Baby care Flashcards
Outline immunisations as baby care
- Protects a baby against a number of preventable diseases
- Provides protection and lowers the chance of a disease outbreak
- All babies and children in the UK are offered a number of vaccinations
free of charge on the NHS - Different vaccinations are given as the baby grows and develops
Outline when immunisations are taken for children
weeks:
1. 6-in-1 vaccine
2. RV (rotavirus) vaccine
3. MenB Vaccine
12 weeks:
1. 6-in-1 vaccine – 2nd dose
2. PCV (pneumococcal) vaccine
3. RV (rotavirus) vaccine – 2nd dose
Immunisations
16 weeks:
1. 6-in-1 vaccine – 3rd dose
2. MenB vaccine – 2nd dose
1 year:
1. Hib/MenC vaccine – (Meningitis C 1st dose and Hib 4th dose)
2. MMR vaccine
3. PCV (pneumococcal) – 2nd dose
4. MenB vaccine – 3rd dose
Outline what fever is as part of baby care
- A normal temperature is around 36.4⁰C in infants and young children
- A fever is considered to be a temperature over 38⁰C
- A raised temperature can be the sign of an illness or infection
- Hypothalamus responsible for raising temperature
Outline what causes a fever
- A virus, bacterial infection or heat exhaustion
- Certain inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
- A malignant tumour
- Some medications, such as antibiotics and drugs used to treat high
blood pressure or seizures - Some immunizations, such as the e.g diphtheria, tetanus and acellular
pertussis (DTaP) or pneumococcal vaccine
Outline symptoms of a fever
- Shivers
- High temperature
- A hot forehead
- Poor appetite
- Irritability
- Lethargy
Outline when to refer for fever
- Children under 1 (except post immunisation)
- Fever over 38°C
- Fever persisting 48 hours despite treatment
- Accompanied by other symptoms that may indicate serious infection
Outline 1 treament option for fever
Paracetamol 120mg/5ml Oral Suspension
e.g calpol
- The dose of paracetamol increases in
line with increased child’s body weigh
Outline the dosage for this treatment option
Outline a 2nd treament option for fever
Ibuprofen 100mg/5ml Oral Suspension
e.g. Nurofen for children
- This suspension can be used in children from
3 months up to 12 years
Outline the dosage for this treatment option
Outline concers with treatment options for fever
- No significant benefit other than soothing discomfit and distress if
otherwise well - Parents may overuse the products because they believe they are
helping - Both products have potential side effects/risks
Outline self care advice for fever
- Encourage increased fluid intake (e.g. Breast milk)
- Remove excess clothing (particular issue with babies)
- Check for signs of dehydration
- Check on the child throughout the night
- Tepid sponging is no longer recommended but still popular
Outline what teething is and what causes it?
- Eruption of teeth through the skin from 3 months of age
- Primarily due to central incisor eruption
- Can take years for all 20 teeth to erupt
- Cells in the gums die and separate which allow teeth to protrude
Outline signs and symptoms of teething
- The baby’s gum is sore and red where the tooth is coming through
- One cheek is flushed
- They are rubbing their ear
- The baby is dribbling more than usual
- They are gnawing and chewing on things a lot
- They are more irritable than normal
Outline when to refer for teething
- Treatment failure
- If pain not relieved by tooth eruption
Outlline brief treatment for teething
-Paracetamol and Ibuprofen can help pain and ease discomfort
-Teething rings may also be considered
-it is advised the teething rings are cooled in the fridge first
Outline 1 treatment option for teething including dosage
- Anaesthetic teething gels may be considered to numb painful gums
- This must only be considered when non-medical options have not
provided relief
e.g. Anbesol Teething Gel - Apply a pea-sized amount to the affected area
with a clean finger tip
Max 6 doses in 24 hours
Outline concerns with teething
- Drug treatments are often unnecessary
- Teething often blamed for other conditions that may be missed
- Dental hygiene
Outline self care advice for teething
- Teething rings
- Avoid chewing items that could cause tooth damage
- Avoid dummies where possible
- Older children could be given healthy snacks to chew on
- Many teething products a choking risk
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Outline what is colic and what causes it
- Cause is still unknown affects between 5 and 20% of babies at some
point - Not harmful but stressful
- Normally occurs a few weeks after birth and may continue for 3-4
months old - Most babies are irritable at some point Colic is much worse
Outline symptoms of colic
- Crying and fussing intensely for no obvious reason
- The baby may pull their legs up to their stomach as if in pain,
clenching their fists and arching their backs - Reddened face
- Wind
Outline when to refer for colic
- Crying is persistent and doesn’t stop
- Baby isn’t feeding or gaining weight
- Associated with vomiting or diarrhoea
- Colic symptoms in older infants
Outline 1 treatment option for colic
Simeticone
e.g. Infacol
- Breaks up tiny bubbles of trapped air in the
baby’s stomach to form larger bubbles which
are easier to bring up
Outline the dose for the treament option
Use 0.5ml before each feed
Used for up to 7 days to see if symptoms improve
Outline self care advice for colic
- Comfort the baby; sit the baby upright during feeding to prevent them
swallowing too much air - Advise they gently rub the baby’s back until they burp – a small amount of milk
may be regurgitated which is normal - White noise (e.g. A washing machine) as a distraction
- If bottle feeding, use teats with larger/more holes
Outline what is cradle crap and what causes it
- Also known as seborrheic dermatitis
- Usually appears in the first two months
- Occurs as a result of hormonal changes
which stimulates secretions from the
oil glands in the skin
Outline signs and symptoms of cradle cap
- It appears as thick, yellowish
scales on the baby’s scalp - It doesn’t hurt, nor is it a
result of poor hygeine - Usually disappears by 12
months
Outline what is a nappy rash and what causes it
- Rash on the skin within the area bordered by the edge of a nappy
- Type of dermatitis
- Contact with urine and faeces
- Irritation
- Soap
- Inadequate skin care
Outline symptoms of a nappy rash
- Red, sore rash around genital area, folds of thighs and buttocks
- Can be dry or moist and can look pimply
- The skin can become shiney and tight with inflamed spots
- If left untreated can develop into bacterial or fungal infections
Outline when to refer for a nappy rash
- Broken skin or severe rash
- Signs of infection
- Other areas outside of nappy affected
Outline self care advice for a nappy rash
- Changing the baby’s nappy frequently reduces the chances of nappy
rash occurring - When changing their nappy, clean the bottom thoroughly with damp
cotton wool and allow to dry - Letting the child go without a nappy for periods of time to allow air to
the skin will also help healing
Outline brief treatment for nappy rash
- Barrier creams
- Emollient creams
- Antiseptic creams
- Antifungal creams: Canesten
Outline barrier creams
- Preventative
- Create waterproof barrier between nappy and skin
- Applied at nappy change
- Not a substitute for poor hygiene
Outline emollient creams
- Soothing creams
- Useful if skin is dry as a result of a rash
Outline antiseptic creams
- Usually contain ingredients such as cetrimide and chlorhexidine
gluconate - Usually used once or twice a day
- Limited benefit and may sting
Outline antifungal creams
- Clotrimazole 1% cream
- Effective but should only be used for infected nappy rash
- Should be applied 2-3 times a day
