Baby health guide

100+ guides · Illness, emergencies, vaccines, skin, digestion, newborns

When your baby is unwell, it is hard to think clearly. These guides pull together NHS, AAP, WHO and CDC advice on every common health question, written in plain English for tired, worried parents. From knowing when to call 999 to understanding specific illnesses, rashes, digestion and newborn health, every guide is here.

Emergencies: when to act immediately

• When to call an ambulance for your baby: signs that cannot wait — a clear list of situations where 999 is the right call
• When to call 111 or go to A&E: danger signs in babies — which symptoms mean call 111, A&E or 999
• Meningitis warning signs in babies: the glass test and when to call 999 — non-blanching rash, early signs, what to do
• Anaphylaxis in babies: recognising a severe allergic reaction and what to do — triggers, symptoms, using an EpiPen
• Head injury in babies: when to go straight to hospital — high-risk vs low-risk falls, what to watch for overnight
• Baby choking: what to do and how to be ready — back blows, chest thrusts, gagging vs choking
• Infantile spasms: the seizure type every parent should know about — what they look like, why they matter, what to do
• Febrile seizures: what they look like, what to do, and why most babies recover fully — step-by-step during and after
• Petechiae: the tiny red spots that do not fade under pressure — the glass test, when to call 999
• Fever in babies under 3 months: why it is always urgent — the 38°C rule for newborns, what hospital does

Fever and temperature

• Baby fever: when to worry and when to wait — what temperature counts, when to call 111, home care
• Paracetamol and ibuprofen for babies: doses, timing and what is safe — age restrictions, weight-based dosing, alternating rules
• Tracking your baby's temperature in Cubby — how to log readings and build a fever timeline for the doctor

Respiratory infections

• Baby cold and cough: caring for your baby at home — symptoms, safe relief, medicines to avoid
• Baby flu: how to tell it apart from a cold, and what to do — sudden onset, high fever, when to get help
• RSV in babies: what parents need to know — symptoms, warning signs, home care and prevention
• Bronchiolitis: the chest infection in babies that needs watching closely — feeding signs, breathing signs, hospital criteria
• Croup: the barking cough that wakes babies at night — what it sounds like, cool air at home, when it is an emergency
• Whooping cough: what the cough sounds like and what to do — why babies under 6 months are highest risk, vaccine context
• Hand, foot and mouth: spots, sores and recovery — blisters, fever, nursery return, fingernail aftermath
• Baby breathing: what is normal, and when to be concerned — rates, irregular patterns, sounds, when to call 999
• Wheezing in babies: causes, what it sounds like and when to act — bronchiolitis, viral wheeze, asthma, inhalers
• Baby blocked nose: clearing congestion safely without sprays — saline drops, aspirators, what not to use

Stomach, digestion and feeding

• Baby vomiting: when it is normal, when it needs a doctor — vomiting vs spit-up, red flags, dehydration watch
• Baby gastroenteritis: the stomach bug, feeding through it, and recovery — rotavirus, feeding guidance, hygiene
• Baby diarrhea: causes, warning signs and what to do — normal vs concerning, dehydration, when to see a doctor
• Dehydration in babies: how to spot it and what to do — wet nappies, sunken fontanelle, oral rehydration
• Cow's milk protein allergy in babies: signs, symptoms and what helps — IgE vs non-IgE, formula options, breastfeeding
• Pyloric stenosis: the projectile vomiting warning sign in newborns — age of onset, diagnosis, surgery
• When your baby won't eat during illness: what to do and what not to worry about
• Colic: what it is and what helps — causes, home strategies, when it resolves
• Reflux and spit-up in babies — the difference between GOR and GORD, silent reflux signs
• Reflux in babies: symptoms, causes and what helps — feeding adjustments, positioning, when to see a GP
• Constipation in babies: causes, signs and what helps — how to spot it and simple steps that help
• Baby wind and gas: causes and what helps — feeding technique, winding positions, colic overlap
• Burping techniques for babies — positions, how long to try, when air is not the issue
• Baby poop colours: what is normal and what needs checking — meconium to toddler, colours to act on immediately

Skin and rashes

• Baby rashes: a guide to the most common types — overview of when to act fast vs wait and see
• Roseola: the fever-then-rash illness in babies and toddlers — three-day fever, rash appearance, febrile seizure risk
• Chickenpox in babies: spots, stages and when to call the doctor — rash stages, why no ibuprofen, hospital signs
• Scarlet fever in babies and toddlers: what it looks like and what to do — sandpaper rash, antibiotics, nursery return
• Hives and allergic rash in babies: causes and what to do — food allergy vs viral hives, anaphylaxis signs
• Impetigo: the honey-crusted skin infection in babies — golden crusts, antibiotic cream, nursery return
• Ringworm in babies: what it actually is and how to treat it — fungal, not a worm, antifungal treatment
• Molluscum contagiosum: the waxy bumps that clear on their own — why treatment is usually not needed
• Baby eczema: recognising it and managing flares — emollients, triggers, steroid cream guidance
• Nappy rash: causes, prevention and treatment — how to prevent it and treat it at home
• Cradle cap: what it is, how long it lasts and how to treat it
• Baby acne and newborn skin spots: what is normal
• Newborn skin peeling: what is normal
• Prickly heat rash in babies — heat rash causes, home care, prevention

Eyes, ears and mouth

• Baby eye discharge: what is normal, what needs treatment — blocked duct vs conjunctivitis vs neonatal conjunctivitis
• Conjunctivitis in babies: sticky eyes, pink eye and what they mean — bacterial vs viral vs allergic, treatment, nursery return
• Blocked tear duct in babies: the persistent sticky eye that is not an infection — massage technique, when it resolves
• Glue ear in babies and toddlers: signs and what happens next — hearing effects, watchful waiting, grommets
• Ear infections in babies: signs, treatment and when to see a doctor
• Oral thrush in babies: white patches, feeding pain and how to clear it — nystatin, miconazole, breastfeeding mothers
• Teething vs illness: how to tell the difference — what teething does and does not cause, the 38°C rule
• Tonsillitis in toddlers: symptoms, treatment and when it needs a doctor — viral vs bacterial, antibiotics, quinsy

Newborn health

• Is this normal? Common newborn things that worry first-time parents — reassurance guide to alarming-but-usual newborn behaviour
• Newborn milia: the tiny white spots that clear on their own — what they are, what not to do, when they go
• Newborn grunting and straining: what is normal and what to watch — infant dyschezia, respiratory grunting distinction
• Newborn sneezing: why babies sneeze so much — normal reflex, when sneezing means a cold
• Umbilical cord care and infection signs — dry cord care, omphalitis warning signs
• Your baby's fontanelle: normal changes and warning signs — sunken vs bulging, when each is urgent
• Newborn jaundice: what is normal and when to get help — causes, phototherapy, warning signs
• Newborn jaundice in darker skin: what to check — how to check when yellowing is harder to see
• Baby gum and tooth care from birth to the first birthday — when to start brushing, fluoride toothpaste, first dental visit
• Baby hiccups: why they happen and when they stop

Caring for a sick baby

• Baby sick at home: a calm guide to the day and when to call for help — day-by-day framework, what to log, when to escalate
• Viral illness in babies: stages, what to expect and when to worry — typical arc, why antibiotics don't help, spotting complications
• Medicines to keep at home for babies: what you need and when to use it — the essential baby medicine cabinet
• Baby sleep during illness: why patterns change and how to help — extra sleep, congestion at night, sleep regression aftermath
• When can your sick baby go back to nursery: rules and the 48-hour guideline — illness-by-illness return guidance
• Daycare sick day policies: what to expect — common rules and how to plan ahead
• Using the Cubby symptom diary — logging symptoms for the doctor appointment

Vaccines and immunisations

• UK baby vaccination schedule — every NHS jab from 8 weeks to 3 years 4 months
• US baby vaccine schedule — the CDC recommended schedule from birth to 6 years
• UAE baby vaccination schedule — the UAE national immunization program from birth to school age
• Impfkalender Baby (STIKO) — der STIKO-Impfplan für Säuglinge, von 6 Wochen bis 2 Jahre
• Baby vaccine schedules compared — UK, US, UAE and Germany, how they line up
• How to never miss a baby vaccine — a simple system for tracking doses and due dates
• The 6-in-1 vaccine: what it covers and what to expect — six diseases covered, schedule, side effects explained
• Baby vaccination side effects: what is normal — common side effects, how long they last, when to call your doctor
• Catching up on missed baby vaccinations — catch-up rules, age limits and when to call your GP
• Common questions parents have about baby vaccines — how they work, ingredients, side effects answered
• Whooping cough: what the cough sounds like and what to do — why vaccination matters for parents and pregnant women

Other health guides

• Food allergy signs in babies: how to recognise a reaction — spotting signs after introducing new foods
• Iron deficiency in babies and toddlers — signs, why it matters, highest iron foods
• Vitamin D for breastfed babies — why supplements are needed, how much to give
• Flat head syndrome: causes, prevention and when to seek help — repositioning techniques and when to see a specialist
• Keeping your baby safe in hot weather: signs of overheating
• Tongue tie in babies: symptoms and treatment
• Newborn metabolic screening: the heel prick test explained
• Newborn checks in hospital: what happens before you go home
• Head circumference in babies: why it is measured
• NICU follow-up care for premature babies
• Newborn circumcision: what the evidence says
• BCG vaccination: the stamp method explained
• India's National Immunisation Schedule
• China's national immunisation programme
• Australia's National Immunisation Program
• Immunisation from birth to 18 months: a schedule overview
• Baby meal plan at nine to 12 months: textures, portions and what to include — by nine months, your baby is ready for thicker textures, family foods and three meals a day
• Crawling milestones: when babies crawl, the different styles and what to do if they skip it — most babies start to crawl between seven and ten months, but the range is wide and the style varies
• Developmental play for babies aged seven to nine months: activities that actually help — at seven to nine months, babies learn cause and effect, object permanence and early communication
• First words: when babies start talking and what counts as a word — most babies say their first word between ten and 14 months, but babbling, pointing, and gestures matter just as much
• My baby is not waving at 12 months: what is normal and when to ask for a check — waving bye-bye usually appears between nine and 15 months
• Object permanence in babies: what it is, when it develops and why peek-a-boo matters — object permanence, knowing things exist when out of sight, develops between six and 12 months
• Sensory play for babies: what it is, why it matters and how to set it up safely — sensory play builds neural connections, language, and motor skills
• When babies walk: the timeline, the stages and when to ask for a check — most babies take their first steps between nine and 18 months
• Your baby's first birthday: what changes, what to expect and the 12-month leap — the first birthday is a real developmental threshold

Frequently asked questions

When should I call the doctor about my baby?

Call 111 or see a doctor if your baby has a high temperature and is under 3 months, is unusually drowsy, is refusing feeds, or has a rash that does not fade under a glass. Go straight to A&E or call 999 if your baby is struggling to breathe, turns blue or pale, or cannot be woken.

What temperature is a fever in a baby?

A temperature of 38°C or above is a fever in a baby. In babies under 3 months this always needs a call to 111 or a doctor, even if your baby seems well. A thermometer in the armpit or ear is the most reliable way to check.

When do babies get their vaccines?

In the UK the first vaccines are given at 8 weeks old. The schedule then continues at 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 1 year, and 3 years 4 months. Your GP surgery should invite you automatically, but Cubby's built-in schedule can help you keep track.

What are the signs my baby is seriously ill?

Warning signs include a high-pitched or unusual cry, a bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on the head), a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade under a glass, cold or mottled skin, and very rapid or laboured breathing. If you see any of these, call 999 or go to A&E immediately.

How do I treat baby eczema?

Keep skin well moisturised with an unperfumed emollient, applied at least twice a day and more often during a flare. Avoid soap and bubble bath. If the skin is red, weeping or cracked, see your GP, who may prescribe a mild steroid cream for short-term use on flares.

What causes green poop in babies?

Green poop is often normal, especially in newborns passing meconium or in babies who are moving through a growth spurt. It can also happen if your baby is getting more foremilk than hindmilk during feeds. Consistently green, frothy or very watery stools alongside other symptoms are worth mentioning to your health visitor.