Common Infant and Newborn Problems

Summary

It is hard when your baby is sick. Common health problems in babies include colds, coughs, fevers, and vomiting. Babies also commonly have skin problems, like diaper rash or cradle cap.

Many of these problems are not serious. It is important to know how to help your sick baby, and to know the warning signs for more serious problems. Trust your intuition – if you are worried about your baby, call your health care provider right away.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Specifics

• Baby Acne Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Colic in Babies American Academy of Family Physicians
• Colic Symptoms and Causes Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Common Cold in Babies: Symptoms and Causes Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Coughing (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Diaper Rash Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Diaper Rash Nemours Foundation
• Ear Infection American Academy of Family Physicians
• Ear Infection (Otitis Media) Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Fever (High Temperature) In Kids Nemours Foundation
• Flat Head Syndrome (Positional Plagiocephaly) Nemours Foundation
• Jaundice Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Jaundice in Newborns Nemours Foundation
• Milia Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Oral Thrush (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Plagiocephaly American Academy of Family Physicians
• Surgery for Tear Duct Blockage Nemours Foundation
• Vomiting (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Your Child’s Vision Nemours Foundation
• Your Colicky Baby Nemours Foundation

Images

• Candidiasis, Diaper Dermatitis VisualDX
• Dermatitis, Diaper Irritant VisualDX
• Milia VisualDX
• Miliaria Rubra VisualDX
• Mongolian Spot (Blue-Gray Spot) VisualDX

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Diaper Rash National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Infant, Newborn, Diseases National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Infantile Colic National Institutes of Health

Patient Handouts

• Colic and crying – self-care Medical Encyclopedia
• Crying – excessive (0-6 months) Medical Encyclopedia
• Diaper rash Medical Encyclopedia
• Diarrhea in infants Medical Encyclopedia
• Newborn jaundice – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Rash – child under 2 years Medical Encyclopedia
• When your baby or infant has a fever Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Common Conditions in Newborns American Academy of Pediatrics
• What Are Some of the Basics of Infant Health? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Encyclopedia

• Diastasis recti Medical Encyclopedia
• Ear tag Medical Encyclopedia
• Epstein pearls Medical Encyclopedia
• Erythema toxicum Medical Encyclopedia
• Exchange transfusion Medical Encyclopedia
• Exchange transfusion – series — Procedure Medical Encyclopedia
• Fussy or irritable child Medical Encyclopedia
• Hormonal effects in newborns Medical Encyclopedia
• Milia Medical Encyclopedia
• Mongolian blue spots Medical Encyclopedia
• Skin findings in newborns Medical Encyclopedia
• Teething Medical Encyclopedia
• Your baby and the flu Medical Encyclopedia

Treatments and Therapies

• Do Not Give Infants Cough and Cold Products Designed for Older Children Food and Drug Administration
• How to Give Your Child Medicine American Academy of Family Physicians
• How to Treat Diaper Rash American Academy of Dermatology
• Should You Give Kids Medicine for Coughs and Colds? Food and Drug Administration
• Treating Tear-Duct Blockage (Tear Duct Massage) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Treating Tear-Duct Blockage (Tear Duct Probe) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Treating Vomiting American Academy of Pediatrics

Health Check Tools

• Elimination Problems or Constipation in Infants and Children American Academy of Family Physicians
• Feeding Problems in Infants and Children American Academy of Family Physicians
• Fever in Infants and Children American Academy of Family Physicians
• Mouth Problems in Infants and Children American Academy of Family Physicians
• Nausea and Vomiting in Infants and Children American Academy of Family Physicians

Find an Expert

• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• Find a Pediatrician or Pediatric Specialist American Academy of Pediatrics
• KidsHealth Nemours Foundation

Related Issues

• Finding a Doctor for Your New Baby Nemours Foundation
• Getting the Most From a Doctor’s Visit Nemours Foundation
• Sick Baby? When to Seek Medical Attention Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Journal Articles

• Common Infant and Newborn Problems