Baby's Health Assessment

Baby's Health Assessment

• In the first 6 to 8 weeks, babies have several bowel movements a day, then the digestion slows and the frequency decreases. It is normal.
• When you switch from breastfeeding to formula, which takes longer to digest, bowel habits may slow down. Similarly, starting change on solids may result in a change of bowel movements and you need not worry about it.
• Once a baby outgrows the newborn stage, if there is no bowel movement for three or four days, it does not pose as much of a problem. However, if there are no bowel movements for a week, the baby is fussy or uncomfortable, has a fever or is vomiting or has a distended belly, you need to check him/her with the doctor.
• For baby's, who have stuffy nose and are having a problem with breathing, you can gently squirt 2 or 3 saline drops into each nostril to loosen the mucus. However, if saline drops don't help, you may need to see the doctor.
• Vaccination is very important, when it comes to infants. Take your child to all the vaccination, to avoid any kind of problem in future.
• When it comes to nutrition, there are a number of times trying new food results in food allergies in babies. They may either have rashes or cry inconsolably or even have vomiting or diarrhea.
• A complete physical examination is an important part of newborn care. Each body system should be carefully examined for signs of healthy and normal functioning.

Immunization Schedule for Babies

• The first dose of Hepatitis B vaccine has to be administered within 12 hours of the birth of the child.
• The second dose of Hepatitis B vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 1 month and not later than 2 months from the birth of the child.
• The third and final dose of Hepatitis B vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 6 months and not later than 18 months from the birth of the child.

• The first dose of Rotavirus vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 6 weeks and not later than 14 weeks from the birth of the child.
• The second and final dose of Rotavirus vaccine has to be administered in the 8th month after the birth of the child.

• The first dose of DTaP vaccine has to be administered in the 2nd month after the birth of the child.
• The second dose of DTaP vaccine has to be administered in the 4th month after the birth of the child.
• The third dose of DTaP vaccine has to be administered in the 6th month after the birth of the child.
• The fourth dose of DTaP vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 15 months and not later than 18 months from the birth of the child.
• The fifth and final dose of DTaP vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 4 years and not later than 6 years from the birth of the child.

• The first dose of Hib vaccine has to be administered in the 2nd month after the birth of the child.
• The second dose of Hib vaccine has to be administered in the 4th month after the birth of the child.
• The third dose of Hib vaccine has to be administered in the 6th month after the birth of the child.
• The fourth and final dose of Hib vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 12 months and not later than 15 months from the birth of the child.

• The first dose of Pneumococcal vaccine has to be administered in the 2nd month after the birth of the child.
• The second dose of Pneumococcal vaccine has to be administered in the 4th month after the birth of the child.
• The third dose of Pneumococcal vaccine has to be administered in the 6th month after the birth of the child.
• The fourth and final dose of Pneumococcal vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 12 months and not later than 15 months from the birth of the child.

• The first dose of Inactivated Poliovirus vaccine has to be administered in the 2nd month after the birth of the child.
• The second dose of Inactivated Poliovirus vaccine has to be administered in the 4th month after the birth of the child.
• The third dose of Inactivated Poliovirus vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 6 months and not later than 18 months from the birth of the child.
• The fourth and final dose of Inactivated Poliovirus vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 4 years and not later than 6 years from the birth of the child.

• Influenza vaccine has to be administered annually to children aged 6 months through 18 years.

• The first dose of MMR vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 12 months and not later than 15 months from the birth of the child.
• The second dose of MMR vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 4 years and not later than 6 years from the birth of the child.

• The first dose of Varicella vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 12 months and not later than 15 months from the birth of the child.
• The second dose of Varicella vaccine has to be administered not earlier than 4 years and not later than 6 years from the birth of the child.

• Two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine have to be administered between the period ranging from the 12th month to the 23rd month of the child, providing a minimum gap of six months between the two doses.

• Meningococcal Vaccine has to be administered to children aged 2 through 10 years with terminal complement component deficiency, anatomic or functional asplenia, and certain other high-risk groups.

Fever In Newborn Babies

• If the baby is crying miserably;
• he is listless or limp;
• her is having convulsions;
• his fontanelle, the soft spot at the top of his head, is mildly swollen;
• he seems to be in pain;
• he has got purple splotches on his skin, or another type of rash;
• he appears pale or flushed;
• he is having problems in breathing;
• he is refusing to breastfeed or drink from a bottle;
• he appears to have trouble swallowing;
• he is vomiting or has diarrhea.

• Don't use medication on your own without referring the doctor. Take the baby to the doctor and get the right medication. Give the exact dosage as prescribed.
• Meanwhile, you can continue to breastfeed or bottle feed your infant as normal, if he takes it.
• In case you find signs of dehydration like dry mouth, less than six wet diapers per day, tearless and sunken eyes, a sunken fontanelle, or dry skin, give him an electrolyte solution in between feedings, or replace the feedings with the electrolyte solution. Refer to your doctor before starting.
• You can give a sponge bath with lukewarm water to the baby. If you let the water evaporate off his skin, it will help to cool him down.

Food Allergies in Babies

 Food allergy in babies may make the baby break out in rashes or cry inconsolably after trying a food. Babies may have vomiting or diarrhea due to food allergies. Most common allergies in kids less than 5 years old are to milk, eggs and peanuts. It may take a few times, before the baby gets sensitized to a certain allergen and so crying inconsolably is one of the first signs, accompanied by other symptoms that should warn the parents in time. Children may also inherit allergies that run in the family though if a child does not want to have a food, he or she is not necessarily allergic to it. The child may not simply like it.

Children may develop food allergy by consuming a food directly or through nursing where they may become allergic to something moms may have eaten. To prevent food allergies, it is recommended to introduce solids gradually in a child’s diet between ages of four to six months and pay attention to any signs and symptoms that may manifest themselves when you introduce a particular food. One should start with rice cereal, followed by barley and oat cereal and them move on to yellow vegetables, fruits, green vegetables, meats and at last, wheat. Keep a gap of five to seven days before moving on to another food, so you can watch whether any symptoms such as incessant crying, rash, diarrhea or vomiting, develop during this period. If they do, you may call the doctor.

Doctors may do tests to confirm the allergy. If the child is allergic to certain food, you may need to avoid giving it to him or eating it until you are breastfeeding the child. Milk allergies may warrant you to give non-allergenic formula or soy formula to your child and you should not drink milk during the nursing phase. However, the good news is that most kids outgrow food allergies in few months to perhaps, few years. Then, the food can be re-introduced to their diet without any problem.

Identifying Colic Condition in Newborns

• Babies, who are bottle fed, can be given relief by changing the milk,
• Change in the place/environment, probably the baby is not able to adapt it.
• Mother, feeding the baby, should avoid foods like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, parsnip, beans caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, etc, which may trigger such reaction.
• Babies may not be okay with the cow's milk because it is not easily digestible.
• Make the baby to burp after every meal, as it really essential for the baby to be fit and happy.

• Humming some soft song could help to divert the attention of the baby.
• Try taking the baby out for a long drive; it will help the baby to soothe down.
• Rub mildly warm olive oil on child's' belly in circular motion to provide relief.
• Providing baby with warm compression can also be very useful.

Taking Temperature in Babies

• An oral thermometer can be used over four years of age as they can put it under the tongue easily.
• For taking rectal temperature, use digital rectal thermometer and apply petroleum jelly on it. Insert it one inch into the rectum and keep it there for about a minute or until the thermometer beeps. Remove the thermometer and note the reading. Babies may have a bowel moment just as you remove the thermometer from their rectum.
• Forehead strips are the easiest one to use on children and are easily available too but they are not trusted enough to get an exact reading. However, they are good for children who are a year old or older.
• The best way to take a temperature in a baby is rectally. Rectal temperatures represent the body temperature most accurately too as the oral temperature may vary with the temperature of something the baby has just eaten or drunk.
• Underarm temperature represents external body temperature, which may be lower than internal temperature and lead to false assumptions and diagnosis.
• While some people may prefer taking ear temperature, it can be a little challenging to place the thermometer right to get a good reading. It may also be hurtful to children who have ear infections.