There is nothing that can prepare you fully for the birth of your baby. Whether it’s your first or your fourth child, the love that you feel knows no bounds, and you just want to cherish and keep them safe forever. During the first year of your new baby’s life, there will be times when your baby suffers from common ailments on what feels like a regular basis. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to relieve their discomfort.
Diaper rash
1 in 4 babies develop diaper rash within the first 4 weeks of their life. It can look sore and feel hot to touch, and there may be pimples and blisters present as well as angry red patches. Most babies with mild diaper rash won’t feel sore, but in severe cases, a baby can feel very uncomfortable and distressed.
Your baby’s skin is about half the thickness of an adult’s, and is prone to getting sore because it’s so delicate. Enzymes in stools break down a baby’s skin, and the ammonia from the mix of urine and the bacteria in stools furthers this harsh environment. Even the most diligent diaper changer can struggle to keep nappy rash under control.
When changing baby’s diaper, only use water to clean and avoid using wipes as they contain chemicals and additives that will aggravate the rash further. Choose a safe and gentle diaper rash cream that will not only act as a treatment to soothe baby’s bottom but act as a barrier to prevent reinfection.
Diarrhea and vomiting
Newborns are having to experience feeding for the first time, and there can be problems with digestion for the first few weeks. Their intestines do not absorb food very well and so they pass watery stools. As they get a little older, their absorption improves, and they pass thicker and less frequent stools.
If your baby has diarrhea, you will know about it. It tends to be looser, almost watery, and more frequent. The cause is usually bacterial or viral infection, and your baby may also be suffering from vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, aches, and chills.
All babies vomit. Vomiting through illness tends to be more forceful and with a greater quantity than a post-feed milk spit. It is very important to keep your baby hydrated during periods of diarrhea and vomiting by offering them cooled boiled water in between feeds.
If your baby is projectile vomiting, or the vomiting and diarrhea has continued for 24 hours, it’s time to seek medical attention.
Constipation
Constipation is unusual for a newborn baby, but as they get a little older, it gets more common. You know your baby’s usual schedule of bowel movements. Baby’s stool pattern depends on what he has been eating and drinking (or what you have if you are breastfeeding), and how active he is. If your baby is passing stools infrequently, if the stools are hard, dry and difficult to pass, or you notice very liquid stools in the diaper (can be confused with diarrhea as the liquid passes past the blockage), you must make sure that baby drinks more liquids. Cooled boiled water is ideal
Keeping your baby healthy and happy is your primary concern, and seeing them distressed is heartbreaking. By keeping them well hydrated and choosing your daily products carefully, you can provide a solution to their regular ailments.
