Treatment for all fevers is generally to give extra fluids (cold fluids) and wear less clothing. Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fevers greater than 102°F if your child is uncomfortable. The goal of fever therapy is to bring the temperature down to a comforatable level. Most fever medications will bring the fever down 2°F - 3°F, but be sure to check the dosage charts. Sponging may be recomended if fever is greater than 104F and dosnt decrease with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. USe lukewarm water (85°F - 90°F). Sponge for 20 minutes. if your child becomes cold or shivers stop sponging or increase the water temperature. Most fevers associated with viral illnesses flucate between 101°F and 104°F last for 2 or 3 days. Call your doctor if your child looks very sick 1 hour after taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If the child's fever increase to greater than 105°F. If the fever last more than 24 hours or your child seems to become any worse... read more

Constipation.
Most constipation can be treated from home with basic diet changes. For infants only on breast milk or formula, add fruit juices. 1 ounce/month of age twice a day. Grape, pear, apple, cherry, or prune juice are OK at any age for treating this symptom. For infants over 4 months of age also add baby foods with higher fiber content twice a day (peas, beans, apricots, prunes, peaches, pears, plums, spinach, etc). Children older than 1 year should increase intake of fruit juices (citrus juices are not helpful), add fruits and vegetables high in fiber content 3 times a day, increase whole grain foods, and decrease constipating foods such as: milk, ice cream, cheese, yogurt, or cooked carrots. If your child is toilet trained establish a regular bowel pattern by sitting on the toilet for 10 minutes after meal, especially breakfast. If your child is resisting toilet training by holding back, temporarily stop the training and put him/her back in diapers. Call your doctor if there is any acute rectal pain or abdominal pain after these treaments or if your child becomes worse... read more

Diarrhea.
Diarrhea commonly results from gastroenteritis caused by viral infections, parasites or bacterial toxins. In sanitary living conditions where there is ample food and a supply of clean water, an otherwise healthy patient usually recovers from viral infections in a few days. Symptomatic treatment for diarrhea involves the patient consuming adequate amounts of water to replace that loss, preferably mixed with electrolytes to provide essential salts and some amount of nutrients. For many people, further treatment is unnecessary. For formula-fed infants start oral rehydration solutions (ORS). For infants who do not like the flavor also try adding 1 or 2 drops of nutrasweet or small amounts of kool-aid powder. Use the ORS alone for 4-6 hours to prevent dehydration, offer the infant unlimited amounts. Return back to regular formula by 6 hours at the latest (reason: child needs calories). Use your full strength formula and offer the formula more often than usual. For breastfed infants with frequent, watery diarrhea, continue breastfeeding at more frequent intervals. Offer ORS between feedings if the urine production is decreased or dark. Most children 1 year or older just need to change daily diet their choice of foods is the key factor - starchy foods are absorbed best. Give child cereals, oatmeal, bread, crackers, noodles, mashed potatoes, carrots, applesauce, strained bannanas, etc. Avoid fruit juices and soft drinks, give child milk or half strength kool-aid. Make sure to wash thte buttoks after each BM to prevent daiper rash. Cosider applying protective ointment around the anus to protect the skin. Call your doctor if the diarrhea persists greater than 2 weeks or if your child becomes worse... .read more


Breast Feeding Questions:

Human milk is the perfect food for your baby. It has all the right ingredients in just the right amounts for your baby. For example less iron than formula because the type of iron found in breast milk is easier to digest and for your baby's body to use. Mother’s milk is easy to digest. Babies don’t get constipated (probably from the overabundant amount of iron found in formula) and seldom get diarrhea which is common in infants using a cows milk based formula. Breastfeeding helps prevent obesity and diabetes in children. Breastfed babies have fewer allergies than formula-fed babies. This is very important if your family has a history of allergies. Breast milk has special antibodies that help protect your baby from colds, flu, ear infections, and illnesses like asthma, eczema and hay fever. Some studies even link ADHD to the lack of infant nutrition found in formula. Whatever reason you choose for breastfeeding your baby, we know you will have many questions. We recomend these webpages for important questions that need answering....read more