A healthy baby is a happy baby, but as much as parents wish they didn’t have to deal with sick infants, some illnesses, such as fever and the occasional infection followed by diarrhea, are unavoidable. As a parent, it’s important that you know the difference between situations when you need to call a doctor and wait for instructions and when the best thing you can do about it is to push your worries aside and let the illness run its course. With that in mind, here are some common toddler troubles and top tips for dealing with sick infants.
Ask others for help
Having your baby become extra clingy and cuddly during their first illness may be sweet at first. However, after a while, having your little one attached to you 24/7 may start to feel exhausting. In fact, when dealing with sick infants, many parents start to feel as if their sanity is being tested. Depending on the newborn illness you’re dealing with, your baby’s symptoms may last up to a week. Many parents report the first few days being extra hard.
While most sick babies go through their first illness with no complications, caring for them can be quite stressful. In those times when going for a stroll to refresh your mind just doesn’t cut it, consider asking for help. Take turns with your partner caring for your little one, or ask family and friends to look after the baby. You can also turn to a neighbor or a babysitter for help if no one else is available. This is a great way to get some sleep while making sure your baby is in good hands. And definitely don’t feel guilty about skipping on household chores or ordering in.
Get informed about preventative procedures
It’s natural for parents to worry about their little one’s health. This is especially true during those times when you feel like there’s not much you can do to help them. All that stress that arises in these situations makes parents wonder whether there was anything they could do to prevent the illness from happening or whether there’s something they could’ve done to help their child recover.
This is why more parents nowadays are interested in learning about innovative preventative procedures to protect their child’s future health. One such procedure involves placenta stem cell collection after delivery and their preservation for potential future medical and therapeutic use. Should the need for them arise, the baby and the whole family can benefit from the banked stem cells. This innovative preventative method offers a chance to parents to preserve their child’s future health before they are even born.
Eat well and ensure plenty of rest
With a sick infant weighing on your mind all day long, it can be easy to push your own needs aside and focus solely on helping your little one get better. However, not getting enough rest and eating poorly will only make you and your baby crankier. It’s important that you both fuel up regularly during this particularly tough period. Make sure both of you are eating well, and focus on eating healthier foods and snacks. Ideally, it’ll be something you can prepare easily and eat during the next couple of days.
You and your sick infant will also need all the energy you can get to get through this period. Therefore, make sure both of you are getting plenty of rest. Ideally, you’ll be sleeping beside your baby and holding her on your chest if her nose is congested. You should also offer plenty of liquids (breast milk) during this period as this will prevent dehydration and increase comfort.
Know when to see a doctor
Some illnesses, such as diarrhea, pass on their own, and there’s not much you can do but soothe your infant. But sometimes, you’ll need to turn to a professional so that they can diagnose your infant properly. Consistent vomiting, loose and watery stools, and dehydration are all causes for concern. If that’s the case, you should definitely contact your doctor when such things occur. The same goes for sniffling, a fever of 100.4 or higher in a newborn, severe coughing, ear infection, conjunctivitis symptoms, or flu symptoms lasting for days.
Remember, it’s important that you provide the doctor with all the essential information as this can help with the diagnosis. You, as a parent, know your little one better than anyone else. Talk to your doctor about what she’s like when she’s well. This can help you and your doctor understand when your baby is sick.
Wrapping up
Not all illnesses are created equal, and not all of them are serious and require medical attention. Knowing the difference can help new parents take the right approach when such situations arise. In doing so, they can cope more easily with their sick infants and look after them with confidence.
