Download for free the Lullaby Trust ‘Baby Check App’ from Google Play or the App store. It has 19 simple checks that parents can do if they think their baby is unwell. The score at the end lets parents know if they need to get help.
Click link for the Lullaby Trust Baby Check App
It is sometimes difficult to tell at first when a baby is ill. but you may have a feeling that things are not quite right. If you are worried at all, always ask for help. You are not fussing, it is far better to be on the safe side, particularly with a very small baby.
Trust your instincts, you know your baby best.
Sometimes there are obvious signs that your baby is not well:
- If your baby turns blue or very pale.
- Has quick, difficult or grunting breathing or unusual periods of breathing.
- Is very hard to wake.
- Develops a rash of red spots that do not fade and / or lose colour when they are pressed.
- Stiffening of the body.
- Staring spells. Or Periods of unresponsiveness.
If your baby seems unwell in any way or you are worried about your baby, seek medical advice early and quickly. This can be your GP, your Midwife and your Health Visitor or in an emergency dial 999.
Jaundice
Jaundice is the name given to the yellow colour of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
Jaundice is very common in new-borns and can be seen at around 3 to 4 days of life. Providing the baby is feeding well, and there are no other concerns, it is usually harmless and usually clears up by itself after 10 to 14 days.
Mild jaundice does not normally need any treatment. Your Midwife will give you advice and support to make sure that your baby is feeding adequately and correctly.
Testing for Jaundice
Your new-born baby should be checked for signs of jaundice at every opportunity, especially in the first 5 days.
If your baby appears yellow, including the whites of their eyes, is sleepy, not feeding well or unresponsive, please contact your Midwife or Health Visitor as soon as possible. Make sure you look at your baby in natural light.
On black and brown skin, jaundice might not be obvious, therefore look to see if there is yellowing to the palms of the baby's hands or soles of their feet, or inside their mouth.
If our baby has visible jaundice, this will be checked in the first instance using a transcutaneous bilirubin meter (TcB), a hand held instrument placed against your baby’s skin; it is non-invasive and causes no pain or discomfort to your baby. If this reading is raised, your baby will need to have a simple blood test carried out in hospital to check the bilirubin levels. The Doctor or Midwife will use the results to decide whether the jaundice needs to be treated and what kind of treatment would be best.
Click on link for: NHS Jaundice overview.
Baby's Temperature
Avoid letting your baby get too hot. It can be difficult to judge the temperature in the room, so use a room thermometer in the room where your baby sleeps.
The room must not be too hot (16 - 20○C is ideal). A simple room thermometer is available from www.lullabytrust.org.uk online shop. For more information, please call 020 7802 3200.
A normal temperature in babies and children is about 36.4C, but this can vary slightly. A high temperature or fever is usually considered to be a temperature of 38C or above. (NHS UK)
Your baby may have a high temperature if they:
- Feel hotter than usual to touch on their forehead, back or stomach
- Feel sweaty or clammy
- Have flushed cheeks
If your baby’s skin is hot or sweaty, remove one or more layers of bedclothes. Babies do not need to wear hats indoors, nor sleep under a duvet or quilt.
