infant baby at doctor office

For a couple years now, everyone has been trying to spend less time at their doctor’s if they can avoid it. So here are some easy tips for handling small health concerns at home!

For colds:

  • Get plenty of fluids – water, juice without added sugar, coconut water, and soup broth are good choices. With lots of fluid you need to make sure you’re not flushing needed nutrients out of your systems, so vary your fluid up!
  • Move your body a little – The action of gentle walking pushes lymph fluid through your lymph system, which keeps your immune system from getting plugged up.
  • Take elderberry – elderberries are very helpful to the immune system. You can find elderberry syrups and teas in most grocery stores.

For fevers:

  • Do your best to let the fever run its course.
  • A small amount of Tylenol will be beneficial if the fever is above 104F.
  • Do whatever makes you feel the best.

For scrapes and cuts:

  • Wash with warm water.
  • Cover with a bandaid if still bleeding (or you have a toddler)
  • Change the bandaid daily, giving the cut a little time to breathe. Wash again if the cut is open.
  • Watch for redness, heat, and increased tenderness, which can indicate an infection.

For mild infections:

  • Rinse with warm salt water
  • Apply a bit of antibiotic cream

For badly bonked heads:

  • Make sure the bonked stays awake for an hour or two after
  • Try ice or bag of frozen peas on the injury
  • Seek medical attention if they experience dizziness or headache

For bug bites:

  • Apply cold cloth or ice to the area for 10-20 minutes
  • Apply calamine lotion, baking soda paste, or hydrocortisone cream

For mild sunburn:

  • Cool skin with damp towel or take a cool bath with baking soda added
  • Apply a moisturizer or gel like aloe vera lotion or clear natural gel
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Don’t break blisters
  • Avoid applying “-caine’ products and never use benzocaine on a child under age 2

For constipation:

  • Drink prune juice and plenty of water
  • Cut back on constipating foods such as cheese, ice cream, meat, white rice, white bread
  • Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
  • Take little one for a walk
  • Ease up on the toilet training

One more tip, googling your baby’s symptoms can be scary and lead you down a rabbit hole of doom.  So find a trusted website and use that for information or call your doctor’ office.

You got this!

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