or two babies too many. So take precautions to make sure both you and your baby have a healthy, restful sleep.
 
As always, if you have any concerns, from a rash to a runny nose to a change in your baby's temperament, call your pediatrician. Remember, there's no such thing as a silly question when it comes to your baby's health.