Having a bouncy baby in perfect health is the best thing that can ever happen to you as a parent. But infants can, at times, be too fragile, especially since they get sick quickly. For instance, a simple mistake like a wrong bath can lead to complications. Therefore, there come the challenges of being a parent, especially when a child is still in infancy.
So, how do you tell if your newborn is unwell? Remember, you must know your baby’s typical behaviors and normal baby temperature so that you can note the slightest change when things are not okay. Newborns have a weak immune system, and therefore can hardly fight infections. For most babies, illnesses are inevitable. the following instances may show signs of a newborn’s illness:
- Any illness-related symptom
There are explicit symptoms that will rightly send you to a doctor. For example, vomiting, recurrent cough, and diarrhea are signs that may indicate a severe ailment. It will help if you consider vomit color too since breastfeeding children vomit often. If the color is not whitish and is something that resembles green, then you should seek medical attention immediately.
- Fever
Most bacterial and fungal diseases bring about fever on the body. Fever is the most common sign that can show high odds of illness not only in babies but adults too. If a child sweats profusely when asleep, then you should see a doctor for consultations and diagnosis.
- Lower body temperature
Just like how fever indicates a sign of illness, lower body temperatures beyond normal levels mean that the newborn is unwell too. If you are in a cold region, you might consider dressing him warmly, but if lower temperatures persist, then you must seek medical attention immediately.
- Abnormal sleeping patterns
Sleeping patterns are greatly affected when a newborn develops respiratory complications. You may witness an apparent struggle in breathing, or rather difficulty in inhaling or even a whizzing sound when the child is asleep. In most cases, newborns develop such complications when there is blockage around the nasal passage. You can use a bulb syringe to suck the mucus out because newborns cannot blow snot on their own. However, in desperate situations, there might be a need for drastic measures such as the mother suckling the mucus physically and spitting it away. Whichever is comfortable for the baby, that is what you should stick to.
- Floppy limbs
Feeble limbs are a clear indication that the child’s bones and joints are not developing in the right way. The quickest or rather long term remedy is making sure that all forms of vitamin D are accessible to the newborn, and most importantly, sunshine. The signs at an early stage may not be severe until a baby develops bowed legs at maturity because of rickets. You can always reduce the chances of rickets right from a child’s infancy.
- Skin rashes
A healthy baby should have supple and even tone skin. When you see developing rushes or even dry skin, then there is a problem somewhere. The common cause for dry skin and also rushes can be allergic reactions to water or sudden change of climate. For instance, babies develop dry skin when they are bathed continuously with hard water. Another probable cause can be dehydration, which in that case, you are supposed to feed him with fluids. In worst situations, though not out of the ordinary, there might be high odds that the baby developed a skin infection such as ringworms, which is common among children.
- Abnormal feeding patterns
In like a week or two after giving birth, you should be able to tell your baby’s feeding patterns. For instance, you can know the times that the baby will need to suckle more and how often he will need breast milk. If there is an abnormal change in such traits, then you should notify the doctor. On food, you can also tell the child’s health through the kind of stool. If the newborn fails to egest on successive days, then there might be a bigger problem.
- Abnormal crying
Finally, it is normal for newborn babies to cry, especially when there is no one around. Once you hear a loud cry, never jump into the conclusion of a possible sickness or infection. You can try by feeding the baby; maybe it just needs food. Babies also cry when they want to sleep or when in need of a company. You can also consider changing diapers.
However, if you’ve done a normal routine and the cries persist, then there might be something. If there is no other symptom of sickness, then probably the baby is suffering from abdominal pains. Another red flag can be different crying sounds from what you are used to. Moreover, if your instincts don’t feel right regarding the baby, then you can seek a doctor’s intervention to determine whatever the problem could be. Remember, it is never safe to gamble with health matters, and most importantly, when a newborn is involved.
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