Tips to Prevent Prickly Heat rash for your baby

What is a prickly heat rash?

If you observe small red rashes on your baby’s neck, under his arms, or near the edges of his diaper,nappy or underwear, it is probably a heat rash. Do not panic. Prickly heat rash is also known as Milaria that occurs in hot and humid weather.

The rashes usually in groups appears in the folds of the skin and in areas where the cloth sticks to the body, such as the upper chest, neck, groin and armpits. If you put a cap for your child, the head also gets affected with rashes.

Is prickly heat a serious health problem?

No, appearance of prickly heat on your baby’s body is only an indication that the baby is affected by the heat and environment. Baby feels itchy and is restless. You need to take steps to cool down the room, wear appropriate clothing and make baby comfortable.

If you are not alert baby can develop a serious condition such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Baby will have to be shifted to a hospital for further recovery.

Causes of prickly heat

When it’s hot and humid outside, your child sweats to cool down. A prickly heat rash develops when baby sweats so much that his skin pores are blocked and sweat can’t get out. Babies and young children are particularly prone to heat rash because their sweat glands are not fully developed.

Your baby can get too hot if you overdress him, even if he just a newborn. Tight or heavy clothing can trap the sweat as well, contributing to the irritation.

Ghee, oils and lotions used for your baby’s massage also tend to clog the pores of his skin. Ensure you give a good bath after an oil massage session. This will wash off any residual oils and allow your baby’s skin to breathe.

Tips to prevent Prickly heat rash for your baby

Common observation is that the prickly heat rashes will clear up in a few days time unless the rash gets infected. Meanwhile, here are a few things you can do to relieve your child’s itching and discomfort:

• Keep your baby cool: Keep your baby in a cool airy room or a shady spot when outdoors. If your baby is walking already, encourage him to slow down from time to time to keep his sweating in check. Make sure your baby gets enough to drink to replace all the fluids he is losing through sweat.If you must step out and about in the summer heat, make sure your baby’s head is covered. Recommended to stay indoors during the peak heat hours. The hot summer winds can be dangerous and weaken your baby due to dehydration.It is safe to use ceiling fan, air cooler or air conditioner in the room where the baby is placed. Care should be taken to see that the baby is not getting direct blow of air. Even newborns need to be kept cool because they are not very good at regulating their own temperature yet. The temperature of AC should be set to avoid over cooling and baby catching a cold. The changes in temperature from one room to the other can also be difficult on a baby.

• Avoid carrying the baby all the time: Holding your baby too often means in addition to the external heat he is contact with your body temperature. Teach and Practice the baby sleep with the cradle. When baby is awake let him go around on his own on a cotton mat. He will remain cool when left alone. Feeding a baby may end up getting sweaty all over therefore ensure there is air around. Minimize baby’s cloths too.

• Dress your baby appropriately: Select lightweight cotton clothes for your baby. Avoid synthetic fabrics, such as polyester and nylon, as they trap heat. Minimize clothing if possible at peak hours within the house. Baby moving around with a nappy or diaper is fine.

The mother also needs to wear light colored clothes, avoid wearing clothes with embroidery, mirror work, sequin work or lurex threads as these may scratch your child’s already irritated skin when you carry or breastfeed him. Also, use simple cotton bed linen. Heavy thread-work bedcovers or bed sheets may irritate your child’s skin. Use a soft cotton sheet to cover your baby while he sleeps.

• Keep his skin cool. Cool the affected areas directly using cold, wet wash cloths, or give your baby a tepid (luke warm) bath or shower. Let the air dry his skin as much as possible rather than using towels; a little more nude time can help heal the rash.
• Trim baby’s nails : Your child may begin to pick his skin or scratch himself vigorously, when the prickly heat rash starts itching. Trim his nails to prevent any injury or infection

• Use calamine lotion. If your baby is irritable and cries when you touch his skin, apply calamine lotion liberally (but not near the eyes).

Ointments and other lotions are best avoided as they can make the rash worse by trapping moisture in the skin. Home remedies are also ideal for the prickly heat rash in a baby. Consult your pediatrician prior to making any changes in the medicated prickly heat powder or introducing an ayurvedic preparation

Meet the doctor if your baby has high temperature. The doctor may prescribe medication to ease the itching and help baby sleep on time. Be alert and keep an eye on the baby’s overall health and temperature.

Further reading: The importance of setting a baby’s routine

Choking prevention and First Aid for Babies

Choking is a major risk for infants and toddlers. Choking is a foreign object that is stuck at the back of the throat or cause muscular pains. High risk of choking is observed in little babies and toddlers who have started to crawl around. Young children below 5 years are also prone to choking. During movement from one place to another they will come across objects which they try to put into the mouth.

Choking risks for babies and toddlers:

Any object smaller than a D size battery is a choking risk for babies and toddlers. Keep away tiny objects away from the baby. Even baby toys that are detachable can be a cause of concern. Baby gets attracted to bright colors and will stuff into the mouth. The other concern is health as these objects are not clean and can cause stomach upset and watery motions.

Precautions to avoid choking:

Let us understand the various ways to prevent choking in babies and toddlers.

• Feed the baby in sitting position: The correct posture to feed a baby who has weaned is in the sitting position. If the baby runs around and plays while eating there is a high risk of choking. Keep the baby engaged by conversing or singing some songs / rhymes this will ensure he does not shift focus. He will be less tempted to move around. This way choking risk is eliminated.
• Feed small portion: Till the time the child develops a chewing habit, feed in small quantities i.e the size of a small chick pea. Do not feed large pieces like salad, carrot pieces etc. High chances of choking. The babies airways are small and any large particle will get blocked and cause choking.
• Clear baby’s area of small objects: Babies are very curious about the objects in the surrounding. They are captivated by the colors and shapes. They will put any object into the mouth. Check the area and clear small objects eg: coins,beads,fruits, nuts etc.
• Avoid detachable toys: Check toys during purchase. If you have received gifts for the baby check the toys for any sharp surfaces, loose parts. Check toys ongoing basis to ensure no safety risks / choking risks. Small loose parts can be placed into mouth. Keep a close supervision of the baby.
• Separate toys of the older children: Every child is engaged by the toys associated with their age. If there are siblings you need to watch out for the toys they play with. It is a common observation that little babies always love the items that are in the hands of the other kid i.e a toy or a pencil etc. If the sibling is a school going one keep stationary items out of the reach eg: rubber, sharpener, crayon pencils etc.

Read: How to make home safe for kids

Symptoms of choking in babies:

If your baby is suddenly unable to breathe, cry, cough or make noise i.e baby is still, not moving . This is a sign that the baby’s airways are blocked indicating choking.

You need to act fast and restore baby’s breathing. The baby will try to cough, it is a natural tendency but will be unable to do it. Your aim is to remove the obstruction and take the baby to the Doctor for further diagnosis.

How to act fast- First Aid for choking in infants

If the infant is worried and distressed, unable to cry, cough, or breathe:

• Lay them face down along your forearm, with their head low, and support the back and head
• Give up to five back blows, with the heel of your hand
• Check the infant’s mouth; remove any obvious obstructions
• Do not do a finger sweep of the mouth.

If the obstruction has not cleared, follow these steps:

• Turn the infant onto his back and give up to five chest thrusts
• Use two fingers, push inwards and upwards (towards the head) against the infants breastbone, one finger’s breadth below the nipple line

The aim is to relieve the obstruction with each chest thrust rather than necessarily doing all five

• Check the mouth.
• If the obstruction does not clear after three cycles of back blows and chest thrusts conduct CPR( Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) . This is basically providing breathe to the baby.

When the baby breath is restored, clean the baby and keep him comfortable as they will make a lot of noise mainly because of the pain and the sudden alarm the baby had gone through. Ensure you take the baby to the doctor the same day for checkup and inputs.

Do your best to prevent choking for your baby.  Mothers with multi-tasking activities and the care takers or grand parents who are responsible for caring the baby in the absence of the mother need to be extra cautious.

You can include your inputs for Choking prevention and share your experiences in the comments.

How to Treat Jaundice in New Born Baby

Jaundice is a common condition in infants, affecting over 50% of all newborns. Jaundice is common for premature babies- more often in boys than girls. It appears mostly in the first week of life.

Infant jaundice is also known as physiological jaundice , a condition in which the baby’s skin, and the sclera (white part of the eye) appears yellow.

Symptoms of jaundice in new born baby

Apart from yellowing skin and eyes, other symptoms of infant jaundice include:

• Drowsiness
• Poor sucking/feeding
• Itchy skin
• Pale stools – breastfed babies should have greenish-yellow stools, while those of bottle fed babies should be a greenish-mustard color.
• Dark urine – a newborn’s urine should be colorless

Causes for jaundice in new born baby

A baby in the womb is totally dependent on his/her mother for food and oxygen, which reach the umbilical cord that connects him/her to the mother. The distribution of oxygen through the baby’s body is aided by the additional red blood cells present in the baby’s blood. After birth, the baby begins to breathe through his/her lungs and hence, does not need the additional red blood cells. His/her body will start disposing off the extra cells, soon after birth. These red blood cells are destroyed in spleen. A major by-product, thus produced, is bilirubin. The liver removes the bilirubin from the bloodstream and passes it on to the intestines of the baby.

Since the infant’s liver is still in its developing stage, it is unable to manage the sudden increase in bilirubin, during the first few days post birth. As a result, large amounts of bilirubin mixes in the blood, thereby, making the baby’s skin appear yellowish, which is a symptom of jaundice. During pregnancy the fetus’ blood bilirubin is removed by the mother’s liver. Although it is natural to find newborns suffering from jaundice in the first few days post birth, a high concentration of bilirubin in the blood is considered a serious case. In such a situation, you should get the condition monitored by the doctor.

There are several underlying factors for jaundice in new born baby. Some reasons include:

• Liver disease.
• An abnormality of the baby’s red blood cells.
• Blocked bile duct or bowel.
• Sepsis – a blood infection.
• Rhesus incompatibility – when the mother and baby have different blood types, the mother’s antibodies attack the baby’s red blood cells.
• Enzyme deficiency.
• Bacterial or viral infections.
• Hypothyroidism – underactive thyroid gland.
• Hepatitis – an inflammation of the liver.

Treating jaundice in new born baby

• Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to reduce the amount of bilirubin in the blood of the newborn, because mother’s milk contains some of the important nutrients required for the development of the baby’s functional organs. Initiate the breastfeeding relationship as soon as possible after birth. Breast-feed your baby every two hours post birth. Frequent feeding can help the baby pass the excess bilirubin through his poop and thus, reduce the jaundice symptoms.
• Sunbath is an effective remedy to treat jaundice in newborns. Remove the clothes of your baby and place him/her under direct sunlight or in a warm room for about 10 minutes. The best time to sunbathe the baby is early morning hours, between 7 am and 8 am. Lay your baby on a blanket, under the window, so that the sun’s rays bathe his/her entire body. Be sure to block your newborn’s to avoid direct sunlight.
• In case the levels of bilirubin in your infant’s blood are high, the doctor will administer phototherapy to treat the problem. During the treatment, your baby will be monitored under ‘special lights’ at the hospital, for 24 hours or 2 days. Usually the baby is naked, wearing only protective eye patches. The special lights will eliminate jaundice by reducing the bilirubin levels. The baby is put under a special light, covered by a plastic shield to filter out ultraviolet light, that influences the structure of bilirubin molecules so they can be excreted; sometimes it is useful to use a light-emitting mattress under the baby as well.
• Another way to treat jaundice in newborn is to substitute breastfeeding with formula. Depending upon the level of bilirubin in the baby’s blood, the doctor may suggest to feed the baby on a formula (similar to mother’s milk), for about 48 hours. After the bilirubin levels are back to normal, the physician would suggest to switch back to breastfeeding.

Parents take away the stress and worry. When you are free from worries half the problem is solved.  The mother will be active, happy with the baby’s arrival and generate more breast milk for the baby. Change diapers in time to avoid baby feeling cold.

Baby will be drowsy, wake up baby and feed the baby at regular intervals. Jaundice will make baby sleepy. Avoid water supplements. Breast milk is the best natural resource available to treat jaundice. Follow the Doctor’s advise at all times.

Tips to Help your Child Overcome Bed Wetting

Bed wetting or Enuresis is basically urination during sleep. Bed wetting in children above 7 years is a cause of concern. Children do not wet the bed on purpose. They may be lazy to go to the toilet, they are pre-occupied with watching TV or playing they miss to go to the toilet.

Children generally learn bladder control by 4 years and they will go to toilet as per the urgency to empty the bladder. If the child is unable to follow this practice and is bed wetting you need to consult the Doctor and take appropriate action. You can help your child overcome bed wetting by understanding the causes and assure the child that all is well.

The main causes of bed wetting are:

• Child has not gone to the toilet prior to sleep.
• Child has a small bladder that gets full quickly.
• Deep sleeping pattern. They do not realize the time to use the bathroom when the bladder is full.
• Children wet the bed when they are in stress. Emotional or social factors, environmental disturbances, quarrels at home , parents separation are few causes.
• Hereditary factors are also involved.
• Health conditions like urinary tract infection, frequent constipation, worm infestation, epilepsy, kidney problems, mental retardation, development disorders are contributing factors.
• The focus has shifted to the new sibling that has arrived home. Bed wetting to seek attention to oneself.
• External climatic conditions like too cold and chilly. Child is lazy to attend to nature call in the middle of night.

There are situations when the child starts withdrawing from social activities due to fear of bed wetting. They will not like to visit other homes on vacations or do not like guests stay at home. Parents have to be extremely careful while dealing with the child. It is not easy to handle this amongst all schedules in the day for working parents. But then the emotional condition of the child should be considered to help overcome bedwetting problem. Parents have to give positive support, understanding to the child only then the child will be encouraged to overcome bed wetting.

• Do not shout at the child.
• Do not punish or embarrass child for being wet at night especially if done in front of others.
• Explain the child that bed wetting is no one’s fault and there are lots of kids going thru’ this problem.
• Converse with them and let children know if anyone in the family wet the bed growing up.
• Praise children when they wake up at night to urinate and they have not passed urine in bed.
• Encourage children to go on sleepovers. Visit relatives place during vacation, occasions.
• Minimize consumption of fluids at least 2 hrs prior to bed time.
• Instruct the child to empty his bladder to the maximum before going to bed.
• If your kid is used to bed time stories etc, make sure you remind the kid to go to toilet.
• Train the kid to wake up at night and go to bathroom.

Parents can be prepared for quicker cleaning and transition. Arrange a rubber sheet under the bed sheet as used for babies such that the damage is minimized. Involve your child in the chores of making bed, folding the clothes, etc such that the child realizes the additional work and is careful to follow the guidelines.

There are medications and physical control measures eg: Moisture alarms are available. You can make a difference by handling the child and extending support and guidance. Consult the pediatrician to assess if the problem is related to health or emotional factor. Latest methodologies have developed in overcoming bed wetting problem. If bed wetting is not treated in time the problem will extend when they grow up as adults too.

Thumb Sucking: How Can you Help your Child Stop this Habit

Thumb sucking is a common habit among children. Babies have sucking reflexes by which they transition to breast feeding or bottle feeding quickly. Babies have natural rooting which make them put their finger(s) into the mouth, sometimes seen prior to birth too. Few children place their thumb into the mouth, other few put two fingers- index finger and middle finger into the mouth. I’ve observed babies try to put their toe into the mouth.

My neighbors son has a habit of putting two fingers in the mouth. He is 12 years now and the thumb sucking is intense when he watches TV or when he is in bed. The skin above the nails have become thick and hard too.

The main reason babies put their finger into the mouth is because it is very soothing. When the babies get bored, they are hungry , lonely they tend to put their fingers in the mouth. Thumb sucking in children are also due to factors such as anxiety and receding from the general environment and letting himself off to another world. Babies protect their fingers by covering their face with a bed sheet.

Most of the children stop thumb sucking between 2 to 4 years. Few children continue thumb sucking beyond 5 years also. The Doctors claim that the reason is insecure feeling. The child is having an emotional problem and is finding comfort in thumb sucking.

Prolonged thumb sucking will lead to major dental problems when the permanent teeth surfaces. The teeth line up and the pressure impacted on the roof of the mouth indicates the type of teeth that develops.

If the thumb sucking is aggressive the front tooth will be raised , improperly aligned with orthodontic problems and treatment . Thumb sucking will make the child to be aggressive and stubborn.  Speech problems are generally associated with thumb sucking. The child will have difficulty in spelling words with T’s, D’s , lisping and thrusting out the tongue while talking.

If you are anxious about your child’s habit consult your pediatrician for further guidance. Positive reinforcement is generally more effective than negative reinforcement. Do not constantly remind the child of the habit. Pay no attention for a few days after you see a change in your child’s behavior and routine.

Few homemade remedies are to cover the thumb sucking finger with tape, place a ball of cotton dipped in vinegar for wiping his finger . The smell will not allow him to place his finger into mouth, place gloves on the hand after baby sleeps to avoid sucking finger. ensure he does not take the finger to his eyes. Rubbing freshly cut ginger, garlic are also good way to make them stop thumb sucking.

There are over the counter sale products to deter the child from sucking fingers.

Keep in mind that positive reinforcement is generally more effective than negative reinforcement. The child will further be intolerant to your advices. Don’t shame or punish your child for thumb-sucking. This will only lower your child’s self-esteem.

You need to spend time in observing your child’s patterns for the day or two. Then you will understand what is causing the baby to suck the finger. Relieve baby of the stress factors.  Do not scold or shout in public, the child becomes more withdrawn and tensed. In fact gently remind the child of the issues he will face in the long run. Maybe your Doctor will be able to explain better.

After the talk if you see the baby has gradually decreased his thumb sucking habit then you can praise child for not sucking. Gift him small things as a reminder of the change.

Look out for toys that could keep his hands engaged and his focus is shifted. To spare embarrassment in front of others, you might alert your child to the thumb sucking with a special hand signal. Make your child comfortable.

Studies have indicated that babies whose mothers are away to work, etc are more prone to this habit than the ones whose mothers are available with them.

Easy Methods to Treat Baby Eczema Effectively

You may have observed your baby having patches of red skin. The skin is dry, rough and always itchy. In young babies, eczema is most prominent on the cheeks, forehead, and scalp. At 6 to 12 months of age, it is often worst on the crawling surfaces, the elbows and knees.

Around the age of two the distribution changes and tends to involve the creases of the elbows and knees, the wrists, ankles, and hands. It may affect the skin around the mouth and the eyelids. Older children and adolescents may have eczema only involving the hands.

Eczema is an immune system reaction that can be triggered by certain soaps, creams, allergies, and detergents, and may worsen with stress, heat, and sweat. Heredity is a big factor for the child to have eczema problems. There are no cures for eczema, fortunately eczema can be controlled.

Factors and reasons are not common in children to have eczema. Listed below are common eczema triggers you can avoid for your baby:

• Dry skin:  This is often caused by low humidity. During winter when homes are well-heated and the air is dry, baby’s skin becomes itchy.
• Irritants:  Wollen clothes, perfumes, body soaps  and laundry soaps makes the baby’s skin become itchy and triggers the patches / flare ups.
• Stress:  Major reason for increase in eczema flares. Children may react to stress by flushing, which leads to itchy, irritated skin.
• Heat and sweat: Both heat and sweat can make the itch of infant eczema worse.
• Allergens: Certain food items do not gel with the baby. You need to be alert and identify when the patches develop suddenly and that food needs to be excluded from diet to minimize eczema symptoms.

Caring for your baby’s skin is the only solution to manage baby eczema when the condition is mild. The methods are easy to adapt and make your baby’s childhood days enjoyable.

• Moisturizers : A good moisturizer will help your baby’s skin retain its natural moisture. Apply immediately after a bath, especially when he baby’s skin is wet. Preferably select  fragrance-free cream, or ointment such as petroleum jelly,
• A lukewarm bath: Avoid hot water for bath. Baby’ skin becomes dry by losing the natural protective oils. A lukewarm bath helps hydrate and cool the skin, and may lessen itching.
• Topical steroids:  Consult your Pediatrician on the condition of baby eczema. The doctor may prescribe Over-the-counter steroids like hydrocortisone creams and ointments which help lessen the redness and inflammation of a baby’s eczema, when used as directed. Apply the topical steroids only on the red itchy skin area.
• Caution regarding topical steroids: Though these creams are safe, they can lead to thinned skin and other issues if applied for too many days to the same part of the body. Do not apply more than 2 times a day at the affected areas.
• Bleach baths: Bleach baths are safe and are similar to bathing in a chlorinated swimming pool. Bleach baths are made by pouring ¼ cup of bleach into a half-filled bathtub. For babies with eczema, 1 to 2 teaspoons of bleach may be added to 4 liters of water in a baby tub. Ensure the bleach is totally diluted in water to avoid baby’s skin coming in contact. Bleach baths can be done twice a week.

If the eczema begins to ooze pus – or small yellowish blisters appear in the eczema, consult a doctor at once. The eczema is probably infected and will need medication. It indicates baby eczema is severe in the child, skin care can be complemented with:

• Ultraviolet light therapy
• Antibiotics for rashes that become infected

Practices to be followed at home to minimize the baby’s eczema conditions:

• Bathe your baby for no more than 10 minutes in warm water. Hot water  to be avoided.
• Use mild, unscented body and laundry soaps. Perfumed, deodorant, and anti-bacterial soaps can be rough on a baby’s sensitive skin.
• Use soap only where your baby may be dirty, such as the genitals, and hands and feet. Simply rinse off the rest of your baby’s body.
• Pat your baby’s skin dry; don’t rub the skin.
• Apply a moisturizer while your baby’s skin is wet.
• To minimize the irritation of clothing rubbing on the skin, dress your baby in loose clothes made of cotton.
• The baby itches and scratches the rashes. Therefore keep your baby’s nails clean and short so he’ll be less likely to infect any broken skin. In the nights use cotton mitten or old socks to prevent baby itching. He may dislike and pull them off when awake.
• Always wash new clothes before putting them on your baby.
• Use a mild, fragrance-free detergent to wash your baby’s clothes.
• Avoid overdressing your baby as it can make your baby hot and sweaty, triggering an eczema flare.
• Keep your child away from cigarette smoke.

Best Preventive measure for baby eczema.

Doctors advise continuing breast milk for at least up to six months (preferably one year) as you introduce your baby to solid food.

Baby eczema isn’t contagious, but because it’s intensely itchy, it is very uncomfortable, and scratching is a major problem. If untreated, the rash can be unsightly, so it may become embarrassing for the child and parents in social gatherings. Fortunately most children outgrow the itchy irritation of eczema before school age.

A key aspect is the use of emollients (moisturizers that soften the skin), particularly as substitutes for soap. In this way, the illness can sometimes be controlled. Moisturizers are classified based on their oil and water content. The more oil a moisturizer has the more effective it is in treating dry skin

Do follow the easy methods to treat your baby’s eczema and make her look like a princess.

What to Feed when my Baby has Watery Motions – Diarrhea

Diarrhea in children is a stress for the mother and the child. Baby will suffer and will be restless crying due to tummy pains and repeated watery stools and the mother becomes tired with frequent nappy changes, having to cuddle the baby and unable to focus on anything else.

The stools will smell foul and at times have a different color. Babies even tend to vomit all that he had. He will be hungry but will refuse all feed given to the baby.

Diarrhea can also result from milk intolerance, food allergy, exposed to unhygienic conditions at home, during travel. Keep water containers closed. Preferably give boiled and cooled water (room temperature) to the baby, plenty of fluids to balance the health of the child.

Watch out if baby has blood in the stools. Baby may suffer from ear pain and high fever too due to viral / bacterial infection.

Diarrhea in children can lead to dangerous medical conditions. You need to consult your Pediatrician who will recommend a temporary change in diet to alleviate your child’s loose stools and shorten the time his diarrhea lasts. The ABC diet limits your child to high-fiber foods that add bulk to his stool.

What is ABC Diet for Diarrhea

The ABC diet consists of high –fiber foods that makes less mushy stools. The diet consists of apple sauce, mashed bananas , steamed carrots , boiled potatoes and rice cereal. You need to follow this diet for a few days till babies stools have resumed normalcy. ABC diet is recommended for babies less than a year old suffering with diarrhea.

Can baby be fed with milk

Avoid dairy products. If the baby is less than a year old, continue Breast feeding. Breast feeding quickly brings down the infection in baby’s stomach, the recovery rate is quicker.

What is BRAT Diet for Diarrhea

Alternative diet for toddlers and older children is BRAT diet consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, toast. Digestion happens well when they are fed with this diet. This change is only for a few days till system becomes normal.  BRAT diet is recommended when the child has stomach upsets and diarrhea.

How to avoid dehydration

Severe diarrhea conditions lasting for more number of times and longer duration, it can be a major health concern as the baby is losing plenty of liquids. The input quantity is not matching the output and baby becomes weak and dull. It could be fatal too, therefore you need to act promptly to reduce the viral / bacterial infection by consulting a doctor.

Symptoms of dehydration include lack of urine for 6 hours, sunken eyes, no tears and dry, sticky mouth.

Do not give over the counter medications as the infection could vary and wrong diagnosis can be even dangerous. Consult a pediatrician. Your baby needs to be in safe hands.

Pediatricians may also recommended ORS packets (Oral Rehydration Salts ) to balance the dehydration condition. Baby will recover quickly and become active. You can resume normal diet. Keep observing for any change in baby’s health.

There will be small challenges in the journey of motherhood. Face the challenges boldly. Seek help of elders and experts in your neighborhood. Interact and you will feel much lighter.

Traditional practice

In India , a practice called nazar utharna is followed by elders in the family, also known as “drishti theeyadam”, “kannu matuva” in South India. This is done when baby is active and suddenly become dull especially after the baby had a long day out , after a party or get together , looking cute and bubbly wearing colorful bright clothes.

The symptoms seen are: baby becomes sick, vomits, do not have appetite to take regular feeds. The elders in the family takes immediate action saying Baby ko nazar lag gaya hai.

A pinch of salt is held tightly between fingers and is taken above the baby from head to toe 3 times in anti-clock wise direction and then thrown off in running water. It is believed that the evil eye or nazar will be cast away. The other option is taking a dry chilli over the baby and disposing it on fire. If there is a bad smell with cracking sound, it will indicate baby had problem of evil eye and is cast off.

Nowadays everyone are into gas stove or induction top,  so the second option is totally off. Every Indian woman may have experienced this practice being done for a child in their lives . It is a psychological way to assure mother that all is well. The mother takes extra precaution by putting a black dot of kaajal  / eyetex under the feet of the baby to prevent such happenings .

 

Worm Infection Damages Immune System and Affects Baby’s Growth

Worm infections can be serious for babies as the worms will consume all the essential nutrients and vitamins in their bodies. Symptoms of Worm infections are not seen immediately or are at times overlooked. Worm infections can lead to malnutrition, low weight and anemia. Such young children will fall sick often as the immune systems are damaged and the baby’s growth gets affected.

The different type of worms that are normally infested in babies are: Threadworms / Pinworms, Roundworms, Hookworm, Tapeworms and Whipworms. Ringworm is also mentioned in the same lines but these lead to fungal infection of the skin.

Symptoms of a worm infection:

• loss of appetite due to the pain or discomfort in the tummy
• trouble sleeping, because of the itchiness
• itching or pain around the anus, where the worms entered – this is true particularly for thread or pin worms.
• anemia
• a rash
• nausea
• constant coughs
• painful and frequent urination due to urinary tract infection ( more common in girls)
• blood in the stool
• vomiting – this is rare but children can vomit out round worms.
• diarrhea

How will baby get worms infection:

Babies can get worms from the following sources:

1)    Infected soil

This is the most common way children get worms, as worms thrive in any soil that is dirty and damp. Children can get infected from walking barefoot on infected soil, from unclean hands or from food.

2) Infected water

Some types of worms breed in water. Playing, bathing and swimming in standing waters like lakes, dams and puddles, or drinking and eating food contaminated by the water, can cause a worm infection. These days with severe water shortages the source and environmental conditions of water being procured is not known.

Children tend to be affected the most as their immune systems are weaker than those of adults.

3) Infected food or Undercooked food
Worm eggs stay on plants and vegetables that have not been thoroughly washed. We can get infected by eating these vegetables. Animals that live along water areas, such as fish and cattle, can also be sick. So meat and fish that are raw, or not well cooked, can carry worms and infections.

4) Contact with an infected person
If someone your baby is in contact with has worms, they can pass the infection on to your baby if they do not have proper hygiene. Worm eggs can remain under fingernails or on badly washed hands and can pass on from there to your baby’s toys or directly into her mouth.

How serious are worm infections? Will worm infection affect my baby’s growth?

Worm infections can lead to malnutrition, low weight and anemia. Such young children will often fall sick as the immune systems are damaged and the baby’s growth gets affected.

Roundworm infections can be serious. If the worms aren’t treated, they can migrate to the lungs or to the liver, where they can damage these vital organs.

The worm infection also harms infected children’s future physical and intellectual development especially if it results in iron deficiency anemia. Fortunately, timely treatment can prevent this.

Role of parents in avoiding worm infection:

Parents have a major role to safeguard child from worm infections. The oral intake is the major contributing factor for worms. The food should be cooked adequately and avoid children playing in damp soil.

• Follow good sanitation program at home and ensure your surroundings are also maintained.
• Teach your children good hygiene practices to protect them from worm infections.
• Consume filtered water or pre boiled  water.
• Identify the symptoms and consult a Pediatrician for further diagnosis. Doctor examines baby and recommends as per status. ( Stool test is commonly done to identify the type of worm infection.)
• Maintain short nails and make sure baby is not putting fingers into his mouth.
• Disinfect clothes, nappies to avoid re-occurrence of worm infection.
• Once the baby is over 2 years you can maintain a schedule and de-worm baby once every six months.

To avoid itchiness application of baby oil on the anus will be relieving for the baby. Be alert to identify the symptoms and adopt Healthy hygiene practices to make sure your baby is bubbly and is not affected by worm infection which affects baby’s growth.

Ear infection in a newborn baby

Ear infection is an experience every newborn baby may have had in the growing stages. Ear infection is very painful bringing both the baby and the parents under tremendous worry and sleepless night. You can understand why it occurs and what are the symptoms associated with ear infection. Breast fed babies are less prone to ear infections than a bottle feeding baby.

What is an Ear infection?

An ear infection typically affects your baby’s middle ear. These infections can be quite painful and often develop a few days after the onset of a cold. Basically, fluid builds up in a small pocket behind the eardrum. This fluid buildup is caused by germs and bacteria which get into the ear. The eustachian tubes, which form a passage from your ear to your throat, are very small in newborn babies, and they have a more difficult time blocking bacteria. Refer the picture for further understanding.  As the baby grows, so do their eustachian tubes, and they generally have less ear infections, although this may not always be the case.

Ear infections are associated with fever in some babies. Ear infections are not contagious.

What are the symptoms of ear infection?

You should carry your baby after washing the hands thoroughly.

• Your child will be restless and often will be tugging and pulling the ear.
• Your child may be having fever and will be crying with pain.
• You may observe pus or blood from your baby’s ear
• It may be some sticky substance oozing out of the ear.
• The secretion from ear may also smell bad.
• Baby will refuse feeds both bottle and breast feed as the baby experience pain upon sucking. The jaw movement will increase the pain.

Now baby is hungry and having ear pain too. You will hear louder non stop crying. You need to consult a doctor as you cannot see her crying with pain and not going easy with milk intake.

When to consult the doctor?

When your baby is becoming fussier and crying a lot you need to take the baby to the Doctor. The Doctor basis diagnosis may prescribe for antibiotics and ear drops. The eardrops and medication will address the pain and minimize the infection gradually.

Baby also becomes active when the pain is subsides and will accept feeds quickly.

Home remedies:

Place a cloth pad dipped in warm water. Squeeze it and place it near the baby’s ear. The warm compress gives relief for 15 to 20 minutes. Repeat this process. The baby will also sense the parents attention and the mother’s warmth and will be quiet. It is a type of massage and soothes the baby.

1 to 2 drops of warm olive oil or coconut oil can be placed in each ear. Oil should be warm enough that the baby can bear the temperature. Remember baby’s skin is delicate and therefore need gentle handling.

2 drops of warm garlic oil can be put into each ear.

Should we go in for medication over the counter

It is recommended by Medical practitioners and Pediatricians that we need to wait for 2 to 3 days for natural curing. The bacteria inside the ear will build resistance to the medicine and later on they will not be very effective. You will have to go in for higher dosage to address the ear infection.

Precautionary methods:

Watch out newborn baby’s ears for any dirt or sticky excretions. Prevent baby from cold and fever. When you go out of the home properly cover ears to prevent cold breeze affecting ears.

Do not allow water to enter the ear during bathing process. Wipe the ear externally with Baby ear buds. Do this when baby is asleep. Check baby’s ear with a pen torch for better viewing.

You need not become worried and depressed about your child’s condition. Assure the baby with your nearness and kisses and I’m sure he will sense your attention and recover quickly.

What causes seizures in babies?

Seizures occur when the nerve cells in the brain fire abnormally as a result of nerve damage, problems with the brain’s chemistry, or a high fever. Both nerve damage and brain chemistry irregularities can be caused by a birth defect or by an injury to the brain or nervous system, such as a blow to the head.

Febrile seizures are caused by high fever, they are harmless and common in children between 6 months and 5 years old. You need to ensure the baby has no health problems leading to an infection. Prevent baby from having fever as re- occurrence of a seizure or fits is high when body temperature crosses 101dec C. Constantly monitor baby’s temperature. If you make the baby sleep under a fan you cannot assess the temperature. Externally baby will look OK , but when you keep thermometer under the arm pit you will realize the difference.

Febrile seizures can also occur due to dehydration. Dehydration is a direct result of a previous illness that included sweating and fever. Malnutrition or a body weakened by disease or illness makes small children more susceptible to seizures.

Family history can play a role in toddlers or infants having seizures. If a family member was prone to or had seizures, especially febrile seizures, as a child this trait may be inherited.

What is epilepsy? Is seizure and epilepsy the same health issue?

Epilepsy is a condition that makes people more susceptible to having seizures. A child may have epilepsy if he has had two or more unprovoked seizures. There are many possible causes, such as head injuries, brain development disorders, infections or heredity. Usually, however, there is no detectable cause for a child’s epilepsy.

No , seizure and epilepsy are not the same. Seizure is a result of high fever and epilepsy is an unprovoked seizure.

Some people also refer this condition as convulsion or “fit”. The brain is an amazing, yet delicate structure that is able to send and receive millions of electrical messages within milliseconds. If there is an interruption in this constant flow of messages, the signals become jumbled and confused. These scrambled electrical impulses can quickly spread throughout the brain, causing a seizure. Fortunately, in seizure and convulsion, the brain eventually relaxes back into its usual pattern and the convulsions stop. Apart from some confusion, the person generally returns to normal.

What are the symptoms of a seizure?

The symptoms and degree of seizure varies from baby to baby. It depends on the baby’s physical condition . Listed below are the general symptoms observed for babies during a seizure.

• jerking movements of the arms and legs
• stiffening of the body
• wide open eyes staring at one particular point.
• White foamy saliva coming from the mouth.
• loss of consciousness
• breathing problems or breathing stops
• loss of bowel or bladder control
• falling suddenly for no apparent reason
• not responding to noise or words for brief periods
• appearing confused or in a haze
• nodding the head
• periods of rapid eye blinking and staring
• sleepiness and irritable upon waking in the morning

During the seizure, the child’s lips may become bluish and breathing may not be normal. The movements are often followed by a period of sleep or confusion.

You need to carefully observe your baby’s behavior and inform the pediatrician. This will enable the doctor to assess the situation and diagnose accordingly.

Do seizures cause brain damage?

Minor seizures or Febrile seizures are considered harmless if it lasts for less than 5 minutes. But seizures longer than that need medical intervention as they can damage the brain. Children having repeated seizures with high fever are affected in the long run . They will not be at par with all kids at school. Do not pressurize him to study. The baby’s mental growth will be retarded, the memory of the baby is also affected. Take extra care and do your best  to ensure baby does not get high fever.

What should I do if I think my child has had a seizure?

Consult the doctor and check if the baby has to be brought to the hospital right away. Usually doctors refer for an ElectroEncephaloGraph (EEG) to record his brain’s electrical activity. I had a tough time to watch my baby when the technician was attaching electrodes to my baby’s head, but the procedure is painless. From the results, your doctor will be able to tell whether your child has had a seizure, whether he’s likely to have one again, and whether he needs further tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, or a consultation with a neurologist. There will be crests and troughs on the graph. The technician notes down all baby’s activities in that duration for example: if the baby coughs , sneezes and moves body to eliminate wrong interpretation.

There is nothing you can do at that time. Stay with your child until the seizure stops. Baby will go in for a long sleep as he is exhausted. Follow medical advise and medications religiously.

These are situations in a parent’s life when you need to gear up and stand by each other. Both the parents need moral support. This article is written to prepare you in case a situation develops. Your baby’s going to be fine.

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