To the new parents
In the cradle, when the baby sleeps, keep him on his side or on his back, this position is the most suitable for the infant because it gives him a feeling of warmth and security. Avoid that the head is always rotated on the same side.
Give your baby sonic and tactile stimulations, touch is the most developed sense at birth. Always look him in the eye when you talk to him and when you touch him. Breastfeed him in a quiet environment the meal is a moment of great intimacy between mother and child, whether it is breastfeeding or if with the bottle this moment should not be disturbed. Do not use child seats until the 3rd month, rather put it on the floor on a blanket.
Never leave the child alone on the changing table or on the bed even for a few moments: it can fall even a few days of life.
The newborn
The head: it is fragile, elastic, resistant. As soon as the newborn’s skull is born, it is pear shaped, but it changes over time, in some cases an osteopathic consultation may be useful. Be careful never to shake a newborn baby, the head is heavy and the neck muscles are fragile, the brain if shaken can cause bleeding.
General advice (0-14 years)
Eczema: itchy blisters on the face, shoulders, neck, sometimes even the groin chest. It can be dry or seborrheic.
Practical advice: use only cotton or linen fibers, in the acute phase compresses with chamomile and calendula in case of acute itching bath with warm bicarbonate. Use almond oil if the skin is very dry. Very emollient creams for children if dry skin, Kelual emulsion if seborrheic dermatitis and milky crust on face and head.
Diarrhea: frequent discharge, 5/6 liquid sometimes associated with vomiting and general malaise.
Practical advice: identify the substances that caused it, make a diet free of milk and derivatives. In case of breastfeeding, often attack the baby. Combat any dehydration by drinking plenty of water or saline solutions. Diarrhea can also be caused by bacteria or viruses, a stool test may be needed.
Vomiting: a distinction must be made between vomiting and regurgitation, the former is often associated with diarrhea, the latter can also be due to gastroesophageal reflux. In case of repeated vomiting, limit the introduction of liquids to what is strictly necessary and a few at a time. In the event of frequent regurgitation, it will be my care to determine whether to give drugs or change the type of diet.
Lack of appetite: sometimes states of malaise or illness can give a lack of appetite. If the child is active and lively, there is no cause for concern. There is the possibility of lack of appetite for psychological implications often attributable to changes in family life or later in age to school problems.
Practical advice: face the problem with serenity, stimulating the child’s appetite with more congenial foods. Only worry if there is an obvious weight loss.
Constipation: with breastfeeding the baby may not produce stool even for 5 days and this is not a problem, in this case try to intervene with circular massages on the tummy or stimulate the anus with the tip of a thermometer.
For older children, if they do not produce feces for two days, always try to intervene from above and therefore with food rich in fiber (fruit, vegetables, cereals) not with mini enemas to avoid further lazy the abdominal muscles.
Colic: are pains in the tummy that the infant can present in the first 3 months and which occur at regular times during the day regardless of the type of food introduced.
Practical advice: rotational massage to the tummy by bending the legs upwards, rectal tube to be inserted in the anus half a cm. If not enough, they are useful as natural products: Pediacolin, Colikind, Colidep.
Fever: fever temperature is considered in the newborn when the thermometer rises to 38.5 if measured rectally, 0.5 is removed and preferably paracetamol or ibuprofen syrup is administered, every 8 hours depending on the weight. In the event of a fever, it is important to always keep the child poorly dressed, possibly with cotton, the fever without symptoms can be considered worrying for newborns after 48 hours, otherwise just let the child drink often.
There are various thermometers on the market only the prismatic thermometer for babies can be used rectally, the others each have different measurement methods. Rectal measurement is advisable only up to 6 months.
Cold: it is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa of viral infectious origin and very contagious. In the newborn, because of the narrow choruses, it is very easy for the baby to have a stagnation of mucus in the nose so as to seem noisy breathing. Tips: Nasal washings with saline before each meal.
Many, however, are the possible viruses responsible for the cold, it is not the cold or exposure to air currents that is most responsible. Sometimes both stress and allergies can facilitate its onset. The symptoms appear 2-3 days after the infection: sneezing, (be careful in the newborn, however, the sneezing is physiological up to 3 months), blocked nose, burning in the throat, headache, weak fever. Symptoms resolve within 2 weeks at most.
Tips: those who have a cold must wash their hands often, use only disposable tissues, free the nostrils one at a time to avoid pushing the viruses towards the ears or throat. Avoid staying in overheated environments: dry and hot air irritates the mucous membranes. Dissolve in a pan of preheated water 2 cubes of baking soda and a sachet of chamomile inhale the vapors that are released from the solution at the right distance, if necessary you can add 5 drops of essential oil of thyme in the humidifier or in the pot itself to rest better in the night. (Do not use eucalyptus because it can trigger bronchospasm). Drink a lot, put in the nose in addition to physiological humidifying solutions, never use products for the nose that contain vasoconstrictors, in case of feverish temperature only take paracetamol in the right doses for weight or age. Vitamin C. Other products: R1 + R6 drops 10 + 10 3 times a day; or Homeogriphi vials 1 for 3 times a day
Prevention of diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract: start in September. For all OMEOGRIPHI half or 1 vial per week with Citomix granules 10 per week x5 wk and one of suspension or Biofluinum Echinacea 1 capsule per week. Any other medications can be added depending on the child and I will advise them.
Sleep: sleep is a problem for all parents, if the child cries and it is inconsolable to always ask your pediatrician for help in eliminating the suspicions of organic causes. In case of absence of reasons, the book “take a nap” can be useful
Self-weaning food
- From 4 months but only on advice and pediatric control can solid foods be started
- The teaspoon and seasonal fruit always and only after meals excluding red fruits
- The teaspoon and the legume soup in season, always without salt with the addition of carbohydrates (various pre-cooked flours, quinoa, amaranth. Pastina, semolina), 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil and the proteins of your choice:
- 30 g steamed or freeze-dried meat
- 30 g of fish
- 30g of legumes
- 30g of cheese
As for the modalities, please tell me about it, because every child is different. For a consultation in the studio you can find my references on the page.