There are so many health complications for infants and young children, it’s important to stay up-to-date on potential therapeutic interventions
Becoming a parent or guardian is a life-changing privilege, but it is also an enormous responsibility. There are so many things to consider and worry about, and for a new parent it can feel somewhat overwhelming.
For a start, childhood is full of coughs and colds and bumps and bruises. Due to both the sheer number of different cold viruses and the fact young children have no immunity to them, it is quite common for a child to have eight or more colds a year. While they will gradually build up immunity, in the meantime there are also a range of appropriate over-the-counter pain medications to help ease the symptoms of common ailments, including Calpol Infant Suspension, which contains paracetamol. Another trusted product is Nurofen for Children, which provides effective relief for children suffering from pain, fever and cold and influenza.
Pain relief can also be used to treat the symptoms of teething. Calpol Teething Gel has a mild anaesthetic, which numbs the gums, and also contains a gentle antiseptic that can help prevent infection. It can be taken alongside Calpol Infant Suspension if pain and fever relief is also needed.
Another trusted product, Nelson’s Teetha Teething Gel, is a homeopathic medicinal product used for the symptomatic relief of teething pain and the symptoms associated with teething, which are sore and tender gums, flushed cheeks and dribbling. It is suitable for babies aged from three months plus. It comes in a handy gel format and is sugar free and easy to apply. Containing Chamomilla 6c, Nelson’s Teetha Teething Granules are also ideal to help soothe the pain associated with cutting new teeth.
There are also a range of teething rings available from the community pharmacy. For stuffed-up noses, Calpol Soothe and Care Saline Nasal Spray and Saline Drops are available at the pharmacy.
Breastmilk is undoubtedly best for baby and the World Health Organisation recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. It is rich in the antibodies, essential enzymes, and hormones vital for a baby’s healthy growth. A remarkable substance, exclusive breastfeeding may help in the prevention of allergies and promote the development of healthy gut microbiota. It is also associated with a decreased risk of osteoporosis and hip fractures in the post-menopausal period.
Nutrition
When it comes to infant care, nutrition and diet are among the most important factors, as the first 1,000 days of life has been described by UNICEF as a unique period when the foundations of optimum health, growth, and neurodevelopment across the lifespan are established.
It is a time to promote optimum growth and development, where obesity and some non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, could be prevented.
However, breastfeeding is not always possible for a variety of reasons, and there are a range of formula milks available. These formula products can be provided to infants through an extensive range of bottles, sterilisers, and, pacifiers.
Introducing a baby to solid foods, ‘weaning’, usually takes place around four-to-six months old, after a baby may begin to show some signs they are ready to start eating solid food, the HSE said. There is a wide range of weaning products available, including Milupa Pure Baby Rice.
Like all Milupa cereals, it has no added sugar or salt, as well as no artificial colours, flavourings or preservatives. There are also the products Baby’s First Creamy Porridge, and Banana Bedtime, which provide a plethora of essential vitamins and minerals. There are also foods from Cow & Gate, such as Cow and Gate Fruity Wholegrain Porridge. This contains no added sugar or salt, and provides a source of iron and calcium in each portion.
Further products are available from Alpro. Its Alpro Soya Growing Up drink 1-3 is specifically suitable for children where an alternative to cow’s milk based formula is needed or required for medical, ethical or dietary reasons.
Supplements
Supplements can also help support healthy nutrition in infancy. One product, Vitabiotics Wellbaby Multi-vitamin Drops, is ideal for babies from one month to 12 months. It provides a safe and balanced comprehensive range of 16 nutrients, including essential vitamins and minerals. Wellbaby Multi-Vitamin Drops has been produced with a baby’s special needs in mind and to offer a carefully formulated nutritional safeguard. This can help to support their rapid physical growth and development of bones, and muscles. It includes vitamins B6, B12, D, zinc and Swiss Alpine Malt extract. It also includes iron, which contributes to normal cognitive development in children.
Given Ireland’s northern latitude, getting enough vitamin D through sunlight alone can be a challenge for young Irish children, as well as adults. As the HSE notes, people in Ireland of all ages have low levels of vitamin D and it is not possible to safely get all the vitamin D needed from the sun and few foods contain vitamin D.
Baby Vit D3 Pure Vitamin D Drops is specially developed for newborn babies, infants and young children to help meet their daily Vitamin D needs. It contains no preservatives, no parabens no artificial colours, no flavourings, no peanut additives, no sugars or lactose and no gluten, thus having negligible risk of allergic reaction.
Vitabiotics Wellbaby Vitamin D-Drops also is available. It has been carefully developed by Vitabiotics nutritional experts to help safeguard a child’s intake of this essential nutrient, which is needed for normal growth and development of bones.
Optibac Baby Drops is a premium liquid supplement designed to enhance a baby’s natural gut flora from birth. Formulated with vegan-friendly ingredients, Baby Drops feature Bifidobacterium breve M-16V, a scientifically studied strain trusted by thousands of newborns and babies. It can be given to infants from birth to three years old.
Nappy rash
Healthy skin is an essential part of overall health and it is something to protect at each stage of life, particularly in early life. Babies’ skin is thinner than adults’, meaning it is more vulnerable to irritants.
Nappy rash is one of the most common skin conditions of a baby’s early life. It can be caused when a baby’s skin becomes inflamed after contact with the chemicals in urine or faeces. Sometimes, it can be caused by the friction of the nappy itself rubbing against a baby’s skin, or washing detergents not thoroughly rinsed from reusable nappies.
There are a number of things a parent can do to prevent nappy rash, such as changing wet or dirty nappies as soon as possible. A baby’s bottom should also be cleaned thoroughly using plain water or baby wipes, wiping front to back. While changing, the nappy can be left off for as long and as often as possible, allowing the skin to be exposed to the air.
As well as these preventative tips, there is a range of established and trusted brands which can help soothe and ease the pain of nappy rash, such as Sudocrem Care and Protect.
Gentle yet effective, it can be applied on to delicate skin easily as Sudocrem Care and Protect has been developed specifically for babies. Its triple-action formula creates a protective barrier, conditions the skin, and guards against infection. By sealing in the skin’s natural moisture, Sudocrem Care and Protect helps to keep the skin in the nappy area smooth and supple. If a baby does get nappy rash, it can be treated with Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream. This cream is clinically proven to ease the discomfort of nappy rash, such as sore or inflamed skin. The anaesthetic reduces the pain and irritation, while the water-resistant components create a barrier to prevent any further irritation.
Infections
If after using a nappy rash cream, the rash remains or the baby develops a persistent bright red, moist rash with white or red pimples, which spreads to the folds of the skin, they may have a thrush infection.
Canesten cream is a trusted treatment for fungal nappy rash. The active ingredient clotrimazole treats the fungal infection directly and helps relieve fungal nappy rash symptoms. Once the infection has cleared, barrier ointments such as Bepanthen can protect from the causes of nappy rash and help to prevent a recurrence.
Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment is an easy-to-apply and breathable barrier cream that helps keep baby’s bottom happy and protected from the causes of nappy rash. Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment is so gentle that it can be used at every nappy change to help even the most delicate skin, as it is free from fragrance, preservatives, colourants or antiseptics.
Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment works to care for baby’s skin and protect it from the causes of nappy rash. As it contains Pro Vitamin B5, it works gently to aid natural recovery of sensitive skin while keeping it soft, smooth and moisturised. Bepanthen also works by helping to seal in the skin’s natural moisture, providing optimal conditions to allow gentle skin recovery without drying out a baby’s delicate skin.
For dry skin and cradle cap, there is Vaseline Jelly, which seals in moisture deep down to help heal dry skin.
For bathtime, there are a range of products, with Johnson’s Baby Shampoo one of the best-known. It is designed to gently cleanse a baby’s fine hair and delicate scalp. This baby shampoo cleanses gently and rinses easily, leaving a baby’s hair soft, shiny, manageable, and clean while maintaining a fresh smell. It is paediatrician and dermatologist-tested, and hypoallergenic. Its ‘No More Tears’ formula allows for a tear-free experience and is as gentle to the eyes as pure water. It also contains no parabens, phthalates, sulfates, or dyes.
There is also Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo. This gently cleanses baby’s sensitive skin and scalp. This creamy, two-in-one moisturising baby body wash and shampoo is formulated with oat extract and shea butter with a gentle, naturally derived coconut scent.
