A sick baby is one of the most anxious experiences in early parenthood. You cannot ask a 6-month-old where it hurts. You cannot explain that the medicine will help. You are working from crying, behaviour changes, temperature, and your instincts. This guide is designed to give you a clear framework for home management and help you know when to seek professional care.
Your Sick Baby Toolkit
Every Indian home with a baby should have: a digital thermometer (rectal or axillary), infant paracetamol drops (Calpol or equivalent) in the appropriate concentration, ORS sachets (Electral or Pedialyte), saline nasal drops, a nasal aspirator, and your paediatrician's contact number saved and accessible. Having these before you need them means you are not searching at midnight during your baby's first fever.
Fever Management at Home
For babies over 3 months with a temperature of 38 to 39 degrees who are feeding, have wet nappies, and are not extremely distressed, home management is appropriate for the first 24 to 48 hours. Dress lightly, keep the room comfortably cool, ensure adequate fluid intake, and use infant paracetamol in the correct weight-based dose if the baby seems uncomfortable.
Important: temperature alone does not determine treatment. A baby with a 38.5 degree temperature who is alert, feeding, and has wet nappies is less concerning than a baby with a 37.8 degree temperature who is lethargic, refusing all feeds, and has not had a wet nappy in 8 hours. Behaviour and overall clinical picture matter more than the number on the thermometer.
Cold and Runny Nose at Home
The common cold in babies cannot be cured — it runs its course in 7 to 10 days regardless of treatment. What you can do is make your baby more comfortable: saline nasal drops followed by nasal aspiration before feeds (a congested baby struggles to feed), steam in the bathroom (run the hot shower and sit in the steamy room for 10 minutes), warm fluids for babies over 6 months, and cool mist humidification in an air-conditioned room. Do not give over-the-counter cold medicines to babies under 6 years.
When to Call Your Paediatrician Immediately
Any fever in a baby under 3 months. Temperature above 39.5 degrees at any age. No wet nappy for 8 hours. Not feeding at all for 6 to 8 hours. Unusually drowsy or difficult to wake. Rash with fever. Difficulty breathing, fast breathing, or noisy breathing. Fontanelle (soft spot) that is bulging. Your instinct that something is seriously wrong. Indian parents are sometimes reluctant to call the paediatrician out of hours for fear of being a nuisance. You are not a nuisance. That is what paediatricians are for.