Parents queries corner published in Healthy Life Magazine in Issue December 2012
1. My child is 10 months old and yet he has no
teeth eruption, what shall I do and is there something to be worried about ?
Answer:
Normally the time for first tooth eruption is at 5-7 months
of age in lower jaw. Well in some cases there may be delay in primary tooth
eruption, but one can wait till 12 -13 months of age. First you can examine the
baby for signs of tooth eruption by gently rubbing your finger over the gum
along the jaw bone inside the mouth and feel for any hard nodule or examine the
mouth under good light for any white spots on the jaw ridge which are the
positive signs for tooth eruption . If so then we can wait as he will have
tooth eruption soon, but if he has not even a single tooth eruption by the age
of 13 months then he must be
investigated for certain diseases like
hypothyroidism , calcium and vitamin D deficiency and some local oral causes
or bony causes. In that case you should
visit your pediatrician or a dental doctor and investigate your baby . But as
of now for your baby, you need not panic
and you can still wait for few months
and baby can be given some vitamin and calcium supplements .
2. My baby is 1 year old and she keeps having loose
motions many times. During the episode of diarrhea she always develop’s nappy
rashes . How should I prevent these nappy rashes and what do you suggest doctor?
Answer:
This is the frequently seen problem in our day to day OPD in
children with diarrheal diseases, so the first and foremost important thing is
to avoid putting Nappy to the baby in daily routine care at home, as by doing
so the mother becomes care free for
hours and hour and the baby skin is in contact with the stool/urine and the
area is moist, since baby skin is very sensitive it causes local reaction in
the skin after which the child develops nappy rashes and as the word itself is self explanatory Nappy
rashes- i.e. rashes caused by Diapers, so instead one should use regular cotton
cloth nappies at home and use of diapers should be restricted only if one is
going outdoors. Another important thing is that the anal area should be cleaned
softly with mild Luke warm water. Area should not be rubbed and keep the area clean
and pat dry. One can apply diaper rash
free cream or some emollient cream as well if they have developed rashes or
redness in that area and consult your pediatrician later. Avoid washing her
underwear’s or nappy cloth with strong detergents and make sure it is dried properly before
use.
3. I have a 5 months
old baby girl and this is my first child, so could you please suggest me that
when should I start weaning in her and until when should I
breast feed her?
Answer:
Congrats for your lovely motherhood, You have been blessed
with a princess. As your concern this is the right time when you can start
weaning her. Start with simple homemade food like dal pani, thin Jaulo, litto,
sarwotam pitho Or formula feeds available in the market as cerelac, farex / lactogen
milk, and gradually go on increasing the volume, types and number of feed.
Later you can add on with fruits like
small yellow banana, boiled apple, boiled mashed vegetables, egg white and so
on. Introduce one item at a time like: slowly keep on adding one newer food
every week as per the child tolerance, because by this you can know if child is
allergic to some particular kind of food and his tolerance to that food. Slowly
increase calorie by adding one spoon of ghee or oil to food and dense feed as you
start feeding him from the family pot by the age of 20 months to 2
years. If wanted start cow or buffalo milk only after one year of age that too
non -diluted and continue breastfeeding preferably till 2 years of age after
which you can completely switch over to top feeds.
4. I have a 10 year
old son who is very prone for allergy
cough and noisy breathing, he catches
cold very easily especially during the changing season’s and winter. We have to go for a frequent
doctor’s visit when he lands up taking frequent antibiotics and nebulization.
So could you please guide us with some preventive aspect so as to decrease his
illness?
Answer:
Good that you asked me this question and this is the right
time when you should take special precaution for him to prevent him from
frequent cold, cough and allergy as winter is inn. The worst thing in these
children is they will develop noisy breathing soon as wheeze possibly if they
have additional family history of atopy or asthma. The most important thing is
these children is to prevent them from dust, smoke, pet animal fur’s, hard perfumes/odours, coloring agents
in food, cold drinks, iced foods. He should use regular mask while travelling
on road, use blankets with cover which is washable, and avoid contact with
pets. The most important of all is by vaccination which is available as
Influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine and consults your pediatrician for
this. During the episode get a timely check up before his symptom worsens by your regular pediatrician and
preferably keep some emergency drugs for
immediate relief as per your doctor’s suggestion.
