We recommend you take an infant-child CPR course so that you can receive proper training to handle potentially life-threatening problems such as choking.
Constipation in infants less than one year of age can be a source of concern for parents. Sometimes your baby is not really constipated, but must be given time to set his own schedule for having a bowel movement. Remember that some grunting and straining is normal. Generally, an infant’s stool is soft and easily passed. Irregular bowel movements do not necessarily mean a baby is constipated. If your baby is having large and very hard bowel movements or seems to struggle painfully when having them, please discuss this with me.
Treatment for Constipation
If your baby is old enough to eat strained foods, you may give him fruits and vegetables; fruit juices (like prune juice) can be given to those babies not taking solids. Call my office to discuss how to administer prune juice. Rice cereal can sometimes cause constipation. If it does, simply switch to barley or oatmeal.
Do not give your baby enemas, laxatives, or suppositories unless I direct you to do so.
One of the most common illnesses among infants and young children is diarrhea. The most common cause of diarrhea in infants is an intestinal virus. It may be accompanied by fever and/or vomiting. .During diarrhea, babies lose fluid and important minerals from their bodies. Excessive fluid loss caused by diarrhea can lead quickly to a serious condition called dehydration, especially if the baby is also vomiting. Dehydration may become severe enough to require a baby to be hospitalized to have fluid replaced.
It is important that extra fluids be given to replace the fluids and nutrients (electrolytes) lost during bouts of diarrhea. Discuss with me the need to keep on hand an oral electrolyte maintenance solution and instructions for its use. An oral electrolyte solution is the best way to replace the fluids and minerals your child is losing.
Be sure to call our office if your baby has persistent vomiting or you note any of the following signs of dehydration: Less frequent urination (fewer wet diapers), dry mouth, few tears, overly sleepy or overly fussy or sunken eyes.
Fever in a newborn baby is a concern to us. If your baby is 2 months or younger, and has a rectal temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, call us immediately.
Older Infants
Fever is generally a sign that your baby’s body is fighting infection. It can be treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Check with my office about which to use and carefully follow the manufacturer’s label instructions. If your baby is older than 2 months, and has a fever associated with unusual sleepiness, irritability, or any other unusual or troubling signs, please call us.
Spitting up is when some of the baby’s stomach contents spill out of her mouth. This usually involves only small amounts of liquid – although it often seems like a lot. Spitting up generally occurs shortly after feedings, beginning in the first few weeks of life. More than half of all babies spit up to some extent after they have been fed. Occasional spit-up is normal for both breastfed and formula-fed babies.
In many cases, spit-up is thought to be due to an immature muscle at the base of the esophagus, the tube connecting the throat and stomach, which allows the stomach contents to back up into the mouth. This is often referred to as “GE reflux” (gastroesophageal reflux) and goes away as the baby matures. Though spit-up may be messy, it’s usually not a cause for concern. Most babies gain weight well despite spit-up. If an infant is frequently in distress, is not gaining weight as he should or has other symptoms, we may need to do some further evaluation.
Spit-up happens. If your baby spits up occasionally, here are several things you can do to help prevent excessive spit-up:
- Avoid feeding your baby when he is lying down and keep him upright for about 30 minutes after a feeding – in a front carrier, a back carrier, or in your arms.
- Avoid vigorous play and jostling after feeding your baby. Excess activity can aggravate an already delicate system.
- Control the amounts you are feeding. If your baby gets an overly full stomach, it is more likely to overflow. Give more frequent, smaller meals to see it that helps.
- Burp your baby often and control the amount of air and liquid he takes in. Check the nipple-hole size. If the hole is too small (which may increase the gulping of air) or too large (and the formula flows too fast), your baby may spit up more.
- Try to feed your baby before she is overly hungry. Gulping formula too fast may lead to spit-up problems.
Vomiting occurs when the stomach contents are ejected through the mouth with force. It usually is a cause of great distress for the baby and his family. When vomiting occurs, it usually involves more than just a few mouthfuls. Call our office immediately if your notice any of the following: Frequent, repeated vomiting, crying (with legs pulled up) that cannot be soothed, fever, blood in vomit, green vomit, inability to keep fluids down, repeated refusal of feedings, or any signs of dehydration
