A–Z Glossary

Fontanelle

A fontanelle is a soft area between an infant’s skull bones that may appear sunken when the infant is dehydrated.

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How to treat diarrhea in babies

How to treat diarrhea in babies

Recognize what counts as diarrhea Infant stool patterns vary widely, so diarrhea is best understood as a change from your baby’s usual baseline. Normal newborn stools can be soft, loose, seedy, and frequent. Diarrhea is more likely when stools suddenly become much more frequent, truly watery, explosive, foul-smelling, or occur more often than expected after […]

When ear infection needs doctor

When ear infection needs doctor

Why babies need a lower threshold for medical review In babies, an ear infection may involve the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum. It commonly follows a viral upper respiratory infection, when congestion interferes with drainage through the eustachian tube. Pressure and inflammation can produce pain, fever, irritability, and disrupted sleep. However, these […]

How to keep baby hydrated

How to keep baby hydrated

What hydration means in the first year of life Babies have a higher proportion of body water than older children and adults, and they can become dehydrated more quickly when intake falls or losses increase. That does not mean they need constant drinking in the same way older children do. In the early months, milk […]

Growth spurts and appetite changes

Growth spurts and appetite changes

What happens during a growth spurt A growth spurt is a period when an infant’s body is growing more rapidly than usual. The change may involve weight, length, head circumference, or a combination of these measures. Growth is not perfectly linear: babies commonly alternate between periods of relatively rapid gain and periods in which measurable […]