Helpful Guide: Baby Symptom Tracker

Helpful Guide: Baby Symptom Tracker

Baby’s name: Baby’s Date of Birth: 1. Feeding Schedule
Time Breast milk amount Formula amount Other Foods
2. Sleep Schedule  
Nap 1 Nap 2 Nap 3 Nap 4 Nap 5 Nap 6
Length of awake time prior to nap
Length of nap
3. Gastrointestinal   Poop
Time Poop Consistency (loose, soft, hard) Poop Color
  Gas/Signs of Pain
Time Baby’s demeanor (crying, facial expression) Is the baby pulling their knees to their chest? Is the baby grunting a lot? Did the baby end up passing wind?
Reflux (spit-up)
How long after feeding? Projectile? (Y/N)
  4. Colic   Crying
Time Length of time Consolable (Y/N) Inconsolable (Y/N)
Skin Issues
Describe any skin concerns (eczema, hives, other rashes):
  Tips for Constipation
  • Constipation is rare in breast-fed babies. If baby is not going often, monitor the baby for steady weight loss and ensure the baby is effectively taking in milk (check the latch)
  • For exclusively formula-fed infants:
    • Look at changing formulas
    • The caregiver can give extra cooled, boiled water between some feeds (Start4Life, n.d.)
    • Ensure the caregiver is preparing the formula properly- sometimes feeders will not use the proper amount of water (with the addition of the powdered formula, the final prepared feeding should be slightly more than the original amount of water used to account for water displacement)
  • For infants also on solid food:
    • Caregivers can give extra cooled, boiled water between some feeds (Start4Life, n.d.)
    • The baby should be eating fibre rich foods, particularly pears and prunes to help move things along
  Tips for Reflux
  • Keeping a baby upright for 30 minutes after a feeding
  • Feeding more frequently and in smaller quantities
  • Burping a baby before, during, and after feedings
  • If bottle feeding, caregiver should check teat size to make sure its developmentally appropriate for the baby - if the flow is too fast baby can unnecessarily feed quickly which can exacerbate reflux
  • If breastfeeding and the mother’s let down is strong, she can look into laid back feeding positions which can slow the flow of milk
  • Reflux is common in many infants due to an immature lower oesophageal sphincter muscle (Mayo Clinic, 2017) but becomes an issue when the baby is losing weight
    • HCP can suggest specialist milks, thickeners, or medications for the management of the reflux
  Tips for Colic Management
  • Burping the baby often (Start4Life, n.d.)
  • Keeping the baby semi-upright while bottle feeding and upright after feedings (Start4Life, n.d.)
  • Rocking and holding the baby (Start4Life, n.d.)
  • Bicycle legs and massages (Start4Life, n.d.)
  • Making sure your baby is not awake for too long during the day (overtired babies are often very fussy and cranky)
  Immediate medical attention is required if a baby shows any signs of distress, poor growth, breathing difficulties, fever, blood in vomit, blood in poo, body spasms (like a seizure), rash that remains clear when pressed under a glass, skin that looks blue, purple, grey or pale, a puffy face, loss of appetite, extreme lethargy, less alert behaviour, signs of confusion, neck stiffness, large or deep cuts, or any other kind of other serious physical injury (Mayo Clinic, 2019).   References
  1. Infant reflux - Symptoms and causes. (2020, December 17). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infant-acid-reflux/symptoms-causes/syc-20351408
  2. Do you think your baby could be constipated? Find out what causes constipation and how to treat it. (n.d.). Start4Life. Retrieved August 9, 2021, from https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-challenges/constipation/
  3. Did you know that colic is a very common condition affecting 1 in 5 babies? Find out how to soothe a colicky baby. (n.d.). Start4Life. Retrieved August 9, 2021, from https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-challenges/colic/
  4. Sick baby? When to seek medical attention. (2019, August 13). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/healthy-baby/art-20047793
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