Wellness

Common Health Problems In Newborns And Infants

Answered by Team ParentCircle

Dr Rajath Athreya, senior consultant and head of department (pediatrics and neonatology) at Sakra World Hospital, Bengaluru, answers all your questions related to health issues in newborns and infants

1. My newborn (3 weeks) has developed tiny, pimple-like bumps on his neck and has dry flakes of skin on his scalp, similar to dandruff. I’ve been told that these are common in newborns. But I wonder if these bumps hurt him and if his scalp is itchy, making him uncomfortable. Is there something I can do to fasten the healing process?

What you have been told is correct. It sounds like cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis)—flaky, greasy, yellow patches on the scalp and eyebrows and small bumps on the back and neck. It’s a common condition in the first few months of life. Clumps of matted hair may come off, but hair grows back. It may be unsightly, but it won’t harm your baby or cause any discomfort to her. Although cradle cap will clear up on its own with time, you can try a few things. Soften your baby’s scalp with emollients (thin moisturizers or baby oil) overnight and wash the scalp with a gentle baby shampoo the next day. Remove the flakes with a soft hair brush. If the skin rashes are more extensive and your baby is uncomfortable, a quick visit to your paediatrician will give you clarity.

2. My daughter is 1 month old. She has been having a cold (nasal congestion and runny nose) on and off for the last few weeks. Not sure why she is catching cold so often. What should I do? I feel she is too small to take prescribed cold medicines this often.

Babies have small nasal passages. On a quiet night, you may hear some noises coming from your baby during breathing. Although it’s common in babies, parents often interpret the noise as a cold infection. That said, some crusting and blocked nose can cause discomfort and disturb her sleep or feeding. Use nonmedicated saline nasal drops to clear that, if needed. A runny nose can be a sign of a viral infection, like the common cold, especially if she is dull, irritable, coughing in bouts, and is not keen to feed or has a fever. This will warrant a visit to your doctor. Apart from saline nasal drops, avoid using any over-the-counter medications. We need to avoid overprescribing cough and cold medications to babies. Such medications are usually not effective and are yet to be considered safe for babies.

3. My baby is teething and is extremely irritable. She gets very cranky at night and wakes up multiple times in the middle of the night, crying. Is teething supposed to be this painful? What should I do?

More things are attributed to teething than relevant. Fever, irritability, disturbed sleep, excessive crying and reluctance to feed can all be signs of a baby who is unwell. Babies may have mildly sore gums, but severe pain waking them up at night is unusual. The first thing to do is to visit your pediatrician and ensure nothing is amiss. Babies soothe themselves by chewing on things, may drool a bit more and appear flushed. Rarely are they in significant pain due to teething. Allow your baby to chew on things—her hands, soft teething rings, pieces of fruit, and vegetable sticks, if she is 8 months old or older. This may help. Some parents feel teething gels help—ensure that these are approved for babies. Avoid using medicated oral ulcer gels on babies. An occasional dose of paracetamol may help.

4. I have a 6-month-old son with bowel problems. He has constipation and sometimes goes more than a week without a bowel movement. Are there any remedies for this? How can I relieve his constipation?

Babies often go without a bowel motion for a few days (even up to a week), more so in the first few months of life. Take your baby to a pediatrician if:

• there’s a sudden change in the pattern or consistency of stools
• the stools are hard and your baby is uncomfortable
• there are other symptoms like vomiting, refusal of feeds, blood or mucus in stools

Your baby at 6 months may be ready for semisolid foods in addition to breast milk—introducing some fiber in the form of pureed fruits or steamed vegetables and giving him some water to drink (once you start feeding him semisolid foods) may help.

Also Read:

Seven toddler health concerns

Health Symptoms To Never Ignore In A Child

Ways To Relieve Constipation In Infants

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