Frequently Asked Quetions

• It is normal for babies to poop 3-6 times/day to once in 3-4 days. As long as the baby otherwise looking good, no worries. Formula-fed babies (even partial with breast milk) poop less than breast fed babies. Babies who poop less usually have more gas which is normal.
• Color of stool can change from poop to poop, or from day to day, which is not concerning, except if there is blood in the stool or lot of mucus.
• Some formulas like Enfamil Gentlease, or Similac Sensitive are designed to help with constipation and you may want to consider these for your baby.
• If constipation needs to be relived in babies, use over the counter glycerin suppositories. They are available over the counter in most pharmacies in the pediatric pharmacy section. Usually you insert a portion of the glycerin bar in the bottom of baby and they’ll usually poop within half an hour to one hour.
• If nothing works, call the office to have your baby evaluated.

6 months- 1 yr.:

• It is common for babies to get constipated when baby foods are started.
• If baby is constipated, use apple juice or prune juice to help with constipation (one ounce of juice in one ounce of water or milk). You can use once a day or every other day to help with constipation.

Above 1 yr.:

• It is common for infants to have constipation once they start regular milk or start eating more solid food.
• Try Miralax (pediatric dose can vary) to relieve constipation. More fruits and vegetables will help too.

CALL THE OFFICE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IF YOUR CHILD IS STILL CONSTIPATED DESPITE TAKING THE ABOVE MEASURES.

• All babies have water in their eyes which drain into nose through a duct called the Nasolacrimal duct.
• It is common that duct get blocked if your baby has nasal congestion, and sometimes even without any nasal congestion.
• One eye or both eyes can be blocked.
• When ducts get blocked, water backs up in the eye and causes yellowish/green boogers in the eye, which can turn into crust in the eyes.
• When this happens, clean eyes with warm water. After cleaning, if eyes look normal, it is not infection and nothing to worry about.
• If it continues to happen, you can gently massage the area between nose and eye 2-3 times a day for few minutes each. A good time to do this is when you are feeding the baby.
• Eye discharge usually gets better with time and goes away around 4 months of age.
• If eyes look red after cleaning with warm water or it is very frequent that boogers keep coming back, call the office to make an appointment.

If you are not producing enough breast milk, it’s ok to use formula to supplement, but continue to breast feed as long as you’re able.

There are different formulas and it’s common to go through 2-3 different formulas before finding the right one for your baby.

ENFAMIL

• Enfamil regular formula (Blue or Yellow carton) is used most often and most babies are ok with it.
• If your baby has a lot of gas, or gets constipated, try Enfamil Gentlease (purple carton). Most babies are fine on this.
• If your baby is constipated even on Enfamil Gentlease then try Enfamil Reguline (not covered by WIC).
• If your baby has colic, or is gassy, you can also try Enfamil Nutramigen.
• If your baby is spitting up a lot, or has a reflux issue, try Enfamil AR.
• If there is history of lactose intolerance in the family, or despite using the above formula has diarrhea, gas, colic and spit up, you can use Prosobee (Soy formula).
• If nothing above is working then call office to schedule an appointment.

SIMILAC

• Most Similac products are not covered by WIC, you’ll have to pay for them out of pocket.
• Similac Advance is regular formula and Similac Sensitive is used for constipation and gas.
• Isomil is Similac’s Soy formula.

Other Brands & Organic Forumula

There are other off-brands carried by Costco, Target, WalMart, etc., you may want to try them too.

Organic formulas are also available – Going organic with formula is a choice, not a medical necessity.

• It is common for babies to get nasally congested even at this small age. Since they breathe through their nose, they may make grunting sounds, cough, or it may seem like they’re having difficulty breathing. Make sure to clean their nose with bulb suction.
• You can use saline drops for babies to put one drop in each nostril and then use suction. Saline drops help to loosen the secretions and makes it is easier to suck out the thick secretions.
• You can use humidifier in the room and can use baby Vicks drops (available over the counter) or Vapo Rub under the nose to help with congestion.
• Use Tylenol 1.25 ml every 4-6 hours if the baby has a mild fever (less than 102 degrees).
• As long the baby is otherwise looking good, eating well, and sleeping well, you have nothing to worry about.
• If nothing is working, call the office to make an appointment and have your baby checked.

Above 2 months:

• It is common to have nasal congestion due to the weather and allergens in the air.
• If cleaning the nose with saline drops is not helping (see above), you can use Zarbee for cough and cold. It’s available over the counter, for babies even as small as 2 months.
• You can use Vicks baby rub to help with nasal congestion.
• Use Tylenol or Motrin 1.25 ml or 2.5 ml every 4-6 hours if the child has a mild fever (less than 102 degrees).
• If cough is getting worse, or the looks sick, call the office to make an appointment.

• Tylenol and Motrin are safe to use for babies with fever and teething pain.
• Newborn – 3 months: 1.25 ml every 4-6 hours as needed
• 3 months – 9 months: 2.5 ml every 4-6 hours as needed
• 9 months – 2 yrs.: 3.75 ml every 4-6 hours as needed
• Above 2 yrs. of age follow the direction on the bottle

If needed to, you can alternate Tylenol and Motrin every 3 hours for fever. If fever is persistent and your baby is not responding to Tylenol and Motrin, or the baby/child is not looking well, call the office to make an appointment.

• Make sure to burp baby well after each feeding. Some babies don’t burp well, it is ok, just still stroke their back while holding upright for few minutes before putting them back to sleep.
• Have them slightly propped up when sleeping, about 15 to 20 degree to prevent reflux – Not just the head, the whole body should be propped up on the bed, or make the bed adjust to a gentle slope.
• If your baby is spitting up, but eating well, gaining good weight, and otherwise looking good, there’s nothing to worry about.
• If formula-fed then you can try Enfamil AR or Similac Spit Up to see if they help.
• If your baby is crying a lot, not gaining good weight, and does not seems to be eating well, call the office to schedule an appointment to discuss other options, including medication.

• Colic usually comes around 3 weeks of life, gets worse between 1-2 months, and then gets better slowly by 3 months of age.
• Colic crying usually happens in the evening or night and usually happens at same time of the day.
• Along with colic, your baby may also be gassy and feel uncomfortable.
• You’re lucky if your baby does not have colic as most babies go through this phase.
• You can try over the counter colic/gas drops or grape water to see if they can help.
• Gently massaging their belly can also help.
• If your baby is formula fed, you can try Enfamil Nutramigen to see if that helps with colic.
• If nothing is working , call the office to make an appointment.

• The teething process can start in babies as young as 3 months of age, although they may not come until they are 7 or 8 months old.
• You’ll notice that your baby is putting their hands and fingers in their mouth and drool a lot.
• You can try over the counter teething tablets, or Baby Orajel if they are crying too much.
• Low grade fever (up to 101) and mild diarrhea is also common during teething.
• Teething is common around 9 months of age when lots of teeth, including molars, are coming at same time.
• If nothing is working, to relieve your baby’s pain, call the office to make an appointment and discuss different options.