728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Illnesses, Diseases & Disorders › Top 10 Infant Medical Conditions

Top 10 Infant Medical Conditions

Common Problems and How to Handle Them

By Sue Poremba

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Ear Infections
Ear infections are extremely common in infants. A sure sign of an ear infection is when the child frequently tugs on the sore ear, Dr. Senders says. A fever and cold symptoms are also often present. Ear infections are felt in the jaw, so it may mimic teething pain as well.

Solution: Call the pediatrician to verify that it is an ear infection and follow the doctor's advice.

Eczema
Eczema is dry, red, itchy skin. "It first appears on the cheeks, then the arms and legs," Dr. Gilman says. It does not usually appear in the diaper area. It occurs when the baby's skin becomes dehydrated.

Solution: Keep the skin well hydrated. Baths can help hydrate the skin, but avoid using soap, which can dry out the skin. Immediately after the bath, apply a cream like Vaseline to lock the moisture in the skin. During the winter, when the air is dry, use humidifiers. Drinking fluids doesn't help hydrate the skin, Dr. Gilman says. Skin is hydrated externally.

Colic
Although colic is very common, experts can't come up with the exact cause. It could be due to the baby eating too fast and is mimicking GERD systems. It could be a reaction to an inexperienced parent or any kind of excitement or anger in the household. "In most children, this is a mismatch between parental expectations and normal newborn activity," Dr. Senders says. "I like to point out that it takes two months to get to know a person. Active children do everything with gusto – they cry with gusto, they eat with gusto and when they are 3 months, they giggle with gusto."

Solution: Swaddling is very helpful, Dr. Senders says. "Non-nutritive sucking appears to be te most helpful," he adds. "Using your finger or a pacifier is like a glass of wine, a hot shower and a back rub all in one." Some babies are soothed by rocking or riding in a car or the sound and motion of the washing machine. Most important, the parent should stay as calm as possible. When the parent is stressed, it can make the colic attack worse.


Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Want to see more?

Comments

There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to add a comment.

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.