The health and wellbeing of their child is every parent’s top concern. Whether you’re caring for your baby’s delicate skin or dealing with the symptoms of teething, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure your little one stays healthy and has everything they need to grow and develop. For most babies and infants, getting poorly is an unavoidable (and distressing) part of early life. Fortunately, though, most common childhood conditions are not serious and can be treated fairly easily.
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There are numerous conditions and illnesses that occur commonly among babies, toddlers and young children, and as a parent it’s inevitable you’ll have to deal with at least some of these during your child’s early years. Fortunately, most of these will present mild symptoms, and we offer a range of children's health and baby care products to help treat them.
When you’re caring for a newborn baby, your priority is keeping them healthy and comfortable while ensuring they have everything they need to get through their most vital stage of growth. Issues such as nappy rash and sore gums caused by teething can cause distress, but you can treat them to give your baby relief.
It’s essential that a newborn baby gets the core nutrients they need to support their healthy growth. For example, vitamin A will aid their vision and the development of their immune system, while vitamin D2 will encourage bone, teeth and muscle development. It’s not always easy to ensure your baby is getting enough of these through feeding alone, so you should consider giving them a supplement like Abidec Multivitamin Drops.
When it comes to teething, every baby is different. Most babies begin teething at around 4 to 6 months, while for others it can happen much later. Baby teeth sometimes emerge with little to no discomfort, but generally teething will invite one or more mild symptoms, such as:
Sore gums can be especially uncomfortable, but a fast-acting solution like Bonjela Teething Gel will help relieve pain and inflammation, helping to soothe your baby to a restful sleep.
Colic in babies can have many causes, and one of them is temporary lactose intolerance. Temporary lactose intolerance can present in babies shortly after birth, but will usually last for just a few months until your baby’s digestive system is more developed. It results from your baby’s inability to digest sugars or lactose in either breast or formula milk, and can cause them some pain and discomfort.
If your baby often cries for long periods following a feed, this could be a sign of temporary lactose intolerance. We suggest looking into Colief Infant Drops. Though we recommend speaking to your doctor or another health professional before using a new treatment, Colief is safe and effective at treating colic caused by temporary lactose intolerance.
Generally harmless and very common in babies, cradle cap is a skin condition that causes rough, scaly patches on the scalp. The cause isn’t fully understood, but cradle cap is most common in babies up to 3 months old (though it can last up to a year or longer).
If your baby is suffering from cradle cap, it’ll likely clear up by itself before they reach their first birthday, but in the meantime you can use a baby shampoo like Dentinox Cradle Cap Treatment Shampoo to relieve the symptoms and provide gentle care for their hair and scalp. You can also lightly massage an emollient into your baby's scalp to loosen the scales.
Especially during their first few months, babies have very delicate and sensitive skin, so it’s important that your baby’s skin is protected and cared for. Nappy rash is extremely common (almost all babies will get nappy rash at some point) and can occur at any age while your baby is in nappies, but most commonly appears when they’re between 6 and 18 months.
Nappy rash is caused by your baby’s skin being in contact with wee or poo for a long time, or sometimes from their nappy rubbing against their skin. This may lead to redness or blistering on your baby’s bottom, and it may feel hot to the touch. Bepanthen and Metanium Ointment are both used to protect your baby’s skin from nappy rash and allow gentle skin recovery without it drying out.
As your baby develops into infanthood, you’ll find them growing at a rapid rate. They’ll start using sounds to express emotion, eating more solid foods, and, of course, they’ll be on their way to crawling and walking in no time. There are new health concerns you may need to consider as your baby gets older, too, which is why we have a range of infant care products to aid the transition from baby to toddler and beyond.
There are lots of things that can cause a mouth ulcer in a young child, but it usually stems from the inside of the mouth being damaged in some way: they may accidentally bite their cheek, for instance, or chew a particularly-tough bit of food. A mouth ulcer is also more likely to develop when a child is feeling generally unwell or fatigued.
Though it can be quite painful, a mouth ulcer isn't generally a sign of anything serious and will usually clear up within a week or two. There’s no quick fix, but Bonjela Junior Gel will soothe the pain and discomfort caused by a mouth ulcer, making it more bearable. If your child has a mouth ulcer, it’s also best for them to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and avoid eating crunchy foods like crisps or drinking very acidic drinks like fruit juices.
Ear infections in children are very common; in fact, around 1 in 2 children will experience at least one ear infection before they reach their second birthday. Caused by bacteria or a virus, an ear infection is an inflammation of the middle ear, and can be very painful for a young child. Symptoms of an ear infection can include:
If you notice your little one rubbing or pulling at their ears or struggling to keep their balance, they may have an ear infection. Most ear infections clear up within 3 days, but symptoms can last up to a week. If your child is suffering from any of the above symptoms, a drop of Canesten Solution can help to relieve the pain and irritation.
Acid reflux is when food and acid from the stomach go back up into the food pipe (known as the oesophagus). This is common in adults and children (and even babies) and can cause pain and discomfort in the chest. Common signs of acid reflux in children include:
If your child is suffering from any of the symptoms of acid reflux, encourage them to eat smaller meals more frequently, and ensure they sleep with their chest and head raised above their waist. Gaviscon Infant Sachets are suitable for children aged 1 year and older, and help to relieve pain and discomfort caused by heartburn or indigestion in children.
Reflux in babies is also common, and occurs because their food pipes have not fully developed. It’s important to hold your baby upright during feeding (and for as long as possible afterwards) and ensure you burp them regularly. You should also make sure your baby sleeps flat on their back, and not on their side or front.
Authored by
Scott is one of the two founders of The Independent Pharmacy. He is a registered pharmacist and the registered manager of our service with the CQC.
Reviewed by
Andy is a co-founder and the Superintendent Pharmacist and Director at The Independent Pharmacy.
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