Seeing your baby in pain or ill is very difficult for parents specially for first time parents but illness is part of life and babies get ill easily because their immune system is weak. In fact with illness, they develop immunity. As they grow older and get exposed to different viruses and bacteria, they get immune to it. When a virus or bacteria attacks for the first time, body's natural defense mechanism gets activated e.g.
- Body's temperature might be raised to kill the virus
- If there is some bacteria/virus in respiratory system, body will try to throw it out by coughing that causes cough.
Sometimes babies get well on its own in few days but sometimes it needs doctors intervention. In either case, following few tips will help you for child's fast recovery.
- Breastmilk is best medicine for your child because Hence in illness do breastfeed your baby. if your baby is on mixed feed, try to give BM more or if your baby is on solids, you can reduce quantity of solids and feed more frequently for a while
- Since BM is tailored as per baby's needs, BM will have more antibodies when your child is ill which will help her recover faster.
- BM helps in hydration as kids don't eat or drink much while they are ill.
- Keep child hydrated. Offer more fluids. If child is suffering with diarrhea, consider giving ORS after consulting your doctor.
- Give medicine as prescribed by doctor especially don't substitute drops with syrup as the concentrations are quite different.
- We compared syrup and drops version of one medicine and realized that drops were 4-5 times more concentrated and if we talk about the dosage then it should be 4-5 times lesser. Hence to avoid such confusions, always carry doctor's prescription to chemist while buying medicine instead of naming medicines verbally.
- Dosage of medicine is as per baby's birth weight not as per their age. So two babies of same age might have different dosage of a medicine.
- Keep count of urine output. If it is less than usual, it could be sign of dehydration.
- Don't force feed the child. Like adults, children's hunger also goes for a toss when they are ill. Offer small meals but more frequently.
- Take care of hygiene when child is ill. E.g. if child is having running nose, keep cleaning his nose whenever needed. Change bedsheets more often.
- Put comfortable clothes appropriate for climatic condition. Avoid over-dressing.
- If child has high grade fever (101-102 degree F), sponging should be done with regular water to reduce temperature. Sponging is the best way to bring down temperature immediately.
- Child's comfort should be your priority while she is ill. Forget rules and disciplines for a while. Pamper them little more.
- If symptoms don't go in couple of days with home remedies, please contact your pediatrician. Child may actually need medicines.
