Baby Health

🔍 What is Colic?

Colic is when a healthy baby cries for more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for more than 3 weeks. It typically starts around 2–3 weeks of age and usually resolves by 3–4 months. The cause is not fully understood.

🏠 How to Help

• Hold baby in different positions — upright over your shoulder can help
• Gently rock baby or take them for a gentle walk or car ride
• Try gentle tummy massage or 'bicycle legs' to help pass wind
• If breastfeeding: try cutting out caffeine, dairy, or gassy foods
• If bottle feeding: ensure the teat flow is not too fast; try anti-colic bottles
• Gripe water or simeticone drops (Infacol) may help — ask your pharmacist

⚠️ Seek Help If

• Baby has a fever alongside the crying
• Baby seems unwell, is not feeding, or has an unusual cry
• Crying is accompanied by vomiting, blood in nappy, or rash
• You are struggling to cope — speak to your health visitor or GP

Colic is distressing but not harmful to the baby. It always resolves on its own. Looking after your own mental health during this time is important — ask for support.

🔍 Symptoms

Red, sore, and sometimes swollen skin in the nappy area. The skin may feel hot to the touch. Usually caused by prolonged contact with a wet or dirty nappy, friction, or soap irritation.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Change nappies frequently — as soon as soiled
• Clean gently with water only; pat dry (avoid scented wipes)
• Apply a thick layer of barrier cream at every change (zinc oxide or Sudocrem)
• Allow nappy-free time daily to let skin breathe and air dry
• Use a mild, fragrance-free wash for baby's skin

⚠️ Seek Pharmacist / GP Help If

• Rash does not improve after 3–4 days of home treatment
• Spots, blisters, or satellite spots appear around the main rash (possible thrush)
• Rash is bright red with a well-defined border (candidal/thrush — needs antifungal)
• Rash spreads beyond the nappy area
• Baby develops a fever alongside the rash

🔍 Signs of Teething

Flushed cheeks, dribbling more than usual, chewing on hands or objects, sore and swollen gums, and irritability. First teeth usually appear around 6 months (lower front teeth first).

🏠 How to Soothe

• Gently rub the gum with a clean finger or cool (not frozen) teething ring
• Chill teething rings in the fridge — never the freezer
• Teething gels (e.g. sugar-free Bonjela) can help — ask your pharmacist for baby-safe options
• Paracetamol or ibuprofen (age-appropriate dose) if the baby is clearly in pain
• Keep skin dry around the mouth — dribble can cause a rash

⚠️ Important Notes

• Teething does not cause high fever — a temperature ≥38°C needs medical assessment
• Amber teething necklaces are not recommended — they pose a choking and strangulation risk
• Avoid teething gels containing lidocaine in babies under 2 years unless prescribed
• If baby is very unwell, do not assume it is just teething — seek advice

🔍 What is Cradle Cap?

Thick, yellow or white, waxy or crusty patches on a baby's scalp. It is very common and harmless — not caused by poor hygiene or allergy. It usually clears by 6–12 months without treatment.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Gently massage a small amount of baby oil, olive oil, or coconut oil onto the scalp and leave for 15–30 minutes
• Gently loosen scales with a soft brush or flannel, then wash off with baby shampoo
• Do not pick or scratch the scales — this can cause infection
• Wash hair regularly with a gentle baby shampoo

⚠️ See Your GP If

• Cradle cap spreads to the face, neck, or behind the ears
• The area becomes red, hot, or weeps fluid (signs of infection)
• Home treatment has not helped after several weeks
• Baby seems uncomfortable or distressed

🔍 Possetting vs Reflux

Possetting is when a small amount of milk comes back up after a feed — very normal and harmless. Reflux is when this happens frequently and causes discomfort. Both are common in babies and usually improve as they grow.

🏠 How to Help

• Keep baby upright for 20–30 minutes after feeding
• Feed smaller amounts more frequently
• Wind baby gently during and after feeds
• If bottle-feeding, ensure the teat hole is not too large
• Raise the head end of the cot very slightly (use a wedge, not pillows)
• Thickened formula or anti-reflux formula may help — ask your pharmacist

⚠️ Seek Help If (Possible Silent Reflux)

• Baby is not gaining weight or is losing weight
• Feeding is very distressing — arching the back, screaming
• Vomiting is forceful or projectile (could indicate pyloric stenosis)
• Blood in vomit or stools
• Baby appears to be in pain, has difficulty breathing, or seems very unwell

🔍 What is Newborn Jaundice?

A yellow tinge to the skin and whites of the eyes, caused by a build-up of bilirubin. It is very common — affecting around 6 in 10 newborns — and usually harmless. It typically appears on day 2–3 and clears by 2 weeks.

🏠 What to Do

• Continue breastfeeding or formula-feeding frequently (8–12 times a day)
• Keep follow-up appointments with your midwife or health visitor
• Ensure baby is feeding well and producing wet and dirty nappies
• Mild jaundice usually needs no treatment and resolves on its own
• Phototherapy (light treatment) is used for more significant jaundice in hospital

🚨 Seek Urgent Help If

• Jaundice appears in the first 24 hours of life — seek emergency care
• Yellow colour spreads to the arms and legs
• Baby is very sleepy, hard to wake, or feeding poorly
• Urine is dark or stools are pale/white
• Jaundice has not cleared by 3 weeks (2 weeks if premature)

🔍 Symptoms

Dry, itchy, red, and sometimes cracked or weeping skin. In babies it commonly appears on the cheeks, scalp, and outer limbs. Eczema often runs in families alongside asthma and hayfever.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Moisturise the skin at least twice a day with an unperfumed emollient cream or ointment
• Apply emollient before and after bathing; bath in lukewarm water (not hot)
• Use soap-free, fragrance-free products for washing and laundering clothes
• Keep baby's nails short to minimise damage from scratching
• Loose, cotton clothing is less irritating than wool or synthetic fabrics
• Steroid creams (prescribed by GP) are safe when used as directed for flares

⚠️ Seek Help If

• Skin becomes infected — weeping, crusting, very sore, or hot to touch
• Baby develops a fever alongside a flare-up
• Eczema is widespread and poorly controlled with emollients alone
• Eczema is affecting baby's sleep significantly
• You notice a potential food trigger — discuss with your GP

🔍 Symptoms

Yellow or green discharge causing eyelids to stick together, particularly on waking. The eye may be red or watery. In newborns, a blocked tear duct is the most common cause and usually resolves by 12 months.

🏠 Home Treatment

• Bathe the eye with cooled boiled water using clean cotton wool
• Wipe from the inner corner outward; use a fresh piece for each wipe
• Massage the inner corner of the eye gently (for blocked tear ducts) — health visitor or GP can demonstrate the technique
• Wash hands before and after touching the eye area
• Most cases in babies are not contagious and clear without antibiotics

⚠️ Seek Help If

• Newborn with any eye discharge — see GP same day (can be gonorrhoeal/chlamydial)
• Eye is very red, swollen, or the eyelids are puffy
• Baby appears to be in pain or is very sensitive to light
• Discharge is very heavy or the eye does not improve in 1–2 weeks
• Blocked tear duct persists beyond 12 months — referral to eye specialist