Do not worry, most babies encounter these problems till one year old. These troubles are usually without danger and caused by the immature digestive system of your baby. Even if it happens a lot, there are solutions to improve baby's comfort and yours, do not hesitate to ask advice from a health professional.

More information on…

With Dr. B. Le Luyer, Head of Pediatric Department, Le Havre Hospital, France
		Fever
		Regurgitations
		Colic
		Constipation
		Allergies
		Diarrhea

Fever

What is fever?

It is an abnormal increase of the body temperature. It is a defensive reaction from the body, a messenger showing the presence of another problem.

When do you know baby has fever ?

Baby has fever if their oral temperature is higher than 37.5°C or their rectum temperature higher than 38°C.

What do we need to do when baby has fever ?

If their oral temperature do not exceed 39°C, and baby has never had any major illness, try to calm them down, uncover them, give them a bath for 5 to 10 minutes with a difference of temperature of 2°C between their body and the water (for example water at 37°C if your baby has 39°C fever), try often to give them some water to drink and after an hour verify again their temperature. If baby has more than 39°C fever, go and see your doctor rapidly.

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Regurgitations

What are regurgitations?

They are little spittles that happens just after or around one hour after the meal. It is a reject "without any effort" of the stomach content towards the esophagus. Do not confuse regurgitations and vomiting : vomiting is a reject of the gastric content with an effort, they often are the sign of a hidden illness and need to be carefully controlled.

Are regurgitations dangerous or painful?

Regurgitations are commonplace to newborn babies and disappear naturally during the first year. The stomach content is sour and its return into the mouth can irritate the esophagus which starts to be painful. Although not serious, these little regurgitations bring a discomfort for your baby as well as for you. There are adapted formulae for such problems.

What causes regurgitations?

They are caused by the immature inferior sphincter of the esophagus, in other words the little muscle situated between the stomach and the esophagus which role is to prevent the gastric content taking the wrong direction (going towards the mouth instead of continuing its way towards the intestin).

What should I do when my baby regurgitates?

In case of simple regurgitations, an adapted diet is enough. Indeed the experts of the ESPGHAN (European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) recommend to thicken the food of newborn baby who suffer from regurgitations, which then limits the food that returns into the esophagus. However, it is advised not to give too thick a milk, which stay too long into the stomach causing an increase risk of regurgitations in time. Ask advise from your doctor.

Your doctor has advised you to use Novalac AR 2 follow-on formula:

Novalac AR 2 is a clinically tested follow-on formula which thickens only in the stomach of your baby. The milk remains liquid in the bottle so that is it easy to feed your baby.
Novalac AR 2 is recommended for babies with regular regurgitation.

Your doctor has advised you to use Novalac AR Digest formula:

Novalac AR Digest is an innovative infant food with a double action against regurgitation. Novalac AR Digest has a pre-thickened formula and it is easier to be digested.
Novalac AR Digest is a food for special medical purposes in case of infant regurgitation from 0 to 12 months and should be used on medical advice.
Novalac AR1, Novalac AR2 and Novalac AR Digest are designed for an everyday feeding. These formulas are nutritionally balanced (vitamins, minerals, omega 3&6 essential fatty acids, etc.) and participate to the appropriate growth of your baby.

Advise in case of regurgitations

- avoid cloths and nappies too tight around the belly
- feed baby in a calm and relaxing atmosphere
- do not smoke around baby
- do not force baby to finish its bottle

If your baby is more than 6 months old, avoid giving them orange juice, it is too acidic (sugar does not remove the acid out and sugar has no advantage for your baby's health)

Newborn babies colic

What are colic?

Colic are still today a trouble that we do not understand properly even if it happens frequently during the first few months of baby's life. Few symptoms are hidden behind this term. Colic are associated to being bloated and generally flatulence. You can usually notice them by inexplicable cries, baby is inconsolable and seems to be suffering. If your baby often cries after meal times, without any appearent reason, if they bend their knees under their belly and seem to be uncomfortable, they probably suffer from colic.

What causes colic?

Their origin are still being discussed, few factors seem to be the cause. However, more often colic are associated to baby's immature digestive system. Sometimes the intestine cannot absorbed the totality of nutrients, which are in baby's meal. This immaturity is indirectly the origin of bloating and gas which disturb baby.

Your doctor has advised you Novalac AC2.

Novalac AC2 is a follow-on milk specially formulated for newborn babies' diet having wind and being bloated, from 6 months old to a year. Its carbohydrates profile has been determined in relation to newborn babies digestion capacities. Novalac AC2 is complete nutritionally in order to give all the needed nutrients for a healthy growth to your baby.

Novalac AC2 can be used continuously from 6 months to one year.

What should I do in case of colic?

An adapted diet can be advised by your doctor, follow its recommendations exactly.

Few measures for baby's well being and to limit colic:

- After meals if baby seems bloated, massage softly its belly,
- Take time to make baby burp after each meal,
- During the feeding be careful that baby does not swallow some air.
If you are giving baby the bottle, use an adapted teat,
- Try to calm and create a relaxing atmosphere around baby, they feel your anxiety
- Do not smoke around baby

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Constipation

What is constipation?

Constipation is a decrease in the stools frequency, these ones being often hard. We speak of constipation when the bowels frequency is less than once a day before 6 months old, 3 times a week after 6 months old and twice a week for a toddler. More important than the bowels frequency is to check that it is not painful when it happens.

Is constipation painful?

Yes, passing hard stools can be painful. It most be treated immediately before getting worse : if your baby associates defecation with pain, they are going to try to delay as much as possible the pain, the constipation will then be more important.

What causes the constipation?

Constipation comes usually from a functional origin, it is a factor which is indirectly linked to the body. If your baby takes medicines, they can slow down the transit, tell your doctor. Constipation usually comes from an inadapted diet.

Your doctor has advised you to use Novalac IT2

Novalac IT2 is a follow on milk specially formulated to facilitate baby's intestinal transit, which can be slow for babies of 6 months old to a year.

Novalac IT2 is nutritionally complete in order to give your child all the nutrients they need for an optimal growth. Novalac IT2 can be used continuously from 6 months old to a year.

What should I do if my baby is constipated?

If you breastfeed your baby, your food is probably low in fiber : try to eat enough fruits and vegetables.

If you bottle feed your baby, you must respect the preparation advice written on the box : 1 measure leveled but not packed down for 30 ml of water. Discuss it with your doctor, they will be able to prescribe you an adapted formula.

If your baby has a diversified diet, some foods help the transit : preferred orange juice or prunes. If you add powders into baby's bottle, respect the advised quantities.

In any case, try to give often some water to baby.

What should I avoid if my baby is constipated?

If your baby seems to be constipated, once you have eliminated the possibility of a mistake during the bottle preparation, ask advice from a health professional, do not systematically use laxatives, do not try to help your baby, for example with a thermometer. Do not let the constipation stay and do not hesitate to ask advice from your doctor.

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Allergies

What are allergies?

The term allergy means an abnormal reaction of the body when a foreign substance is present, but which does not happen to most peopole. It is a reaction of the bodies immune system which will create antibodies to fight the foreign elements (allergen). Then there is a second contact with the allergen, the reaction is stronger and more violent.

Allergies can manifest themselves by different ways : asthma, hives, eczema, sneezes, digestive troubles up to an anaphylactic shock that can cause death.

Can allergies touch everybody?

Yes, however some people are more favourable than others. ("atopie") : the risks of allergies is increased to a newborn baby who has a brother, as sister or a parent with allergies. Theses risks are even higher if both parents suffer from the same allergies.

What food might provoke an allergy reaction?

Most foods are able to provoke an allergic reaction. However the most frequent are : groundnut, eggs, milk, shellfish, fish…

Cow's milk and soya proteins are main causes of allergies for babies under 6 months old whose family have a history of allergy

Your doctor has advised you to use Novalac HA2

Novalac HA2 is a follow-on milk specially formulated to decrease the risk of allergies for babies over 6 months old.

Do not use Novalac HA2 if your baby is allergic to cow's milk, milk protein, has an inability to tolerate lactose, in case of galactosemy or cannot absorb glucose or galactose.

Novalac HA 2 is nutritionally complete to give your child all the nutrients they need for an optimal growth. Novalac HA2 can be used continuously from 6 months old to a year. Because of its special composition, Novalac HA2 has an odour and a taste that is different from normal infant formulae ; its use can be lead, without any inconvenience for your child to have less substantial stools than with normal formula.

Your doctor has advised you Allernova

Allernova is a food for special medical purpose indicated for the feeding of newborn and babies in case of cow’s milk protein allergy.

In case of cow’s milk protein allergy, there is no therapeutic treatment, but the solution is to totally avoid the whole, native cow’s milk protein from the baby’s diet.

Allernova is dietetic food containing cow’s milk protein which have been specially treated to decrease their capacity to induce allergic reaction in an allergic patient.

If your doctor has advised you Allernova, don’t change this food without medical advice. Don’t give your baby any other milk product without medical advice.

Allernova should be used only under medical advice.

What should I do if my child is at risk to become allergic?

If you think that your baby is at risk of developing allergies talk to your doctor : the best solution is to do everything possible to prevent their apparition by delaying the exposure to allergen. Indeed, during the first year of your baby's life, their immune system is immature and it is at this time of their life that the risk is the highest.

If you do not breastfeed your baby, your doctor will be able to advise you an adapted formula to prevent allergies, called "hypoallergenic".

Lots of precautions must be taken with a diversified diet due to a higher risk of allergies, and under medical control. Do no hurry anything. Wait that baby is 6 months old to start introducing other foods than milk into their diet. Introduce them one by one. The introduction of some food can be delayed to a year old. Eggs and mainly egg whites, as well as groundnut are known to be high allergens. Their introduction should be delayed. To know more about the diversified diet.

However try to keep baby in a non-smoking environment, respect a good household hygiene and avoid having domestic animals at home, you will protect your baby.

My baby is allergic to cows milk protein, what should I do?

If your baby has a proved allergic to cow's milk protein your doctor will advise you an adapted formula without any cow's milk protein. Indeed the ousting of the allergen is the only allergy treatment.

What is the difference between allergies and intolerance?

The digestive symptoms of an allergy and intolerance are often really close, that is why these two names are often mixed up. Yet they indicate two different reactions of the body : the allergic reaction implies an immune mechanism, whereas the intolerance indicate an abnormal physiological reaction. For example we speak of allergies to cow's milk protein but of intolerance to lactose. Indeed the lactose, natural milk sugar, is normally digested at the intestinal level by an enzyme called lactase. However this lactase is sometimes not able to digest the entire intake of lactose, which usually provokes abdominal pains, vomiting or diarrhea. You need to reduce or eliminate the food that provokes this reaction. In case of doubt, always talk to your doctor about it.

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Diarrhea

What is diarrhea?

Acute diarrhea is defined by having more liquid stools, more often and in bigger quantity than usual. It is often accompany by vomiting.

Where does diarrhea come from?

Causes of diarrhea are multiple ; it can be food intolerance as well as viral or bacterial infections.

Is a diarrhea dangerous?

You can have a high risk of dehydration with diarrhea what can be dangerous, even deadly. Therefore in case of doubts, go to see your doctor urgently. Dehydration is showed by a decrease of urine volume (less than 4 wet nappies a day), weight loss, no tears, dryness of the mucous membrane, hollow eyes, greyish skin and a sunken fontanel. Your doctor will evaluate the gravity of the dehydration with the weight loss and will prescribe a treatment, probably constituted of an oral reydration solution and/ or a particularly adapted infant formula. If you cannot see a doctor immediately, ask advise from your chemist in order to give your baby an oral rehydration solution such as Novalac Hydranova as soon as possible. During the treatment, if you do not see a quick recovery of the symptoms, go and see your doctor again.

Your doctor has prescribed you Novalac AD

Novalac AD is a special formula enabling rehydration while feeding during diarrhea. It does not contain any nutrients that could favour a relapse. Novalac AD replaces baby's usual infant milk for a short period.

Depending on your child's age, you can use Novalac AD to prepare preparations based on cereals without milk or gluten. Seek advice from your doctor concerning the introduction of foods other than Novalac AD.

Respect your doctor's instructions. Novalac AD cannot be used for a long time.

From its special composition, Novalac AD has an appearance, smell and taste, different than normal infantile formulae. If the bottle rests for too long, few layers can appear it is normal, shake the bottle before using it.

What is Novalac Hydranova - ORS?

If your child suffers from diarrhoea, it is possible that your doctor recommends you to give them for few hours an oral rehydration solution such as Novalac Hydranova. It is presented as a small bag to dilute in a precise volume of water. This solution then brings water and mineral salts in an adapted quantity in order to allow a quick and efficient rehydration.

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