The doctor is in

Newborns need to be loved,kept clean,warmed and fed. This will build your childs sense of security that is required for later development.

What are the special precautions that should be taken to save a newborn from infections,especially during winters?

Dr Shekhar Vashist,Consultant Paediatrics,

Moolchand Medcity,replies:

Newborns need to be loved,kept clean,warmed and fed. This will build your childs sense of security that is required for later development. Allow plenty of rest for your baby and yourself. Frequently feed your baby to develop better sleep patterns. Breast feeding is the best option as besides nourishment it may give immunity against many infections. Breastfeeding also gives the mother and the child a chance to bond. There should be no frequent outings,especially during extreme winters. If a trip is unavoidable,the baby should be covered properly while going out. The baby should sleep with the mother in the same cot,to get the natural heat and warmth from the mother. There should be minimum visitors at home to meet the baby during winters. Those suffering from cough and cold must stay away from the baby as well as the mother to avoid any kind of infection.

What steps should be taken if a child is suffering from diarrhoea?

Dr Vashist replies: If the child is totally dependent on breast milk,she may suffer from transitional diarrhoeawatery stool throughout the day. In case of older children,viral diarrhoea is very common and can be tackled with water replacement therapya combination of ORS and homemade daal ka paani,rice water,coconut water and salted lassi. In case of bacterial diarrhoea,the child should be given anti-bacterial drugs with ORS and homemade food. And if the child is in her growing age and gaining weight adequately,there is nothing to worry much about it,though you should check this with her paediatrician once. It may be because of milk protein or sugar intolerance. Some gastro-intestinal disorders may cause malabsorption,resulting in diarrhoea. It is the functional diarrhoea that happens without any major cause. Infants often have watery stool intermittently associated with constipation. They might pass stool immediately after waking up and after feeds. They may also pass undigested food. There is no treatment for this and there is no need to worry either as the child will definitely grow out of it.