Emergency

Medical care for babies and young children

A person holding a baby with a doctor holding a clipboard

It's normal to worry about your child and to try to keep them as safe as possible. The good news is that babies and young children are a lot tougher than we might think and there are steps that you can take to protect your child from avoidable illness and injury. 

Signs your baby needs medical attention

Get medical attention if you notice any of the following:

  • Your baby is not interested in feeding or is too sleepy to feed at least eight times per day.
  • Your baby is not wetting their diaper at least two times per day in the first week, or five times per day after the first week.
  • Your baby doesn't have at least one greenish brown stool during the first three days, or at least two dirty diapers after four days of age.
  • Your baby cries all the time and can't be comforted.
  • The white parts of your baby's eyes start to look a little yellow.

If your baby has a fever of 38°C (100°F) or more, call your doctor or midwife right away or go to the emergency department.

Allergies

A food allergy happens when the body's immune system thinks a food is harmful.

Recognizing allergic reactions

Typical allergic reactions

Usually, you'll see a reaction within a few minutes or hours after eating. Allergic reactions can include:

  • Hives, swelling, redness and/or a rash
  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Itchy and watery eyes that your baby keeps trying to rub
  • Vomiting (that is usually forceful and repeated) and/or diarrhea

Serious allergic reactions

Very rarely, a baby will have a serious allergic reaction. Call 9-1-1 right away if you see:

  • Swelling of the mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Pale or blue colour around the face or lips
  • Difficulty swallowing, hoarse voice/cry
  • Hives that spread quickly
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Fainting, weakness, or passing out

Introducing common allergy foods

Introduce common allergy foods one at a time from six months of age. Start these foods after you have offered several other foods such as iron rich meat, chicken, and iron fortified infant cereals. 

Does anyone in your family have asthma, hay fever, eczema or food allergies? If so, your baby might have a food allergy, too. Discuss your family history with your doctor and make sure you know what to look out for.

Common foods that may cause allergy

  • Milk and milk products
  • Eggs
  • Wheat
  • Peanut
  • Tree nuts
  • Soy
  • Seafood
  • Sesame

Tips for introducing new foods

  • Mark your calendar as you introduce these common foods that cause allergy. Or keep a food diary and write down the dates as you introduce these new foods.
  • Offer one of these new foods daily for a few days, watching for signs of reaction. Then try another common food allergen from the list above.
  • Continue to feed your baby foods that they have already tried and tolerated.
  • If baby reacts to a food, stop this food and continue offering other foods.
  • Make a note of this on your calendar or food diary.
  • Discuss with your family doctor.

Do I need to wait to offer foods like eggs or foods with peanuts?

No, you do not need to wait to introduce common food allergens like eggs and peanut. We no longer do this due to a lack of current evidence that delaying specific foods will prevent food allergies. Health Canada suggests delaying introduction of some foods may actually increase risk of developing a food allergy.

Immunizations

Immunizations protect us from serious and potentially fatal infections and diseases.

Benefits of immunization

Immunization is the only way to protect against certain diseases. Immunization (vaccination, shots) is a healthy choice that saves lives. When you immunize your child, you're protecting them against illness and serious harms such as paralysis, deafness, seizures, brain damage, cancer or even death.

BC provides free vaccines to protect your child against 15 diseases:

Getting your child vaccinated

First immunizations are at two months and can be done by your local public health centre or family physician.

Caring for your child after vaccination

Side effects from immunizations are almost always mild and include soreness and fever. In very rare cases, there can be serious side effects. However, the dangers posed by diseases such as measles and polio are a far greater risk. Talk to your doctor or public health nurse if you have concerns.

Preventing illnesses

  • Make hand-washing part of your child's regular routine - The best thing you can do to prevent your child from getting sick is to wash your hands frequently and help them wash their hands often as well.
  • Sneezes and diseases resource guide - Read fact sheets on common infant and childhood illnesses, including how avoid them and how to treat them. 

What to do if your young child is sick

  • Keep your child home and away from other people if they have a fever, are vomiting, or have a cold with a very running nose and persistent cough.
  • Seek medical attention if your child has a high fever or you are worried about any other symptoms they are showing.

Resources