Resources at Home

After your baby is discharged, we are still here to help! Here are a list of resources we have compiled to help you care for your baby at home. These resources include information both about caring for your baby at home and when it is important to call or go see a doctor.

Helping Hands

• Burn Prevention: Infant and Toddler: Burns can be serious injuries at any age, but infants and toddlers are at risk for burn injuries because of their innocent curiosity. The most common causes of burns, as well as the steps you can take to prevent them from happening to your infant or toddler, are listed in this Helping Hand.

• Calming a Fussy Baby (Ways to Soothe Your Infant): Your baby's cry is how he communicates. During the first 6 months, babies cry because they have needs that should be met.  Sometimes it takes a while to find out what will comfort a baby and for him or her to become more settled. This Helping Hand provides tips on soothing a fussy baby.

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Infants: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a combination of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing. Mouth-to-mouth breathing sends oxygen to the lungs, and compressions move blood from the heart to the body.

• Child Care and Illness: Should Your Child Stay Home?: Sometimes it is hard to decide if your child is too ill to go to childcare. Usually, children should stay home if illness keeps them from enjoying the daily activities of childcare. Children should also stay home if caring for them keeps the child care provider from caring for other children or if it affects the health and safety of the other children.

• Colic: When a healthy infant cries too much, it is called colic. The cause of colic is not known. However, because many physical problems can cause too much crying in an infant, the diagnosis of colic should be made only by a doctor.

• Constipation: Infant: Constipation in infants less than one year of age is common, but it can be a source of concern for parents. Here are signs of constipation and treatments.

• Dehydration: Giving Liquids at Home: There are many reasons why children can get “dried out” or dehydrated. A child can lose too much liquid from the body from diarrhea or vomiting. If the child has mouth sores or a stomachache, he may refuse to drink enough. Getting too dried out can be dangerous for infants and young children, but it can be prevented. Here are tips for giving liquids at home.

• Diaper Rash: Diaper rash happens when urine and bowel movements irritate your baby’s skin. The skin becomes sore and hurts when the diaper is wet or soiled. There are several things you can do to heal diaper rash. This Helping Hand includes what you need to do to care for diaper rash and helpful tips.

• Diarrhea: Diarrhea (loose, watery bowel movements) is a common problem of young children. Diarrhea may be caused by a serious illness, but usually it is only the result of a minor infection. This Helping Hand includes a list of tips if your child has diarrhea.

• Fever: Fever is an increase in the body’s temperature above the normal range. Body temperature can vary throughout the day, and may be different from one person to the next. It is hard to give an exact temperature for a fever, but most doctors agree that a temperature over 101° F is a fever. This Helping Hand includes tips on home treatment and when to call a doctor.

• Home Safety for Infants and Toddlers: We all want happy and healthy children. That takes thought and effort every day. When a new baby comes into the home, parents need to protect their infant from harm. This Helping Hand includes some things you will need to do to make your home safe for your baby.

• Poisonings and Poison Prevention: What to do if you think someone is poisoned.

• Safe Sleep Practices for Babies: Sleep-related deaths are the leading cause of infant death between 1 month and 1 year of age. In Ohio, more than three infant deaths each week are sleep-related. Many of these deaths are preventable. Practice the ABC’s of safe sleep: Babies should always sleep Alone, on their Backs, in a Crib

• Shaken Baby Syndrome: Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is a form of child abuse. SBS happens when an infant is violently shaken, usually by the arms, shoulders, or legs. It is the leading cause of child abuse deaths in the United States. This Helping Hand includes signs and symptoms of SBS as well as ways to prevent it.

• Suctioning the Nose with a Bulb Syringe: Suctioning mucus out of your baby's nose makes it easier for him or her to breathe and to eat. Suction your baby before feeding. Cleaning out the baby's nose before feeding will help him to suck and eat more easily.

• Vomiting: Vomiting is most often caused by a minor infection. Some serious illnesses may cause vomiting. However, we do not feel that your child has any of these illnesses. Vomiting caused by an infection usually lasts only a couple of days. It can often be treated at home.