Archive for February 17, 2012

Sick Baby: When and How to Talk to the Doctor

This article will go over some tips for when to consider calling your baby’s doctor when your baby is sick or when your baby has a cold and what kind of information to have readily available when talking to your doctor.

Establishing a good relationship with your baby’s doctor before she gets sick is important so you can have a good understanding of how to communicate with the doctor at a time when you need their attention the most. Most doctors are very busy and have only a little time (if any) to communicate with patients who don’t have an appointment. You can often call the advice nurse at the doctor’s office and she can help guide you about next steps or she will take a message and talk to the doctor when she’s free.

It is also a good idea to get a list from your doctor at a well-baby check up with which sick baby symptoms warrant calling the doctor about. These might include a high fever for several days, non-stop crying, vomiting or loss of appetite. If you have a premature baby or an infant with other health issues, then your doctor may have a special set of instructions for what to watch out for when your baby has a cold.

Having a sick baby can be stressful and if your baby isn’t sleeping well when she’s sick, then chances are you will be tired as well. Tracking baby’s illness symptoms, temperature and medication when she’s sick will be helpful not only for identifying when there have been significant changes as well as being able to report to the doctor and answer any questions he might have.

Doctors appreciate information such as baby’s current temperature, how much she is eating and drinking and how many wet diapers she has had each day. Fewer wet diapers than usual might indicate baby is not getting enough liquids.

When you do call your doctor, keep the following in mind:

1. Know what questions you want to ask before you call.
2. Be able to provide a concise and explicit list of the symptoms you are concerned about and how long the symptoms have lasted.
3. Don’t expect the doctor to automatically prescribe medication or ask to see your baby in the office. Listen carefully to the doctor’s instructions and ask any additional questions to clarify what the doctor has said.
4. Don’t be afraid to provide feedback. Doctors and nurses can get busy so sometimes it might seem as though they don’t feel your baby’s illness is as serious as you do. It’s okay to gently and tactfully remind them if you feel as though you haven’t got the attention or information that you needed.

Category: baby health / Tags: , , ,

Baby Care – Bathing a Baby

Have all the things needed before starting to undress the baby.

An infant quickly loses body heat, so it is important that the room is warm and that there are no drafts from open windows or doors. A wall thermometer is useful. A bathinette or a plastic tub three-quarters full of lukewarm water should be placed within arm’s length. Also needed are a small bowl of warm water in which there is a squirt of liquid bath soap; two small sponges; cotton balls; cotton swabs; disposable wipes; baby oil; soap; shampoo; lotion; talcum powder; a fine-toothed comb; a bristle hairbrush; and a baby comb. A waterproof apron is also required, preferably one with a Turkish toweling surface, together with several soft, absorbent towels for patting the baby dry; a fresh diaper; diaper pins; plastic pants; and a set of clean clothes.

Newborn babies heartily dislike face-cloths. Until the baby is one month old, use moistened cotton balls or disposable wipes to wash his or her face. Afterward, use one of the sponges for the face and the second sponge for the buttocks area when a soiled diaper is removed.

Most babies have diaper rash at one time or another, usually caused by prolonged contact with stools and urine. A physician will recommend an ointment to get rid of the rash. Diaper rash can usually be prevented by spreading on a little petroleum jelly in the diaper region after the baby’s bath, and by checking the baby’s diapers often and changing them when needed to avoid prolonged contact with urine and stool.

Dry skin is common among newborn babies. Baby oil, gently massaged into the skin, can relieve the condition. But test the oil first on the baby’s ankle to make sure that there is not an allergic reaction.

Cradle cap, a patch of yellowish, greasy crusting on the baby’s head, should be treated at bath time. After the baby is nursed, massage some oil into the scalp and leave it for several hours until the next meal. By then the scaling should be easy to lift with a fine-toothed comb. At bath time, shampoo and rinse the baby’s scalp and dry carefully. Brush the baby’s hair.

Throughout bath time reassure the infant by speaking softly. A newborn infant is frightened by loud noises and quick, jerky movements and responds by crying.

Handle the baby gently when dressing him or her. Babies much prefer being undressed.

Clothing should be simple to slip on and take off because the baby may be crying and perhaps stiff and rigid from exertion. Loose clothes with snap fasteners are preferable to clothing that has to be pulled over the head.

The Bath. In the early weeks, bath-time may take longer than anticipated because both parent and baby do not know quite what to expect. As soon as a routine is established, the baby will feel more secure and tolerant of handling.

Make sure in these early days that the room and bath temperatures are kept constant throughout the bath-time. For the first six weeks, the temperature in the room should be 70-75 Fahrenheit degrees (21-24 Celsius degrees). After six weeks it may then be 65-70 Fahrenheit degrees (18-21 Celsius degrees). The bathwater should be kept at 100-104 Fahrenheit degrees (37-40 Celsius degrees), slightly higher than normal body temperature. Keep a pitcher of warm water near the bath to top off the bathwater should it cool down too much.

Be kind to the baby; handle him or her with warm hands; speak softly in a soothing voice.

Most babies love being in the water, but hate coming out of it; they cry, showing signs of insecurity and shivering. The baby should be wrapped immediately in a towel and held tightly for a moment. This helps a baby to relax again. Now slowly start to dry the baby, either on your lap or on a changing mat. Be sure that a soft, absorbent towel covers the plastic mat before you lay the baby on it. Now gently open the towel in which the baby is wrapped and pat dry with a second towel. Always try to keep covered the parts of the body that are not actually being dried.

When the baby is dry, you may apply ointment to the diaper area if you wish, and then begin to dress the baby. Put on the undershirt first to keep the body warm, then the diaper, and finally the nightgown. All this time, the baby may be impatient to be nursed. But do not let loud complaints distract you from what you are doing.

Category: Baby Care / Tags: , ,

Shea Butter Baby Care

Your baby has the most delicate, sensitive skin there is. When you need something to help take care of that skin, and keep it healthy, you don’t want to reach for just anything. Due to the sensitivity of baby’s skin, most products can really irritate it. It’s best to go with something all natural, and perfectly safe. This is why so many mothers are turning to Shea Butter. It is all natural, safe for baby’s sensitive skin, and protects your baby’s skin from a number of different things.

Sun Protection

Too much exposure to the sun is unhealthy for anyone, especially your little one. The damaging UV rays can really be bad for baby’s skin. Also, too much sun exposure can lead to sunburn, which is bad enough for adults, but can be miserable to a baby. Shea Butter contains a natural sun screen which will help protect your baby’s skin from the sun. While it is doing this, it also keeps your baby’s skin soft, hydrated, and healthy. Rub some on your baby’s skin before you go outside and rest assured that his or her skin is safe!

Diaper Rash

We all know how bad diaper rash can be. It looks terrible, and can be really painful for your baby. Most of the time, diaper rash occurs at night, when wetness is trapped close to the skin for an extended period of time. With the acids in urine, it doesn’t take long for diaper rash to develop. When possible, allow your baby to go without a diaper in order for the skin to breathe. Also, rub Shea Butter on your baby’s skin to protect it. There is natural latex in Shea Butter which is not irritating, but provides a protective barrier for your baby’s skin, keeping moisture out. Remembering to rub it on at night will keep your baby drier, and will not allow the wetness to reach your baby’s skin.

Baby Massage

Many parents utilize the many benefits of baby massage. It is a bonding time for mother or father and baby to play, talk, sing, or laugh. It also does great things for your baby. When you are participating in baby massage, try using it to make it even better. When it absorbs into your baby’s skin, so does Vitamins A, C and E, essential fats and acids which keep the skin healthy, and other great nutrients which promote healthy and happy skin!

Shea Butter is amazing for so many different things, that it is a must for mothers. It is one of the few things that you can feel safe with, because it is all natural and safe for babies. If only a mother could rely on more things like Shea Butter!

Category: Baby Care / Tags: ,