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Taking care of a baby is hard enough.
When they are sick?
Basically triple that difficult meter.
Being a new mother is confusing, giving medicine to a baby is more confusing!
There are so many different kinds, different brands, nighttime options, correct dosages.
Your baby doesn’t feel well, you just want to give them medicine to help them, and you feel overwhelmed by the thought.
It doesn’t help anyone.
This article will help you navigate these challenges and help you feel confident in giving your sweet babe medicine!
Tylenol
Tylenol is the best option to help your baby get a quick fix till you are able to get in to see their doctor to diagnose what is really going on!
Tylenol dosage for babies goes by their weight, so make sure you are positive about your baby's weight to ensure they get the best care!
6-11 Ibs. 1.25ml
12-17 Ibs. 2.5ml
18-23 Ibs. 3.75ml
24-35 Ibs. 5ml
36-47 Ibs. 7.5ml
48-59 Ibs. 10ml
Tylenol is a good option to help
fevers and pain.
So unfortunate events like getting shots, circumcisions, a temperature (100.5 for infants), getting a bad scratch or bruise, allergic reactions, or a really bad teething day.
Especially for Infants, Tylenol can make them very sleepy, which in return can make them more crabby if they can’t nap away the tiredness.
Always be sure to monitor your baby the first time trying any new medication!
Teething Tablets & Gel
Now every moms opinion on teething medication is different, so do what you feel
comfortable with!
But if your baby is having a bad teething day and those gums need a little help till you can refreeze that ring.. try some of these teething medicines!
Teething gel is an excellent option for a quick short term fix. You just gently use your clean finger to massage into their gums, leaving your baby’s gums feeling numb. This helps them get a much deserved break!
If that teething gel isn't helping your precious babe, you can try Teething tablets.
You can use 2-3 tablets each time.
A tip to reduce choking is to hold one tablet at a time in your baby‘s mouth until it is completely dissolved.
Gas Drops
Now there is not much science on gas drops to prove that they will officially always work, but I do notice a difference with my son.
If your baby is having an upset stomach, having a hard time passing gas, or being fussy because the amount of gas they are passing.. you can try gas drops to help soothe their stomach.
You can give gas drops just like you would give any other medicine. You can use the syringe or you can place the medicine in their bottle with their milk.
Most gas drops will say the correct
dosage on the bottle,
but it’s usually around these dosages:
Under 2 (under 24 Ibs.) 0.3ml
Over 2 (over 24 Ibs.) 0.6ml
If your babe doesn’t meet the age and weight measurements, go by their weight.
Nose Sprays
There are not many occasions that you will need baby nose spray, but when the weather gets cold it can make your little one’s sinuses get a little wild.
Make sure you are always sucking their nose once or twice a day, especially after a bath. This will help with stuffy noses and ear infections as well.
However, sometimes you can’t do anything to prevent a cold or sinus infection, and your babe needs medicine like nasal sprays.
The Little Remedies Sterile Saline Mist is a good option because of the safe ingredients.
Now nasal sprays for babies are always tricky to use, however just remember
your baby needs their medicine to
help them feel better.
You will need to tip your baby’s head over sideways over your house sink, while spraying the mist in one nostril until it comes out of the other nostril.
And then repeating in the other side.
This method makes sure all the gunk is cleared out from that little nose!
And doesn’t just push the gunk up more, which is what gives sore throats.
Gripe Water
Now again, all moms opinion on Gripe water is different, so just do what makes you feel comfortable.
Gripe water is especially good for colic babies, because colic babies pretty much
fit the criteria all the time.
If your baby has gas, hiccups, or is being super irritable, you can give gripe water.
This medicine is basically just a water substance and something about this liquid soothes your baby’s tummy enough to help them relax.
You can use the syringe to give your baby this medicine, for it’s pretty thin and slides down the throat easily.
Here are the correct dosages for your baby:
Under 1 month old 2.5ml
Over 1 month old 5.0ml
Make sure to always observe your infant during and after taking medicine and do not give medicine if they are lying down.
Vitamin D & Probiotic Drops
These drops aren’t really there to fix a sickness but rather to prevent possible future ones.
Vitamin D drops are good for helping your babe’s bones and teeth grow strong.
These drops are especially essential for breastfed babes.
You use these drops daily, by using the enclosed syringe to measure out 0.25ml and then giving directly to your sweet babe.
Probiotic Drops have many different choices depending on what reason you need them for.
The above link gives a good option
for a daily probiotic.
Probiotics are used to help support a healthy immune system, digestive functions, reducing colic & spit ups, and helping recover after being sick or taking antibiotics.
They are very much important to help your babe, after getting over any kind of issues that involved an antibiotic.
Always make sure to read a new bottle for exact dosage.
However, most probiotic drops are to be put into their milk bottle or water, using 9 drops.
Motrin/Ibuprofen
After your babe turns 6 months and weighs above 12 pounds, they can have ibuprofen.
Motrin/Ibuprofen is basically the same as Tylenol, it is just another option if your little one doesn’t respond well to Tylenol.
Infant Ibuprofen (50mg) Dosage:
6-11 Mo(12-17 Ibs.) 1.25ml
12-23 Mo(18-23 Ibs.) 1.875ml
2-3 Yrs(24-35 Ibs.) 2.5ml
4-5 Yrs(36-47 Ibs.) 3.75ml
Children’s Ibuprofen (100mg) Dosage:
6-11 Mo(12-17 Ibs.) 2.5ml
12-23 Mo(18-23 Ibs.) 4ml
2-3 Yrs(24-35 Ibs.) 5ml
4-5 Yrs(36-47 Ibs.) 7.5ml
Methods to Give Medicine
Giving a baby medicine is super difficult. As much as u hate your baby being sick, you dread giving them medicine after it comes time again.
The Bottle Nipple:
This is one of the easiest and cheapest
options to do if you can.
You take the top of a bottle and give it to your baby, just like you would if you were feeding them. While they are sucking, you are going to squirt the medicine inside the nipple with the given syringe until the have taken
every last drop.
PaciDose:
This is another easy working option if you are willing to spend around $10.
The Dr. Browns PaciDose is made to trick your baby they are sucking on a pacifier while the syringe is placed inside it.
While they are sucking on the pacifier, you are going to simultaneously slowly squirt in the medicine to slide down their throat.
The Frida Baby Medicine Dispenser is another example of this same method.
Medicine Bottle:
This is like the same method as the bottle nipple but even easier, and its also cheaper than the medicine pacifiers!
With the Nuby medicine bottle, you just put the medicine in and your babe sucks it down.
This option is also easier to use for when your babe won’t take straight medicine and you need to mix with water or juice.
If all else fails with trying to administer medicine to your babe, just put it in their bottle for them to chug down while they are not even realizing it!
Having a sick baby is seriously no fun. And sadly there is not much u can do for an Infant or Toddler that is sick.
So just remember to give them extra cuddles and follow the tips in this article to help your babe heal fast!