A lot of first time parents worry over not noticing
the signals that their child may send when they are
unwell. Most parents also discover that they are more
fine-tuned than they thought and they are able to
zero in on the following illnesses with little difficulty.
• Runny nose (usually it is viral such as the
common cold but can also be triggered by allergies
or chemical sensitivities)
• Coughing (can be caused by common cold, allergies,
exposure to cigarette smoke and other irritants or
chronic lung disease)
• Wheezing (caused by the narrowing of the air
passages in the lungs and the presence of excess mucus
in the major airways)
• Croup (a noisy seal like bark that is caused
by the inflammation of the windpipe below the vocal
cords)
• Diarrhea and or abdominal cramps (can be triggered
by gastrointestinal problem, food sensitivity or other
illnesses)
• Vomiting (cause for concern is if your child
becomes dehydrated)
• Changes to baby's skin color (extreme paleness
or flushedness - can be result of systemic or localized
infection)
• Rashes (caused by viral or bacterial infection
or an allergic reaction to food, medication or other
substances)
• Fussiness or lethargy (caused by an illness
or infection)
• Fever (infection, a reaction to an immunization
or overdressing your baby)
Will I be able
to protect my baby from harm?
Fortunately newborns are not as fragile as they appear;
besides common sense and parental instincts enable
parents to keep their babies safe from harm. You will
feel less helpless if you do some reading on infant
and toddler care. Also, if you seek guidance from
experienced friends and relatives - suggestions from
familiar people and on age-old issues always help.
