After three children and five and a half years of continuous nappy changing its fair to say as a Pharmacist I have had a vested interest in trying out all of the many many nappy rash creams that are available on the Irish market! I’ve had phases with little or no nappy rash to battle and phases where it has felt impossible to clear! For the last couple of months I have unfortunately been battling a particularly persistent case so I was excited and eager to try the new Mustela 123 Vitamin Barrier Cream which arrived on our shelves in Milltown totalhealth Pharmacy…yes I am that sad – this is exactly the kind of thing that makes my day at the moment!! Continue reading
Is this heat rash?
Heat rash is also known as miliaria or prickly heat. There’s a few different kinds and the rash can range from mild small pimples to deep red lumps. Its generally a pink or red rash which can be made up of dots, spots or pimples – most often these affect the head neck and shoulders. Heat rash occurs when your baby’s sweat glands become blocked and become swollen, itchy and generally uncomfortable! It often occurs under clothes where the heat is worst and the material rubs off it causing further irritation and friction. Continue reading
Should you give your baby calpol or nurofen before vaccinations?
This is a question that crops up time and time again – especially now since new guidance has been given with the introduction of the MenB Vaccine to the primary immunisation schedule. I’d like to clear it up to help parents understand when you should or should not give your baby calpol or nurofen as a preventative strategy before vaccinations.
- Ibuprofen (Nurofen) should not be given to prevent pain or fever before any vaccination on the childhood schedule.
- Paracetamol (Calpol or Paralink) should only be given as a preventative measure at the time of the MenB vaccines only. This recommendation applies only to the vaccines given at two and four months of age.
- Paracetamol is recommended before the two and four month vaccines only as a result of the introduction of the MenB vaccine which may put your child at a higher risk of fever when given with the other vaccines.
- At your child’s two or four month vaccines three doses of paracetamol should be given – the first dose of 2.5mls infant paracetamol (60mg) should be given at the time of vaccination or just after. The second dose should be given 4-6 hours later and then the third dose should be given 4-6 hours after the second.
- Paracetamol (calpol) does not need to be given routinely at the 12 month vaccines as your baby is less susceptible to the side effects of the MenB vaccination.
So basically other than before the two and four month vaccines you should not routinely try to prevent side effects of vaccines by giving medication.
However, it is important to stress that if your child is over six months of age and develops a fever over 39 degrees celcius or pain, swelling, headache or irritability after receiving a vaccine you can then use either paracetamol (calpol or paralink) or ibuprofen (nurofen) to treat their symptoms.
On a personal note I would recommend breastfeeding or if not bottle feeding your baby during or just after their vaccinations – and LOTS AND LOTS of cuddles and hugs…they are shocked and horrified by whats going on and a little love and reassurance is sometimes the best medicine!
I hope you have found this article helpful and if you have any questions at all please don’t hesitate to contact me by sending a private message to the WonderBaba facebook page (www.facebook.com/wonderbabacare) or by calling me (Sheena) at Milltown totalhealth Pharmacy in Dublin 6 on 012600262. I’m always happy to help!
References
http://www.hse.ie/eng/health/immunisation/hcpinfo/guidelines/
PSI Guidance 2017
Antihistamines – A WonderBaba Guide!
Here is a little guide with everything you need to know about antihistamines!
Antihistamines are medicines that treat allergic conditions. They work by relieving symptoms rather than curing conditions. They treat symptoms like itching, rash, hives, hay fever, runny eyes or nose due to allergy, irritation from bites or stings or even food allergies.
An oral antihistamine solution may be used if your child is over two years of age. Continue reading
A Wonder Review Ear Band-Its!
There is nothing worse than trying to explain to a child that they can’t go swimming or mess too much in the bath because they are not allowed to get water in their ears due to grommets or ear perforation due to a bad infection. In addition to that consider the nightmare which exists when trying to bathe a child who hates to have water in their ears! From both a parents and child perspective ensuring no water enters the ear canal is nothing short of a disaster!
From my experience there are two main situations which arise! One where a child is not allowed to get water in their ears for medical reasons such as infection or grommets and another where a healthy child hates the feeling of water in their ears and suggesting a bath makes you enemy number one!! In essence it involves a parent trying to explain or battle (let’s be honest here!) with a child who either wants to splash and dunk their head under the water or else coaxing and convincing a child that hates the bath that water in their ears is ok and there is no need to be afraid! Well I don’t know about your WonderBaba’s but mine certainly seem to follow my logical arguments!!
I recently came across a genius little product which solves the problems associated with both of these ‘water’ issues! May I introduce… Ear Band-Its! Continue reading
Preparing to Breastfeed!
Whilst it is certainly true that breastfeeding is a natural and instinctive skill it is not always true that it will come ‘naturally’. Personal experience has highlighted breastfeeding as one of the most rewarding experiences life has to offer, but it has also taught me that support and knowledge are key to a successful breastfeeding relationship. It is most likely that you will have an easy and straightforward breastfeeding experience but it is also very possible that you may stumble across a few hurdles on your way. With only 10% of Irish mums continuing to breastfeed after four months it is clear that our support networks are somewhat lacking. Continue reading
Why cant I get Dentinox cradle cap shampoo?
***Update*** 5/4/17 – New Information in BLUE!
I Spoke to the manufacturers of the product today who said a ‘reformulated’ Dentinox shampoo will be available at the end of October 2017. They could not confirm the date and had no further information about what the difference in formulation would be but hopefully we will have more information soon! I’m glad its coming back as it is a great product so I just hope the reformulation does not effect its efficacy!
In the meanwhile this cradle cap brush is brilliant to help gently work away patches of cradle cap! http://www.milltownpharmacy.ie/p/pourty_cradle_cap_massage_brush
I use it with the gorgeous smelling Uriage 1Er Shampoo – http://www.milltownpharmacy.ie/p/uriage_1er_shampoo_200ml
Have you been left frustrated by the current shortage of Dentinox cradle cap shampoo? I have, for personal reasons as well as professional!
I have spoken to the manufacturer of the product DDD Ltd in the UK who have assured me that it has not been discontinued – the problem relates to a production delay. They have told me that it will be available for us to buy again but so far have not been able to offer any estimation of a date. They have taken my details and will update me as soon as they have a date and I promise to update you all at that point too!
In the meanwhile I would just like to say that there is no need to be stuck – there is an excellent alternative for this product available which is known as Capasal Therapeutic Shampoo. It is suitable for use on cradle cap on children and is safe to use regularly.
We have this available online for all of you fellow frustrated mums so if you need it just CLICK HERE
Dentinox and Capasal are excellent at treating persistent cradle cap but there is some more gentle options also available as described in my full cradle cap blog – CLICK HERE
I hope this helps to clarify the current situation but if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me in Milltown totalhealth Pharmacy on 01-2600262 (Sheena) or by messaging me on the WonderBaba facebook page!
Oral Thrush in Babies
Oral thrush is a term used to describe a fungal infection in the mouth caused by the yeast fungus Candida albicans. This fungus is actually present in everyone’s mouth and it doesn’t normally cause problems but if it gets the better of your immune system it can overgrow and cause symptomatic infection. Babies are more at risk of this than adults because their immune systems are not as strong or developed and are therefore more susceptible to infection. Another cause of oral thrush is antibiotic use by either your baby or yourself (if you are breastfeeding). Continue reading
A WonderBaba Guide to Weaning your Baby onto Solids!
Weaning is one of those funny words we hear a lot as new parents. As we try to grasp what it actually means and how to go about it we tend to get overwhelmed by advice and information which can lead us to a seeing it as an obstacle instead of the lovely exciting and fun part of our baby’s journey that it can be! There’s books, menus and confusion over when to start and how it impacts on the milk relationship. It’s another one of those topics that even your aunty’s neighbour’s cousin’s best friend will have an opinion on…. It can be hard to figure out how you feel about it yourself and what approach best suits you and your baby! I have no intention in telling you that I have all of the answers – I couldn’t possibly know what approach is best for your lovely little WonderBaba – but I can tell you what I’ve learnt about the different aspects of weaning along my journey as a Pharmacist and mum of three very different children. I can also tell you about what cues you should watch for from your own baby to try to decide how and when they will be most comfortable weaning. Continue reading
Slapped Cheek – A WonderBaba Guide for Parents!
Slapped cheek is a viral illness which is also known as fifth disease or erythema infectiosum and is caused by a virus known as parvovirus B19. It has many of the same sort of symptoms of the flu as other viral illnesses which I’ll describe more here but also a characteristic rash on the cheeks which leaves them looking as if they have been slapped, and also a faint recurring red rash on the body is possible. Continue reading
