What's in your cabinet?
All about Medicines for your newborn
For their Ears:
Ear medicine; such as shown above, can be used for treating ear infections and other ear symptoms. The correct dose of infant ibuprofen can reduce the pain. Never give your baby aspirin because it makes them, more susceptible to Reyes syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease. Ear drops or a warm compress held to their ear can also help. However, if your baby is under 2 months old, talk with your doctor before giving them any over-the-counter medications.
For their Noses/Colds
Infant cold medicine can be used for a common cold, where the side effects might include sneezing, sniffling, coughing, and congestion. It could also be used for more serious colds, or the flu, which might contain symptoms such as low fever and vomiting or diarrhea. For treating nasal congestion, you should use a rubber suction bulb. This draws out the mucus out of the nostrils, and its considerably easy. In case of very thick mucus, saline nasal drops have to be put into the nostrils before using the rubber suction bulb.
For their Heads/Pain
Widely used pain relievers for newborns include Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, and Little Remedies. Pain relievers are good to have in your medicine cabinet, but you should also have an infant thermometer, in case you think your baby has a fever. Fever is usually a sign that your newborn baby’s body is fighting an infection. Bacteria and viruses usually thrive at a temperature near our normal body temperature. If you find that you child has a fever by using the thermometer, giving them infant Advil or another fever suppressant will help them feel better.
Click on the link below to find out more info on infant medicine:
How to take your newborn's temperature:
- Lay your newborn baby on his back and bring his knees up over his stomach.
- You may want to have somebody help you hold the baby down.
- Make sure the thermometer is clean and it works.
- Dip the thermometer in some water-soluble jelly, such as vaseline.
- Insert the thermometer into your newborn baby’s bottom, about 2.5 cm (1 inch) in.
- Wait for the thermometer to take the reading. This is usually indicated by a beeping noise. Read the temperature carefully and record it somewhere.
- Clean the thermometer after use with soap and water.
- Compare your baby's temperature to the normal range rectally, which is 97.9°F to 101°F
The video below explains how to give a baby medicine:
How to Give Your Baby Medication
When to call the pediatrician:
-When your baby has an extremely low/high temperature
-If your baby's symptoms persist, despite treatment
-If your baby cries uncontrollably
-Also, talk to the doctor before giving your newborn any over the counter medications.