Baby | Health

Stocking Your Medicine Cabinet Your baby should not be given any medication without proper advice from your doctor or a qualified pharmacist until she reaches six months.But it's useful to keep certain items to hand for emergencies.
Read Stocking up your medicine cabinet

Your baby has a fever, or he's breathing funny, or maybe he's just more fussy than usual. How do you know if it's something serious? Learn when you should call the doctor and what you can do in the meantime to help.
When should you call the doctor?

Upset Tummies Stomach aches and diaorrhea are a common occurrence in babies and young children. And though the complaints themselves are rarely serious, children who are being sick or have loose stools are particularly susceptible to dehydration. This is why parents need to be vigilant with any changes in their babies' stools and urine output.
Read How to deal with stomach upsets

My son is almost 8 months old and has a bad cold. He wakes up really congested at night. Is it safe to give him decongestants? If so, what kind of over-the-counter ones do you suggest?
Read Is it safe to give a baby decongestants?

Chicken Pox Pointers You may find it odd when you hear mothers going out of their way to get their children to catch chicken pox - they even hold parties to spread the disease! But the fact is, getting this childhood illness out of the way early protects the person from a very unpleasant and much more serious illness as an adult. Chicken Pox poses a risk for very young babies, though, who can develop complications. But now that your little one is nearing his first birthday and socialising more in toddler groups. He is more likely to come in contact with chicken pox. If he does catch it try not to worry as most children cope well with the disease and it will provide him lifelong immunity, his body will cope well with the disease and provide him lifelong immunity. So don't worry if you come into contact with infected children.
Read Get the low-down on chicken pox

The Low-Down on Birthmarks Many of us have birthmarks that we don't even know about - small, unnoticeable patches or spots that never bother us. But sometimes birthmarks are more visible and can cause concern. This is particularly the case with Haemangiomas or Strawberry marks. Parents worry about how these will might affect their child's future, both physically and emotionally.
Read Haemangi-what?

Ear Trouble Most babies and children will at some point suffer from ear infections. Very often these clear up on their own and may only cause a light fever and a little fractiousness. More persistent infections may require antibiotics, though doctors will avoid prescribing these to young babies wherever possible. If your little one is irritable, pulling at her ear and has a high fever, it may indicate an infection. Be aware that recurring middle ear infections can lead to a reduction in hearing, which in turn can affect language development - so get it checked out.
Read Signs of ear trouble

Is my Baby Unwell? Because her immune system has yet to build up, your newborn is susceptible to viruses and infections. Colds and sniffles are common and usually nothing to worry about. But call your GP if your little one suffers from any of the following: 1) A temperature above 38.5C or below 37.5C, that won't correct itself by cooling or warming your baby. 2) Rapid breathing 3) Refusing feeds 4) Projectile vomiting 5) Floppiness or persistent crankiness 6) Dry nappies over more than a 6 hour period. Don't administer any medication without medical advice.
Read When should I worry?

Giving Health a Hand Medication should not be given to babies unless it is absolutely necessary, and only under medical advice. Pain relief suspensions can help with teething troubles and fevers, but don't be tempted to turn to the medicine cabinet every time your baby is cranky, as his immune system must be given a chance to fight the illness first.
Read How to administer medicine

My son is almost 7 months old. We live in the country and have spring water. I buy water from the shop to give him, but I was wondering how long I need to keep sterilising his bottles?
Read How long do I need to sterilize my baby's bottles?

Allergy Allert As your baby sets off on the road to solids you may want to brush up on your allergy knowledge. Find out if members of your family suffer from food intollerances such as Coeliac or peanut or lactose intollerance, as these can cause serious symptoms that need to be looked out for. Less severe allergies resulting in rashes or upset stomachs can be linked to all sorts of foods, so it's worth knowing what to look out for.
Read All about infant food allergies

Hot and Bothered Fevers are our best defence against infections, and a very common occurrence in a baby's life. On it's own, a small change in your baby's temperature is nothing to worry about and can be managed by cooling down the skin with a damp cloth and, if necessary, a dose of baby paracetamol suspension. But if your baby has a fever in conjunction with other symtoms such as dark red spots, difficulty breathing, floppiness, loose stools, and such, get immediate medical advice.
Read How to deal with fevers