I’m concerned about the contents of my baby’s nappy. Can you tell me what is normal?

Babies stools can be very brightly coloured, greenish at first, then probably yellow or orange, or greyish green if your baby is bottle fed. Breastfed babies have quite runny stools. Bottle fed babies’ stools tend to be firmer and smellier.
Some babies, especially if they are breastfed can go for several days or even a week without a bowel movement. Both are quite normal. It is also usual for babies to strain or even cry when passing a stool.

As the weeks pass your baby’s stools will probably vary quite a bit. It you notice a marked change such as the stools becoming very smelly, very watery, very pale or very hard, you should talk to your doctor or health visitor.
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What can I do to stop my baby from crying all the time?

All babies cry and some babies cry a lot. This can be distressing for you as a parent particularly if you don’t know the reasons why. Here are some handy things you can try;

• Hold your baby close and speak softly and soothingly. Babies often find that skin on skin contact is very comforting.
• Give your baby a warm bath. This may work for some babies but may make other babies cry even more. The most important thing is to try different ideas out until you find what works for you and your baby.
• Try giving your baby a massage, talking soothingly as you do it. This will often relax your baby and make them feel secure.
• If you are breast feeding, let your baby suckle at your breast.

Remember that this difficult time won’t last forever. Sometimes you may feel very tired and even desperate. If you feel like this put your baby down safely in the cot or pram and give yourself time to calm down; don’t be angry with your baby.
If you feel that there may be something wrong, follow your instincts and contact your GP.
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Is it the baby blues or have I got postnatal depression?

In the first few weeks after childbirth many women find there emotions are up and down. You may find you burst into tears for no reason or you feel a little depressed and anxious. This is often called the ‘baby blues’. This is quite common and usually only lasts a few days. Symptoms may be due to the sudden hormonal changes which take place in your body after childbirth.

Postnatal depression is more long lasting than the baby blues and is an extremely distressing condition that has many symptoms. Although postnatal depression usually follows on from the baby blues it can occur some time later, usually within the first postnatal year. Signs of postnatal depression may include anxiety, sleeplessness, panic attacks, aches and pains, memory loss or difficulty with concentration, feelings of hopelessness, loss of interest in the baby, or that you can’t stop crying. These are just a few of the most common symptoms and will be experienced in different combinations by different women.

Postnatal depression is an illness and you must ask for help just as you would if you had any other illness. It is not a sign that you are a bad mother or unable to cope. Talk to someone you can trust such as your partner, a friend or your health visitor. If you don’t feel up to making an appointment with your GP, ask for someone to do this for you or arrange for them to call at the house.

For further support you may find it helpful to contact the Association for Postnatal Illness www.apni.org/ or Meet-A-Mum Association www.mama.co.uk/.
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I am having difficulties with breast feeding. What can I do?

It is quite normal to find it takes some time to get the hang of breast feeding. If feeding hurts or makes you sore then your baby may be in the wrong position – ask for help from your health visitor to get this right. Here is a run down of some common problems with breastfeeding and some helpful solutions:
I have been feeding my baby for 2 weeks but my nipples are now cracked and painful:

• Check that your baby is ‘fixing’ properly. Once your baby is positioned correctly cracks should heal quickly.
• Keep your nipples clean and dry but avoid soap as this may dry the skin too much.
• Wear a cotton bra and let the air get to you nipples as much as possible.
• Change breast pads frequently.
• Thrush in your baby’s mouth can sometimes cause sore nipples. Thrush is an infection that results in small white patches in your baby’s mouth which don’t wipe away. If you think your baby has thrush see your GP.

I have a hard painful lump in my breast. What is it?

• It’s probably a blocked milk duct. Milk can build up because the ducts are not being emptied properly.
• A good feed on the blocked breast will help. As you feed, smooth the milk away from the blockage towards the nipple. If let untreated, blocked ducts can lead to mastitis (see below).

There is a red, hot, painful patch on my breast and I feel quite unwell. What is it?

• You may have mastitis. Don’t stop feeding as you need to keep your milk moving.
• Try different positions to empty different parts of your breast, get lots of rest and try not to wear a bra, especially at night.
• You may need antibiotics to clear the infection. Your doctor can prescribe one that is safe to take while breastfeeding.

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My 3 month old baby often brings up a bit of his feed. Is this normal?

It is quite normal for your baby to bring back a little of their feed, this is usually known as reflux. The main cause is that babies’ digestive tracts are still quite immature and in the early months they spend a lot of time lying down. Consequently as your baby develops and grows, and spends more time upright, they are likely to grow out of this problem.
Bringing up large amounts of feed is mostly caused by over-feeding or a not-quite-right feeding technique. This can usually be easily resolved by changing the feeding position however it is always a good idea to ask your doctor or health visitor for advice.
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My baby suffers from nappy rash. What can I do to prevent this?

Most babies get nappy rash some point in the first 18 months. This is most commonly caused by skin being in prolonged contact with the contents of your baby’s nappy irritating the skin. Other causes may include sensitive skin, soaps or detergents, changes in diet and diarrhoea or illness. To protect your baby against nappy rash:

• Change their nappy as soon your baby becomes wet or soiled. You may find your young baby needs changing 10 to 12 times a day, and older children at least 6 to 8 times.
• Clean the whole nappy area thoroughly, wiping from front to back with gentle soap and water or mild baby wipes.
• Lie your baby on a towel and leave the nappy off to let fresh air get to the skin.
• Apply a nappy rash cream to help healing – ask your health visitor or pharmacist to recommend one.

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How do I know if my baby is too hot or too cold?

Your baby cannot regulate her own body temperature or sweat to cool herself down so she’ll need you to make sure she is comfortable. Overheating can be particularly dangerous as it’s been linked to sudden infant death syndrome (cot death). The ideal room temperature is 16 – 18 ?C. To check if your baby is too hot feel her tummy and add or remove layers accordingly. It should feel warm but not clammy or hot. Other parts of the body such as feet and hands may not give a true indication of your babies’ temperature as they may be colder than the rest of her body.
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My baby suffers from colic? What can I do to make it better?

Everyone agrees that colic exists but there is some debate over what causes it. Some doctors believe it is a type of stomach cramp and it does seem to cause the sort of crying that might go with waves of stomach. The following tips may help to sooth your baby:

• Try holding your baby against your shoulder or face down on your lap putting gentle pressure and warmth on his/her stomach. Rhythmically rub or stroke your baby’s back.
• If you are breastfeeding it may be something in your diet that is upsetting your baby. Try looking back over what you have eaten in the last 24 hours and discuss this with your health visitor or GP.
• A gentle massage may help relax your baby. Check with your health visitor to see if there are any classes locally.

Coping with a baby with colic can be extremely stressful and the causes are difficult to identify. Make sure you take time out for yourself, and hand over to someone else so you can relax and unwind.
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I've heard that some baby wipes can contain Formaldehyde. Do Huggies® baby wipes?

Huggies® wipes do not have Formaldehyde or Formaldehyde donors added to them.

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Please note that the contents of this website are for information purposes only and are not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for your doctor’s advice.  For medical care and advice for your baby you should consult your doctor on a regular basis.