Caring for baby

A crying baby can be distressing for the mother because it is often very difficult to know exactly what is wrong. Babies cannot tell you what hurts, how they feel, or what is wrong. There are some common minor conditions that most babies will suffer from which could be the cause and which you can treat at home or with advice from your pharmacist.

CHIC and the DPP have got together to bring you a brief guide to caring for your baby and aims to help you:

• recognise your baby's minor ailment
• treat your baby's minor ailment at home
• decide what to do if you are still unsure
• know what medicines to use.

Your pharmacist is a medicines expert and will give you advice on the best medicine for your baby, if that is the appropriate course of action. If you are in doubt, or are worried, ask your pharmacist for help.

Immunisation timetable
Immunisation is a way of protecting children from a range of infectious illnesses using a vaccine. Vaccines can protect children from many diseases such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella (German measles).

The immunisation timetable is a guide to help you give your child maximum protection as early as possible. It may be useful for you to use this timetable as a record of your child's vaccinations.

More common minor ailments cannot be vaccinated against, but that does not mean that there is nothing you can do to help prevent your baby from developing the problem or help alleviate it.

Nappy rash
Symptoms: A red rash (not usually raised) in the nappy area.

Most babies get nappy rash from time to time. It is caused by the irritating effect of urine and faeces (poo) coming into contact with the skin. There are several ways to prevent your baby from getting nappy rash and it can easily be treated.

How can I prevent my baby from getting nappy rash?

• Change the nappy as soon as it becomes soiled or wet
• Avoid disposable wipes containing alcohol or moisturising chemicals - use plenty of warm water instead and dry thoroughly by patting (not rubbing) the skin, and leaving the fresh nappy off for a few minutes
• Leave the nappy, particularly plastic pants, off as much as possible
• Avoid talcum powder as this can cause irritation
• Avoid caustic household detergents on re-useable nappies.

How can I treat my baby's nappy rash?

• Quickly treat the rash with a cream or ointment from your pharmacist, who can advise on which one to use
• Leave the nappy off wherever possible: exposing the skin to air will help healing.
• Change the nappy frequently
• Consider switching from disposable to reusable nappies if nappy rash is a persistent problem.

If the condition gets worse or any other symptoms develop ask your pharmacist, health visitor or doctor for advice or call NHS Direct on 0845 4647 (England and Wales only).

Cradle Cap
Symptoms: A white and yellow waxy scale on the scalp (looks a bit like dandruff).

Cradle cap is completely harmless and often clears up by itself after a few weeks. It is very common in new babies for the first three months, but toddlers and older children can also develop it in small patches. The cause of cradle cap is unknown.

How can I prevent my baby from getting cradle cap?

• In most cases regular washing will prevent cradle cap.

How can I treat my baby's cradle cap?

• Simply rub the affected parts of the scalp with olive oil. Leave it on overnight and then wash it off the next morning with a mild shampoo.
• Your pharmacist can give you advice on special shampoos, but you should try rubbing with olive oil first.

Croup
Symptoms: Harsh barking cough, wheezy breathing.

Croup often comes with a cold and usually occurs in children between the ages of one and five. Young children are more likely to get the condition because their air passages are narrower.

What should I do if my child has croup?

• Croup can be eased by breathing moist air. A humid environment like a bathroom with the shower on may help (make sure you are supervising your child). Also placing a bowl of boiling water in the room (in a safe place well out of reach of the child) can help.
• Make breathing easier by propping up your child in bed.
  

Teething
Symptoms: Irritability, dribbling, red inflamed gums, flushed cheeks, gnawing.

Babies begin to teeth on average from about six or seven months, though they can start much earlier. It is common for babies to become irritable and tearful, and restless at night when teething. Some babies will want to chew almost anything they can get their hands on!

• What can I do to help my baby during teething?
• Comfort your baby and give extra drinks of cool boiled water.
• Give them something to bite on like a hard rusk, teething ring or rattle.
• Ask your pharmacist for teething gel which will help to numb discomfort and inflammation on the gums.
• Children's paracetamol (for children 3 months and over) or ibuprofen (for children over 6 months only) will also help to relieve any discomfort.
  

Colic
Symptoms: Long periods of crying or screaming, sometimes going red in the face and pulling up the legs to the tummy.

Although a colic attack looks very distressing, your baby will usually be otherwise well, and once the spasm has passed will be back to normal again.

How can I prevent my baby from getting colic?

• The simple answer is - you can't. The cause of colic is unknown and usually gets better after the age of three months.

How can I treat my baby's colic?

• Try the usual soothing tricks like cuddling, rocking, burping. It's important not to show your own upset as even young infants can pick up your anxiety and become more distressed.
• If the colic continues ask your pharmacist who can recommend a gripe mixture or colic drops.
• To support parents dealing with their baby and/or child's minor ailments, CHIC and DPP have launched a 'Managing Minor Ailments' campaign which includes an information booklet 'Caring for Kids - a self-care guide to childhood ailments'. The booklet takes parents through common ailments, what symptoms to look out for and how to treat the condition.

Download a free booklet on Caring for Kids here.

Alternatively call the CHIC leaflet ordering line on 020 7761 1803