Mothers know everything about their kids; how much they eat, how long they sleep, their patterns of playing, and even their mood changes. When children are not well, these patterns change. If you know the signs to look for, you will be better equipped to decide whether it is time to visit the pediatrician.

Or, if your baby is between 3 and 6 months and has a temperature above 101 F. Since fevers can be caused by many different infections, it is advisable that you take your baby to the pediatrician if you are unsure of what to do.

WHAT TO DO:

First and foremost, keep baby hydrated with breast milk or formula. Infant fever reducers like Infant Tylenol can be effective, but consult your pediatrician first to make sure you’re offering the correct dosage.

Some mothers suggest that for a low fever, a lukewarm bath helps. And, you can give baby a massage with baby lotion to relax him/her. Finally, you can also dim the lights and play relaxing music to help calm him/her as you wait for the fever to go down.

HOW FEVER MEDICINES WORK:

Fever commonly occurs when your body is fighting an infection. When fighting an infection, certain cells release a chemical that turns up the thermostat. At that moment, your body is at a normal temperature. But you FEEL cold, and you shiver. Soon you becomes hotter than usual.

If you take acetaminophen (aka Tylenol), you will block the chemicals those cells made. In response, you sweat. Soon you are back to a lower temperature. However, when the drug wears off, the infection is still at work, and your temperature rises again.

On the other hand, Ibuprofen (aka Motrin) and all Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, work by blocking a hormone called prostaglandins. Unfortunately, when you’re dehydrated, your body chooses which organs get the reduced blood flow. However, it’s prostaglandins that allow the kidneys to keep the flow they need, so ibuprofen can cause damage to your kidneys. Therefore, if you must use these drugs be sure that your baby is hydrated.

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

Call the doctor if your infant is less than three months old and has a rectal temperature above 100.4 F. Or, if your baby is between 3 and 6 months and has a temperature above 101 F. Keep in mind that even if the temperature is lower than these general guidelines, call the doctor if your infant appears ill with such signs as a rash, irritability, poor feeding, trouble breathing, a stiff neck, persistent vomiting, or diarrhea, signs of dehydration, or is lethargic, or difficult to arouse.

Certainly, if an infant has a fever coupled with symptoms of extreme sleepyness, lethargy and inarousability, that is a definite cause for concern, Dr. Nesochi says. “… symptoms including fever, neck stiffness and sensitivity to light is also concerning and may be indicative of a very serious condition such as meningitis.”

Also, drugs like Ibuprofen (aka Motrin) and all Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, work by blocking a hormone called prostaglandins. It’s prostaglandins that allow the kidneys to keep the blood flow they need. So, ibuprofen can cause damage to your baby’s kidneys. If you must use these drugs be sure to keep your baby hydrated.

Furthermore, dehydration can happen if the baby is feeding poorly, has a fever, is in too warm an environment, or has persistent vomiting or diarrhea.

You can recognize dehydration if your baby has a dry mouth and gums, wets the diaper less frequently, sheds no tears when crying or the fontanel (the soft spot on the top of the head) appears to sink slightly. When any of these symptoms are present check your baby for dehydration.

WHAT TO DO:

Most importantly, is to make sure that your child is getting plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration. Depending on whether you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, offer your infant the breast or bottle often to provide both hydration and comfort. Your infant may also enjoy a small 2 to 4 ounce bottle filled with cool water if he is older than 6 months.

Don’t give water to your infant if he is under 6 months old because his kidneys are not mature enough to handle water. Breast milk or formula is best at this stage. If he drinks less than usual, remember to offer it more often.

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

If you are concerned that he is not urinating his usual amount or acts tired or dehydrated call the pediatrician. Likewise, if your baby does not take fluids, or does not respond to extra fluids, call the doctor.

Actually, newborns can have more than 3 bowel movements a day due to increase gastrocolic reflex. And, this will gradually subside as the baby grows.

On the other hand, if your baby goes more often and the stool is watery your baby may be sick. It may be something as simple as a stomach bug, and usually causes more of a mess than a medical concern. Sometimes, though, it’s a sign baby has a food intolerance or a bacterial or viral infection. Here’s what you can do for a baby with diarrhea.

WHAT TO DO:

Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate! Give baby plenty of breast milk or formula to rehydrate him, then watch baby closely to make sure he’s improving, says Preeti Parikh, MD, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Some pediatricians may switch formulas. Be sure to clean baby’s diaper areas thoroughly to avoid diaper rash.

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

Call the doctor if there is blood in the stool (which can appear bright red or, more serious, black). Likewise, if your baby has more than six watery stools a day, is not taking fluids or is showing signs of dehydration he needs medical attention. Also, if your baby is less than 3 months you should contact your pediatrician immediately. Additionally, get medical help if you baby is over 3 month old and his diarrhea has not improved even after 24 hours.

A baby is considered constipated if they pass 2 or less stools per week, or if the stool is hard, lumpy, and painful to pass. The baby’s abdomen may also be distension and discomfort.

Of course, a 3 month old baby, or younger has no roughage in his diet and they may tend to be constipated. Also breast fed babies are less likely to become  constipated than those on baby formula .

WHAT TO DO:

If your baby is younger than 4 months but older than 2 months, on your doctors advice, you can give him one serving of diluted pure juice. For babies older than four months you can give him two servings of pure prune juice twice a day.

Be sure baby’s getting enough fluids. Your doctor may also suggest a stool softener or suppository. One mother said she used glycerin suppositories a few times per her doctor. She also gave baby water—1 ounce three times per day between feedings. Unfortunately, that only helped temporarily. The cure-all was mixing 1 ounce of prune juice with 1 ounce of water every other day as needed.

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

If baby is breastfed and less than one month old, call your pediatrician as soon as you notice signs of constipation. It’s also worth a chat if baby is irritable and has a decreased appetite.

Always check with your pediatrician before giving your baby a laxative like milk of magnesia or lactulose. If only the initial part of the stool is hard and painful to pass, a pediatric suppository may be used; but only when instructed by your doctor; and even then only occasionally. Discuss with your doctor the possibility of adding roughage to the diet earlier than 6 months.

The most common cause of baby vomiting is infantile gastroesophageal reflux (GER) . If this is the cause and there are no other symptoms such as irritability, refusing food, failure to gain weight, fever,or wheezing, the baby will usually grow out of it and there is no cause for concern.

Also, urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, or other infections can cause vomiting.

WHAT TO DO:

The key here is to ensure that your baby does not lose too much fluid. So, make sure that your child is getting plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration. Depending on whether you are breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, offer your infant the breast or bottle often to provide both hydration and comfort. Your infant may also enjoy a small 2 to 4 ounce bottle filled with cool water if he is older than 6 months.

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

Certainly, if your baby vomits more frequently, contains blood or is green in color, or if the baby looks dehydrated, call your doctor. Also, call the doctor if your infant is vomiting several times a day and for more than a day. Be aware that persistent, vomiting that occurs 10–20 minutes after every feeding may be caused by pyloric stenosis (i.e. an obstruction at stomach outlet). This requires urgent medical attention.

Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are caused by a virus and are very common in infants. They usually last one or two weeks with an associated runny nose, fever and poor appetite for a few days, and a cough which can last as long as two to three weeks.

WHAT TO DO:

Many doctors suggest you avoid cold and cough medicines since they aren’t effective or safe for babies. Running a humidifier can be helpful. You can use a bulb syringe to help remove the mucus.

NOSE DROPS:

If your baby’s nose is particularly congested, you can use over-the-counter saline drops, gel, or spray to thin mucus and relieve congestion. Check with your doctor first and ask which specific products she recommends. Use two drops in each nostril before feeding and bedtime, or whenever your baby seems particularly congested.

NASAL SYRINGE:

After you use nose drops or spray, use a nasal syringe to clear your baby’s nose of mucus so he can breathe more easily. Clear the baby’s nostrils several times a day using a nasal aspirator.

HUMIDIFIER

Running a cold-mist humidifier in your infant’s room will help keep air moist and ease congestion. (Cool-mist humidifiers are recommended over warm, because warm-mist devices present the danger of scalding.) Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for changing filters, and keeping the humidifier clean. Finally, be sure to fill the humidifier with fresh water every day to prevent mold and bacteria build up.

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

If your baby’s cough is severe, and almost nonstop, or brings up any blood, you should call the doctor. Also, call the doctor if the baby’s symptoms last morer than 2 weeks. Monitor your baby’s temperature often and if he is running a fever you should contact a pediatrician.

The tissue between the ribs, above the collar bones, or in the upper abdomen is sucked in when your infant inhales.

Your baby grunts while exhaling.

Your infant’s head is bobbing.

Your baby’s lips or skin develop a bluish tinge.

If a baby has blue lips, it’s important to evaluate their breathing,

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

If a baby with blue lips and is coughing, has a fever or has had seizure activity, DO NOT WAIT! it’s time to call 911.

Once your baby is safely in the hospital you should then call your doctor.

Baby lotion, antibacterial cream and numbing cream can help keep the baby comfortable. Also, be sure to keep the area clean and bandaged.

Until the stump of your baby’s umbilical cord falls off, you should give your baby sponge baths and try to keep the area dry. Once the cord has fallen off you can bath him normally. Use a soft washcloth to dry the area. But avoid rubbing or using harsh soaps on the area.

If your baby boy has had a circumcision, you will need to keep his penis clean and dry. Clean the area with warm water but no soap. After cleaning and at each diaper change, apply (pure) petrolium jelly. You may also use a small amount of antibiotic cream to aid in healing.

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

If your baby’s navel (or umbilical remnant) or penis turns red, is oozing, or bleeding, call the doctor immediately. These are signs of an infection. If your  baby  is  bleeding  before or after then umbilical cord falls off, something in the process probably happened too early, so you should consult your doctor to prevent it from becoming infected. Also, if your baby hasn’t urinated for 24 hours after the circumcision, if there is swelling, or a foul smelling discharge, you should call your pediatrician.

However, diaper rash can also be caused by bactreial or fungal infections. The first step to dealing with diaper rash is to determine the cause of the rash.

CAUSES OF DIAPER RASH:

The most common cause of diaper rash is leaving a baby in dirty diapers for extended periods of time. When a baby’s diaper is not changed right away, their skin comes into contact with pee or poop and this can cause the skin to get red and irritated.

Your baby’s skin may be sensitive or alergic to soap, lotion, powder, laundry soap or other kind of product.

Your baby’s skin can become infected with a bacteria or a fungus.

WHAT TO DO:

Brian Wu, MD, PhD, Founder of Health Stories For Kids, Education that Entertains explains several thing you should do and should not do when your baby has a diaper rash:

1)Change the baby’s diaper as soon as it is wet or dirty.

2)Use a mild medicated cream on the skin.

3)Clean your baby with a washcloth instead of a baby wipe, it is less irritating!

4)Use disposable diapers instead of cloth diapers.

5)Let your baby do without diapers for a little while, such as when they are napping: this lets air get to the skin and helps it heal!

6)Bathe the baby every day with mild soap and water until the rash is healed.

7)Put a slightly larger diaper on the baby so it won’t rub against the skin.

8)Use a paste with zinc oxide, special kind of cream which helps heal the skin.

9)Use products like witch hazel, calendula or aloe vera which also help the skin heal and which all are made from plants.

10)Use products like soaps or detergents that do not have any artificial smells or colors.

Here are things you should NOT do when a baby has a diaper rash:

DO NOT: Dress the baby in plastic pants or diaper cover; this means that less air is getting to the baby’s skin.

DO NOT: Use talcum powder or cornstarch on a baby — they can breath the powder in accidently and this can make them very sick.

DO NOT:Use medications with ingredients like boric acid, camphor, phenol, benzocaine, or diphenhydramine: these can make a baby sick even in small doses.

DO NOT:Use neosporin cream, since some babies can be allergic to it.

The good news is that, in most cases, babies can be treated for their diaper rash right at home! In short, diaper rash looks pretty bad – and it makes a baby uncomfortable too! However, with a little bit of TLC, most babies will start to get better right at home!

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

You should see a pediatrician if your baby has a bacterial or fungal infection. Here are ther signs to look for:

Bacterial infections may have blisters or pustules filled with pus. While fungal infections ( yeast infections) are bright red patches of skin especially in the skin folds of a baby’s legs.

You may also want to call your doctor if:

The rash gets worse.

The skin begins to bleed, or has odor or discharge.

Your baby gets a fever.

Your baby appears to be in pain when they pee or poop.

Any of these symptoms can mean that something else is going on besides a simple diaper rash and the doctors need to examine the baby to see what is wrong.

The crying often occurs in the late afternoon, evening, and at night.

Actually, no one really knows why this sort of crying occurs in some babies. One possible explanation is that a baby’s intestinal tract is simply not used to functioning in the manner that it must. So, there may be an adjustment period needed for some babies’ digestive systems.

We do know that both breastfed and formula-fed babies develop colic. We also know that the food passing through the breast milk cannot be blamed for the problem. Therefore, the nursing mother does not need to stop eating any particular food. Some studies have shown that cow’s milk may cause colic in some babies. In any case, colic almost always goes away by the end of the third month.

WHAT TO DO:

1.) Make sure the baby is getting enough to eat. Your baby may be crying because he is hungry.

2.) Feed your baby slowly, and in an almost upright position to avoid him gulping too much air.

3.) Burp your baby often during every feeding.

4.) Try several ways to calm your baby. You may try rocking him or by putting him in an automatic swing. Try giving him a pacifier. You may even take him for a car ride or a walk.

5.) Sometimes swaddling or wrapping your baby tightly in a blanket helps.

Remember, BE PATIENT WITH YOUR BABY. He is crying because he is uncomfortable or in pain. Never shake a baby in an attempt to get it to quit crying; shaking can cause permanent brain damage or even death.

If you need to take a break from the baby once in a while, ask a friend to baby sit while you give yourself some down time. Then you can come back refreshed and able to help your little one.

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

Finally, because your baby is crying it does not meant that he is sick. Believe it or not, colicky babies will continue to eat, sleep, and grow, despite their screaming. However, you should call your pediatrician if your baby has fever, is vomiting, is feeding poorly, or seems listless. You should also call if you feel like you are losing self-control.

Remember, your baby cannot speak his needs. The only way he can communicate to you what he is feeling is through emotions such as laughing or crying.

WHAT TO DO:

Here are a few tricks you can try to help soothe your little one. If baby is crying excessively, first look for a possible explanation. Baby could be hungry, tired, in pain, or need a diaper change. Check for fever or even a hair tourniquet: “Hairs can get wrapped around baby’s fingers or toes, or even a boy’s penis,” Dr.Parikh says.

Try different techniques to see what will calm baby’s cries: Holding, rocking, and singing to baby may help, as could white noise, a warm bath, baby massage or a pacifier.

Of course, his discomfort could be as simple as gas pains. Burp him and bicycle his legs to get rid of gas. Is your baby teething? Try a cool teething ring or pacifier. Some mothers suggest when your child is inconsolable, you could swaddle him and walk around with a pacifier in his mouth. Once he is calm, put him in a swing, still swaddled, and turn it on some white noise.

WHEN TO CALL THE PEDIATRICIAN:

Call the doctor if you’ve tried everything and baby is still uncontrollably crying, or if baby has other concerning symptoms. If baby is crying more than three hours per day, at least three days per week before she’s 3 months old, it’s likely colic. You should also call the pediatrician if any of your baby’s symptoms last more than two weeks.

It is okay to call baby’s pediatrician anytime—don’t feel like you need to wait or that you’re being an alarmist. Parents shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions. What can be answered in a few short minutes can save hours of worry. Here are some things the pediatrician will want to know:

• How old is baby? Something as simple as a cold in the first three months is worth a visit, since babies under 3 months are particularly vulnerable. And a fever in a newborn means a trip to the emergency room, if it’s outside of office hours.

• How is baby acting? When did baby start to seem off, keep track of how much he is eating and sleeping, any noticeable difference in his mood and how often you need to change his diaper. If any of those four things are disrupted—for example, if baby is excessively sleepy, super-cranky or isn’t peeing as much as normal—it’s worth taking baby to the pediatrician’s office.

• What are you worried about? If the answer is a variation of ‘I’m worried about the way he looks or breathes or acts,’ then that means a visit to the doctor or the ER. You may be new at this, but you do have instincts.

If you decide to see the pediatrician, always follow the doctor’s instructions explicitly. And, use comforting home techniques to soothe your baby symptoms until they feel better.

Consult the doctor about anything you’re unsure of, from the right Tylenol dosage to whether to use a warm- or cool-mist humidifier. Before you know it your baby will be his well wonderful self again.