It's always alarming when your baby is unwell, especially if they are really tiny, but what signs should you look out for to determine whether calling the doctor is the right course of action?

Every baby is different and responds differently. For brand new parents it hard to know what is normal and what is not... here are some signs to look out for which might indicate you baby needs medical help. But remember, a baby's state can deteriorate quickly, so if you are concerned in any way, don't hang around, call for medical advice immediately if your baby or child...

• Is unresponsive: you know what they are normally like, so if they seem unresponsive to a favourite game or toy then they may be ill.
• Has a persistent high temperature: if they seem warm and the temperature won't reduce despite cooling them.
• Refuses feeds: if your baby is still feeding and refuses one feed and then refuses a second feed.
• Vomits: if they vomit up their feed twice in a row or the vomit seems discoloured in any way (ie is greenish or has blood in it).
• Has diarrhoea; if it is blood stained or persistent.
• Shows signs of lethargy: very tired all the time and weary.
• Has a rash: any kind of rash.
• Is irritable or restless: if they won't settle or relax or sleep.
• Has breathing difficulty: if they are struggling to breathe or are breathing in an unusual way.
• Is coughing: unusual or painful coughing
• Has a bulging fontanelle: if there is a bulge at the forehead.

You know your baby best.  If in doubt, call the doctor or NHS Direct!

Dolls and Teddies all over the country are being called upon to help little ones get through the discomfort and soreness of having jabs!  Its a great way to prepare your toddler or pre-schooler for having dreaded injections and it really can help!  Role play can make a trip to the doctor more familiar, prepare even the littlest children for injections and prevent them being too traumatised about it.

All you need is lots of willing dollies and stuffed toys, some old bandages and a doctor or nurses outfit if you have one.  Show your little one how to wrap up poorly arms and legs with bandages.  Use real cotton wool and plasters if you can spare some.  This makes them feel more grown up and makes the items more familiar for when they go into the doctor's surgery for their own injection.

Make sure you pretend to settle the dolls, calm them and say nice things to them... get your toddler doing the same.  If you have a doctor's set, get that out too and play with all the bits and pieces. When you're finished, don't forget to award the patients some stickers for being so good!

If your child is a bit older or understands more, explain an injection by saying its medicine to stop them from being poorly.  Tell them all children must have the medicine and it shows how grown-up they're getting. Have a few chocolate buttons ready - tell them they're going to get them if they're brave - and make sure you don't forget to hand them over immediately after the jab.

It is important to prepare them.  After all, even toddlers understand so much, but make sure there are plenty of cuddles and kind words when its over... and not forgetting the all important chocolate buttons for you both!

 

Sight is a precious gift and we must do all that we can to ensure that our babies' sight remains healthy. At birth, babies are given a test to ensure there are no obvious problems. It's very rare for there to be problems with the sight of a newborn, but checks are given to ensure that the eye has developed normally and that there is no sign of infection.

At birth, a baby's eye is 75% the size of an adult eye, that is why the eyes of a baby look so large and makes them so adorable!  Eyes are more delicate and not as flexible as the rest of our body and large levels of growth can't be accomodated, so they only grow a little more, reaching full size at around the age of two.

Your child will have further eye examinations when you see your health visitors or doctor, but you should always keep alert for signs of any problems and arrange to see an optician or specialist doctor if you suspect any problems.  They'd rather see you and send you away without finding any problem than not see you at all, so if you suspect problems, don't hesitate to make an appointment.

There are many problems that can occur as your children grow, including infections, cataracts, blocked tear ducts, drooping eyelids, misalignment (squints), loss of vision (lazy eye) and other issues.  Keeping a check on eyes is an important responsibility for parents.  There are many aspects of healthy eye sight that need to be tested beyond simply reading an eye chart.  Baby's of course can't read out rows of letters but there are plenty of tests that doctors and opticians can perform to ensure that their eyesight is developing properly.

 

When should I be concerned if my baby is not reaching developmental milestones? This is a question so many parents ask. But, you must remember that all babies develop at different rates. Some may be babbling early and chattering  at every opportunity. Another may show no interest in crawling while all his fellow babies are dashing about on all fours. Neither is right or wrong – they are just different.

However, if you have any concerns, go along to your doctor or health visitor – especially if you have worries that your baby might have sight or hearing problems. And, if your baby was doing something well, such as rolling over, and then seems to lose that ability and does it no more, do go to the doctor.

Remember, ToucanLearn has plenty of activities to track the developmental milestones and gives you lots of ideas of how to encourage your baby to achieve them. The key is not to compare your little one with other babies too much and help their healthy development by providing a happy, safe and stimulating environment for your baby. Go to ToucanLearn for some ideas!

Your first round of immunizations is easy - your baby has no idea what's coming and may scream the house down after an injection, but generally your doctor has little problem in administering vaccines. Toddler's, however, present a different challenge. They are aware that the doctor is going to stick a sharp point into their arm...and for obvious reasons, that's not a welcome thought! One way to ease the pain (mental if not physical) is to prepare them for injections in the days leading to the visit to the doctor. Play 'doctors and nurses' with your toddler, administer pretend injections, medicine, plasters and any other medical paraphernalia that your mind conjures up. In the days immediately prior to the visit, make a big charade; tell your child that you've received a special invitation from the doctor who's heard all about your games and that they would like to meet your child to show them the real surgery. With luck, your child will go willingly and will be less fearful of the idea of receiving an injection. Of course, you may find that you're not so lucky, but at least you tried to help them through a traumatic visit!