This section hopes to guide you through the first few weeks of your baby’s life. Tips on feeding, safety, immunization, and more can be found here. If your baby is premature, this information still applies but your doctor can give you extra advice when required.
Fever in infants and children
Please note: Babies younger than 3 months old need to be seen by a doctor when they have a fever. For complete info, please refer to CHEO’s pamphlet about fever in children
Some Facts about Fever in Children (from the CHEO website)
How do I know if my child has a fever? A temperature of 38C (100.4F) or higher means your child has a fever.
Taking care of a child with a fever at home:
Fever medicine will lower the temperature a little and will make your child more comfortable.
Give extra fluids. Children need to drink more fluids when they have a fever.
Repeat the medicine as needed to keep your child comfortable and drinking.
Fever medicine does not remove all fever, and it won’t stop the fever from coming back.
Dress your child lightly in one layer of clothing. Don’t wrap your child up in blankets, even if they are shivering.
You’ll need to see your family doctor if your child:
Has a fever for more than 4 days;
Is not getting better after 1 week of symptoms;
Develops an ear ache.
When your child has a fever:
Try ibuprofen first, as it works better for most children.
If your child does not improve 1 hour after ibuprofen, you can try acetaminophen.
Use acetaminophen instead of ibuprofen if your child has a fever due to chicken pox.
Do not use Aspirin (ASA).
Important numbers Health Connect Ontario: Call 811 TTY: 1-866-797-0007 Health Information from Registered Nurses, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
post-partum mood: anxiety & Depression community resources
If you feel you might be having issues with your post-partum mood or your partner or other family members have concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your doctor. We are here to help you.
If it is a crisis, call 9-1-1 immediately. Mental Health Crisis Line – support-line available 24/7 613-722-6914 (within Ottawa) or 1-866-996-0991 Anxiety Canada – great resource for moms-to-be, new moms and new dads The Parents Resource Centre – various locations around Ottawa 613-565-2467 ext.222 Moodkit – app: mood-improving activities and thought modulation strategies
Circumcision in the newborn is a surgical procedure that is not medically necessary. Historically, circumcision has been practiced by those of Jewish and Muslim faiths for religious reasons. Circumcision for non-religious reasons has gone through various stages of favour and disfavour. There is evidence to suggest that circumcision reduces the risk of urinary infections in boys to 1/12 of what it would be otherwise. This potential benefit must be weighed against the fact that urinary tract infections in male infants are rare to begin with. The overall benefits and risks are so evenly balanced that the Canadian Pediatric Society does not recommend routine circumcision.
Your decision with the knowledge of the potential risks and benefits must be based on personal, religious and cultural factors. If you are concerned about the boy looking different from other children or his father, remember that the implications of circumcision or non-circumcision are no greater than other natural physical differences such as hair colour, build, or size.
Choosing not to circumcise The advantage of choosing not to circumcise are mainly the avoidance of the risks of circumcision as a surgical procedure, specifically: bleeding, infection, and surgical trauma. At birth, the foreskin is tightly attached to the head of the penis, and normally cannot be pushed back. The foreskin of many children spontaneously goes back by the age of 5 years. Pushing the foreskin back before it is ready and breaking down the adhesions may cause significant infection and could cause tightening of the foreskin around the head of the penis. It is therefore not recommended that the foreskin be pushed back. The penis should simply be washed daily without pushing back the foreskin.
Choosing to circumcise Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin, or prepuce. This procedure is performed at the clinic, and takes about ten to fifteen minutes. Using a freezing technique called “dorsal penile nerve block” a small amount of local anesthetic is injected under the skin at the base of the penis, to numb the area. The technique uses the Mogen clamp, which is fast and protects the head of the penis.
Risks Most babies exhibit little discomfort after their circumcision. As with any surgery, there is a risk of bleeding or infection. If your baby has a congenital malformation of the penis (i.e. hypospadias) this may not be evident until after the circumcision. Rarely, part of the glands may bleed following this surgery. The incidence of complications of circumcision in published articles varies from 0.2% to 2%. Most complications are minor but occasionally serious complications can occur. Premature babies, those with bleeding problems, deformities of the penis, or other major medical problems should not undergo circumcision.
Preparing for circumcision Bring extra diapers, soother, and 1 tsp. sugar. There is evidence that having a baby suck on a sugar-coated soother is a great distraction during the operation.
After the circumcision Instructions to look after the surgical site will be given to you after the circumcision. The tip of the penis will look angry and raw, and this is normal. With every diaper change, you will apply a generous amount of Vaseline over the area. A little bleeding is not unusual and can be stopped by applying gentle pressure with clean gauze or cloth.
Cost Circumcision is not a benefit covered by OHIP or any other health insurance. The fee is payable by cash, cheque, Visa, or Master Card and is due at the time of the surgery. The receptionist booking this visit will advise on fees.
suggested books
Behind the Smile: My Journey Out of Postpartum Depression Marie Osmond, Marcia Wilkie & Judith Moore Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Self-Help Guide for Mothers (available at the Parent Resource Centre) Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook Pamela Wiegartz When baby brings the blues: Solutions for Postpartum Depression Dr. A. Dalfen
Vaccines are very important to help reduce, or in some cases even eliminate diseases that have caused illness, disability or death in earlier generations. Vaccines are a routine part of healthcare and are the best way to protect children against some very serious infections. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommends routine immunization. All of your child’s vaccinations should be recorded in their immunization record. Please bring your child’s Personal Immunization Record (yellow booklet) with you to visits, so it can be kept up to date.
We strongly encourage childhood vaccinations at the West Carleton Family Health Team. We wish to make these less painful for infants and children by recommending the following evidence based techniques. Our hope is for parents to work with us to achieve this goal.
Recommendations for parents of infants and children:
Mothers can breastfeed their baby during vaccinations. If the baby cannot breastfeed, the administration of a sweet-tasting solution – like a bottle of sugar water OR a soother dipped in white table sugar – may also help to reduce pain.
Parents hold or cuddle their baby/child during vaccinations.
Tactile stimulation (rubbing) at the injection site prior to injection results in less pain in infants, children, and even adults.
Distraction during injections can help to reduce stress in children. Parents may bring a favourite book or toy to the well baby / child check-up. We have a few tricks which will also be available to the child.
Topical anesthetics – like EMLA cream or patch (Lidocaine-prilocaine 5%), Ametop gel (Amethocaine 4%) or Maxilene cream (Liposomal 4%) – are available “over the counter” at your pharmacy (call us if you require a prescription). The vaccination injection site depends on the child’s age and the vaccine being given. If you would like to apply an anesthetic cream to the injection site prior to vaccinations, please ask your provider before leaving the office where the next injection site will likely be. Please remember to apply the anesthetic product if you so choose 20 to 60 minutes prior to vaccinating (30 minutes works well).
Please DO NOT tell children, “It won’t hurt.” This has not shown to be effective in reducing pain.
** DO NOT ** give your infant / child fever reducing medication – like Tylenol, Tempra, or Advil – prior to immunizations and until at least 4 hours after vaccinations. The administration of any of these products may reduce the level of disease preventing antibodies produced in your infant/child’s body after vaccination.
An electronic medical record of all immunizations given at the West Carleton Family Health Team will be maintained in your child’s medical chart. You can access your child’s immunization record by calling the clinic and it can be sent to you via the Patient Portal. Please register each child and parent on the Health Portal.
