Sick-Baby Care
There’s nothing scarier for a new parent than a sick baby. Your infant is fussy, not eating well, and has a fever. Should you take her to the hospital? Should you call your doctor? Or are you overreacting? As a well-informed parent, you want to know what you should do-when to be concerned and when not to worry. You want to know when to call the doctor and what to tell him. That’s what this section is all about.
What You Need to Know
All parents need to learn to tell when their child is sick, when to seek professional help, what to do in emergencies, and how to give medicines. Once you know these facts, you will be able to make the best decisions
One of the best ways to deal with illness is to be prepared. This includes knowing about common childhood illnesses and emergency measures, as well as having and knowing how to give the appropriate medicines. There are some general steps you should take to prepare yourself for illness or accident:
- Know the telephone numbers of your doctor, the hospital you use, the local poison control center, the fire department, and the ambulance service. These numbers should be posted near the telephone. Make sure your babysitters know where these numbers are located.
- Ask your doctor what he wants you to have on hand for emergencies and treatment of common ailments. Many doctors recommend that you have syrup of ipecac and activated charcoal on hand for poisonings. Some want their patients to keep certain common medicines on hand for late night illnesses.
- Discuss with your doctor what you should do in case of an emergency. If your child eats a bottle of pills or drinks a poison, should you call your doctor, the local emergency room, the poison control center? [Most doctors recommend you call the poison center, first.] If your child is injured, should you call your doctor first, or take your child to the emergency room? Asking these questions before an accident occurs will make things easier for both of you.
- Read about childhood illnesses and accidents. Books will help you be prepared for the inevitable illnesses and injuries that befall all children.
- Take a first aid course and learn CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] and the Heimlich maneuver [for choking]. Be sure the instruction pertains to both children and adults [many courses only deal with adults]. Taking a class on these topics is much better than just reading about them. In the classes you have the opportunity to practice these skills on specially constructed models that are very life-like.
- Most important, in an emergency, DON’T PANIC! Your calmness is essential if you’re going to react properly to the situation and get your child the appropriate care.