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  • What is a true fever?
    In an infant under 2 months of age, a true fever is a rectal temperature of 100.4F or higher. After 2 months of age, a fever is typically defined as 101.0F or higher. If your baby under 2 months of age has a fever, do not administer fever-reducing medication and contact your pediatrician.
  • How high of a fever is too high?
    There is no exact number. We are more concerned about the overall appearance and stability of the patient than the temperature alone. However, if your child has a fever of 105.0F or higher, a fever not responding to an adequate dose of fever-reducing medication, or is lethargic or extremely irritable, he or she needs to be promptly evaluated by a medical professional. Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Motrin (ibuprofen) can be alternated every 3 hours if needed. Ibuprofen is not recommended under 6 months of age. See dosing calculator. It is not the height of a fever that causes a febrile seizure. Febrile seizures occur when body temperature rapidly rises.
  • My baby hasn’t pooped today. Is this ok?
    Yes. If the baby is eating well with minimal vomiting, making a normal amount of wet diapers, and his or her abdomen is soft, it is ok. FYI: Most formula-fed babies poop every day. Breastfed babies poop anywhere from multiple times daily to only once every 1-2 weeks. If everything else appears normal and the poop is soft and non-bloody when he or she has a bowel movement, they are not truly constipated.
  • My child has diarrhea. How long before I should be concerned?
    If the patient is overall well-appearing and there is no blood in the stool, no fever, no significant abdominal pain or distention, and no significant decrease in urine output, it is safe to watch and wait symptoms for 2 weeks. During that time, limit dairy, maintain a bland diet, push fluids, closely monitor urine output, and administer over-the-counter probiotics appropriate for the child’s age.
  • Do I clean my newborn’s belly button?
    Only sponge bathe the baby until the cord falls off. The newest recommendations are to leave the belly button site alone. However, it is still ok to clean it up to twice daily with rubbing alcohol on a q-tip or cotton ball. The cord usually dries up and falls off between one and two weeks of age. As it falls off, it will likely smell and bleed. If there is lots of blood or redness on the abdomen itself, you need to contact the pediatrician immediately.
  • My baby is spitting up. When should I be concerned?
    Bilious (spinach green in color) or bloody emesis (vomiting) Hard abdomen Poor feeding Extreme fussiness Inadequate weight gain
  • Can I put lotion on my baby?
    Yes, but use low-fragrance infant lotions or vaseline. It's completely normal for a baby’s skin to peel after birth and often continues for the first week or two. After this initial period, however, your baby's delicate and sensitive skin is still prone to drying out and peeling.
  • When can I give my child Benadryl?
    6 months of age and older. (See dosing calculator)
  • When can I give my baby water?
    1 ounce per day for every month of age For example, 2 months old = 2 ounces per day FYI: Babies do not need water prior to solid food introduction unless suffering from constipation.
  • Is my baby teething?
    It’s often hard to know unless there is obvious tooth eruption. Around 2 months of age, a baby’s salivary glands mature causing drooling and mouthing behaviors but they are usually not teething this young. Most babies start to teeth between 4 and 6 months of age. Some babies don’t get teeth until after their first birthday.
  • Does my baby have thrush or milk tongue?
    Thrush (oral yeast infection) does not wipe off easily and thrush usually involves more than the tongue (including the roof of the mouth and inside the lips and cheeks).
  • Can I give my baby gas drops?
    You can give over the counter gas drops such as Mylicon from day 1 of life. Gripe water can be given after 2 weeks of age. Follow instructions on the bottle.
  • At what age does my child need to find an adult PCP?
    Our office provides comprehensive medical care from ages Birth to 18 years old. We are not currently accepting NEW patients OVER the age of 15.
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