Pediatric care is of great importance to every child following birth and through the various stages of childhood. They are expected to evaluate infants in order to verify that all is well with their development. However, up until underage children become of age, a pediatrician will be relying on family members, particularly mother and father, to always provide information that helps them to make clinical decisions, which benefit underage children. Pediatricians integrate their care of children with input from family members, and this health care model promotes good health care outcomes.

Why Your Family Input Is Emphasized

Following your discharge from the hospital with baby in tow, your precious baby will be in your home all the time. You and your spouse and other family members will be offering loving care to this new member of the family. You'll after a while know why the baby is crying and interpret what each cry means so as to fulfill that need. Your baby might develop a fever at some time.

Keep A Baby Thermometer Handy

Always keep a thermometer handy and use it to check the baby's temperature if the infant feels unusually warm. Insert the thermometer under baby's arm or in the infant's rectum to obtain an accurate reading. Place a tiny amount of Vaseline around your baby's anus before inserting the thermometer. A high reading means that your child must be seen by the pediatrician or another physician.

Breathing Distress

You'll notice your child's breathing pattern. If your infant is breathing rapidly and wincing while doing so, you should immediately call the pediatrician and report this as an emergency call before being put on hold by a front office staff member. If you've been put on a hold for a long time, hang up the phone and take your infant to an emergency room for care. Call the pediatrician's office thereafter with an update.

A Rash Might Develop

Other telltale symptoms of distress could arise if a rash is developing on the baby's skin. Check to see if the rash is spreading and call your pediatrician's office. Your infant's pediatrician will make a clinical finding based on your description of the symptoms and decide whether you should bring the baby in for an office visit. Bear in mind always that when you can't reach your baby's pediatrician in an emergency situation, make that quick decision to get to an emergency room (ER). The ER has the resources to test and offer immediate care in that setting.

When Dental Issues Arise

Shortly before your baby reaches 6 months of age, he or she will begin to show signs of extra fussiness. Most of the time it's caused by baby teeth eruption that results in gum tenderness and pain. Discuss this issue with the pediatrician for advice in handling this teething process.