Questions And answers

Question

Whenever it’s time to give my toddler his medicine he zips his lips closed so it’s difficult to get the syringe into his mouth. It’s always a fight and when I finally do manage to give him the medicine he spits most of it out. Should I give him an extra dose when he does this?

ANSWER:

Giving oral medication in some children is really a nightmare: they don’t like the taste or the texture, and having to take the medication every few hours just does not work for them. This is particularly noticeable with antibiotics because they are what are known as suspensions, as opposed to true syrup, which makes them noticeably grainier in texture.

Whether or not to give an extra dose of the medication depends on how long after having the medication your child spat or vomited it out. Simply put, if the medicine was spat out immediately or within an hour, you should repeat the dose because none of the medication was absorbed. Remember, the stomach empties about 50 percent of its contents every hour, so with a liquid antibiotic enough will have passed through your child’s system and be absorbed within an hour of ingestion to have an effect, so he doesn’t need an extra dose then.

Disguising the medicine with honey or jam, mixing it in a bit of yoghurt or using a medication-administering dummy can also be useful.

Question

How do I tell if my child is too sick to go to crèche? I work full time and can’t take off work very often, but I don’t want to make things worse by sending him to crèche when he’s not feeling well?

ANSWER:

This is a tough question, as I understand the pressures on working families, and on mothers in particular. The decision on whether to keep him at home or not involves both the health of your child and the other children at the crèche who will be exposed to your child’s illness. That being said, you can expect that in the first few years of your child’s life that he will have on average eight infections per year. These will include upper and lower respiratory infection, rashes and tummy bugs. To keep him away from crèche (and for you to take time off from work as a result) often is just not possible.

Keep your child at home if he has a temperature that requires regular therapy (such as tepid sponge baths or medication) to be controlled. In terms of a snotty nose or a cough, it is safe to send your child to crèche when his condition is improving, he is sleeping well and is temperature free.

Be sure to feed your child a balanced diet and ensure good sleep to keep his immune system in check so that his body can fight off infections well. Remember that these infections are normal in young children, and will happen often.

Question

My toddler always has a runny nose. She’s had all her vaccinations, and I’ve used nasal sprays and medication but nothing works. What is going on?

ANSWER:

It sounds like a case of allergic rhinitis – perennial and not seasonal. If your toddler attends crèche, you can also expect some additional viral infections to exacerbate the problem.

Snoring often accompanies this, as the adenoids enlarge due to the chronic inflammation. You have to make sure that this is the case though, so I would suggest you visit the doctor for an allergy test (preferably a skin prick test) to identify and help avoid possible triggers and an adenoidal X-ray. Your doctor will then suggest a cause of action for you.

Question

If I develop a cold or the flu this winter, what is the best way to prevent my young baby from catching it?

ANSWER:

Winter is viral season, and there is generally sickness everywhere you turn. Though most infections during the season are rather mild, there can be some nasty ones for babies, like respiratory syncytial virus or adeno. These can cause major chest issues, particularly in smaller infants. Because of this, I would say that prevention is always better than treatment. So, to best protect yourself and, in turn, your baby from getting sick this winter be sure to get a flu vaccine (which is safe when breastfeeding), eat a healthy and balanced diet and avoid crowded places (like malls). I would also suggest that you and your family take a good probiotic. These are all proven methods of avoiding acquiring viruses.

If, despite your best efforts, you do get sick then I suggest you employ simple precautions to keep your baby from getting sick too. Try not to kiss her during this time and remember to wash your hands very often. Breastfeeding is also really important and won’t make your little one sick, so don’t stop nursing your baby while you are sick.