Bounty feature

Nursing a Poorly Baby

• Taking your baby’s temperature
• If your baby has a fever
• Nursing your baby
• Medicine sense

When to see a doctor Always see a doctor if your baby:

• is floppy or clammy or turns blue or pale (check the palms of the hands of darkskinned babies)
• has fits
• is having difficulty breathing
• cries with a high-pitched moaning sound
• seems to be in a lot of pain
• has severe diarrhoea and vomiting
• is unusually drowsy
• has a stiff neck and is sick
• develops a rash of small red/purple spots or bruises
• has a mild cough that develops into long frequent bouts of coughing (could be whooping cough).

If your baby has a cold
The main problem for a baby when she catches a cold is that her nose becomes blocked. She finds it hard to suck at the breast or bottle because she can’t breathe.
To remove mucus from your baby’s nose:

• see your doctor who may prescribe nose drops
• tickle your baby’s nose with some cotton wool to make her sneeze; this may help clear her nose
• use a menthol rub from your pharmacist; ask for a product suitable for your baby’s age. The menthol can be put on your baby’s clothes to help unblock her nose.

Most colds are caused by a virus. Your doctor will not prescribe antibiotics because antibiotics have no effect on viruses. You have to wait for the cold to pass.

Your baby may get nappy rash when she has a cold so watch out for a sore bottom and apply a protective cream if the skin looks sore. Comfort your baby by lots of cuddling. Keep her warm, but don’t overheat her, especially if she is feverish.

If the cold or cough persists for more than a few days, or your baby seems very unwell, consult your health visitor or doctor.

Taking your baby’s temperature
Our body temperature rises when we’re fighting off an illness, such as a virus. A baby’s temperature can rise very quickly, and you need to help her cool down.

There are various ways to take your baby’s temperature if you suspect she has a fever. Many mums use temperature strips which are placed on a baby’s forehead, and give an approximate reading. Trust your instincts, you will know if your baby is hot and unwell.

You can also use a digital thermometer which rests just inside your baby’s ear. It gives a very accurate reading of body temperature, but is more expensive than a traditional thermometer. If using this type of thermometer in your child’s ear, the normal temperature is between 36.4°C and 36.8°C (97.5°F to 98.2°F).

If you are using a traditional clinical thermometer:

• shake down the fluid in the thermometer
• put the bulb of the thermometer under your baby’s armpit and hold her arm close to her body for at least five minutes.

A temperature of about 36.4°C is normal under the arm.

A mild rise in temperature is about 37.8°C (100°F). See a doctor if your baby’s temperature remains at this level for more than one day or if it rises to 38.6°C (101.4°F).

Always contact your doctor if your baby has other signs of illness as well as a temperature.

If your baby has a fever

• make sure that the room your baby is in is not too hot if she has a temperature; overheating will make her worse
• keep encouraging your baby to have drinks, but don’t worry if she’s not hungry
• paracetamol or ibuprofen can help lower temperature. Some paracetamol medicines are suitable from 2 months, and some ibuprofen from 3 months so always read the label of the medicine to check it is suitable for your baby.

Tepid sponging can also be used to reduce a temperature. Do this in a warm (not hot) room.

1. Take your baby’s clothes off
2. Sponge her skin with tepid (not cold) water, this will cool her down as it evaporates
3. When your baby is cooler, pat her dry and cover her with just a sheet; keep checking her to make sure she’s not getting too cold
4. If she starts to become feverish again, you can repeat the tepid sponging.

Emergencies
See ‘Emergency first aid’ for more information about how to cope if your baby has an accident or becomes seriously ill.

Thermometer warning
‘Never place a thermometer in your baby’s mouth,’ says Dr Andrew Lyon, Bounty’s child health expert, ‘as it could be very dangerous.
You may also come across advice on how to take your baby’s temperature in the rectum (back passage). Again, NEVER do this; it could hurt your baby.’
For more information on temperatures, see ‘A-Z of childhood illnesses’.

Room temperature
The ideal room temperature for your baby is between 16-20°C. Below this temperature he will be too cold and above it, he will be too hot. Room thermometers are available post-free for £2.75 from the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths on 0207 233 2090.

Nursing your baby
If your baby is off colour, you can do a lot to keep her as comfortable as possible:

• dress your baby in loose clothing if she has a rash
• keep her temperature down by using a suitable liquid medicine (check with your pharmacist) and/or tepid sponging
• give your baby plenty to drink
• give her as much or as little food as she wants
• calamine lotion dabbed on chicken pox scabs can be soothing (and keep your baby’s nails short to prevent her scratching the scabs).

If you think your baby has an infectious illness, keep her away from pregnant women. Tell the doctor’s surgery that you think she has an infection if you are taking her for a doctor’s appointment. Also let your babyminder or nursery know.

Medicine sense
Always check with your doctor, health visitor or pharmacist before giving your baby any medicines. And see ‘Your child’s medicines’ for our guide to the medicines that may be prescribed for your baby, how to give them, and how to store them.

First Aid classes
It’s a really good idea to learn first aid, especially if you have children! Check the ‘Who can help?’ section at the back of this book for contact details for both the British Red Cross and St John Ambulance, which both run classes for parents.

Parental leave
If you’ve been working for your current employer for over one year, you are entitled to 13 weeks of parental leave, to be taken before your baby’s fifth birthday.

It’s designed to let you take time off in a crisis, for example if your baby is ill. It’s not paid, but is a useful emergency measure, and can be reassuring for all working parents to know that this time is available.

Log on to the Department of Trade and Industry’s website www.dti.gov.uk/employment for further information.

Baby boy check
An inguinal hernia, when a small portion of the bowel descends into the scrotum, can happen in some baby boys.

The scrotum becomes suddenly swollen, or is swollen now and again. The swelling becomes larger when the baby cries or coughs. This sort of hernia is not usually uncomfortable or painful, but if a small part of the lower bowel becomes trapped, your baby may vomit, cry in pain and the area may be tender.

See your doctor, who can refer your baby to hospital for an operation to correct the hernia. Take your baby to your doctor immediately if you think his scrotum is swollen; if the scrotum swells suddenly, go straight to A&E.

For the next You and your growing baby guide Chapter, Sleep problems, Click here