| Colic |
Red face, frantic crying, legs drawn to abdomen as if
in pain. |
Comfort by rocking, walking, warm bath or burping. Gently
rub tummy See doctor if can't cope or suspect illness.
Colic normal for some babies, should pass. |
| Common Cold |
Runny nose, low fever cough, croup, sore throat, fussy,
poor appetite. |
Take temperature. If none, keep warm. Give fluids, raise
head, clear nose, humidify air. Call doctor if high fever,
difficult breathing, hacking cough. |
| Constipation |
Hard pellets of stool with straining and pain. Blood
in stool. |
With doctor's OK, change baby's diet, give enough fluid,
see doctor if no relief, blood in stool or on diapers.
No laxative or medicine without doctor's OK. |
| Croup |
Croaking cough, difficult breathing, blush or bluish
face. |
Call doctor if hard to breath or lips/fingers blue.
Let baby breathe moist air in steamy bathroom. Hold baby
upright and stay calm. |
| Diaper Rash |
Red inflamed or pimply skin in diaper area. Strong ammonia
smell. |
Wash area at each changing, pat dry, use petroleum jelly.
Try different diapers, liners. Let baby go without diapers
at times. See doctor if rash persists. |
| Diarrhea |
Frequent, watery stools. Often occurs with fever or
vomiting. |
Call doctor if diarrhea, fever, vomiting persists; if
baby can't take fluids. Give fluids - doctor may stop
solid/dairy foods, not breast milk. |
| Earache |
Pulling at ear as if in pain, crying, fever, ear drainage. |
See doctor immediately. Report fever and/or discharge.
Keep ear dry when bathing. If symptoms improve, still
see doctor for recheck. |
| Fever |
Temperature over 101 degrees by underarm (method used
most often). |
Call doctor if baby is less than 4 months. Give fluids,
dress lightly, sponge with lukewarm water, give baby-strength
acetaminophen if directed. |
| Head Injury |
Unconsciousness, vomiting or dizziness. Discharge from
nose or ear. |
Call for emergency help. If possible, don't move baby
if you suspect neck or back injury, broken bone or if
there's drainage from nose or ear. |
| Jaundice |
Yellowish skin and whites of eyes. Dark urine, pale
stools, nausea. |
Mild case common in newborns usually 2-3 days after
birth and diminishing after that time. If it persists
or worsens, call doctor immediately. |
| Meningitis |
Stiff neck, fever, lethargy, vomiting, bulging soft
spot on head. |
If flu-like symptoms are accompanied by stiff neck,
body rash, aversion to light, call doctor immediately.
Hospital diagnosis and treatment required. |
| Navel (Belly Button) |
Redness and swelling of stump. Foul odor. Stump oozing
blood or pus. |
Don't cover stump with diaper. Clean stump gently with
cotton swab and alcohol at each diaper change. See doctor
if stump appears infected. Stump falls off on its own-don't
pull. |
| Rectal Bleeding |
Blood or mucus in stools in first week. Later red streaks
in stool. |
Blood or mucus may be normal in first few days of life
only. If later, alert doctor. Call doctor immediately
if stools very red, like jelly, or streaks of blood appear
on diaper or stool. |
| Teething |
Redness around erupting tooth from 5-8 months. Drooling,
fussy. |
Give baby hard or cool item to bite,
like baby biscuit, chilled teething cup, not wood or plastic.
Comfort baby, rub gum with fingers, not alcohol. Call
doctor if symptoms and pain severe. |
| Vaginal Discharge |
Slight bleeding-discharge common in newborns only. |
Later, see doctor for exam. Pat genital area dry after
bathing. Use mild soap only. Avoid bubble baths. Change
baby frequently. |
| Vomiting |
Persistent vomiting. May occur with Fever or diarrhea,
etc. |
If spitting up, feed baby slower and burp often. all
doctor if vomiting persists with or without other illness
symptoms. Monitor baby. Give baby fluids in small amounts. |
