Dr Lethabo Machaba

02/09/2025

Allergies can be divided into two categories: which are food related and environmental.

FOOD RELATED:
- Check the baby's skin for eczema rushes
- Check the poo for mucus and blood.
- Check out for running poo.
- Check out for vomiting

ENVIRONMENTAL RELATED:
- Constant running nose
- Sneezing
- Constant cough
- Difficulty in breathing

If symptoms are persistent, make sure to contact your paediatrician.

27/08/2025

What to do if your child swallows bleach 🧴🚫
Stay calm—most kids only take a small taste before stopping. It can cause irritation or vomiting, but serious harm is rare.

Here’s what to do:
✔️ Remove the item immediately
✔️ Wipe out any remaining liquid
✔️ Give a small amount of water or milk
✔️ Keep the bottle for the doctor
✔️ Call your doctor or the Poison Centre
⚠️ Don’t make the child vomit—it can do more harm.

Seek emergency help if your child shows:
❗ Trouble breathing
❗ Drowsiness or unresponsiveness
❗ Seizures
❗ Severe vomiting

A lot of these accidents can be prevented by keeping hazardous liquids and objects far from where children can reach them. Keep all bottles labelled so you know exactly what the contents are. Look around the home at your child's eye level and you might just notice things you never noticed before.

Most cases aren’t life-threatening—but your response matters.

12/08/2025

11/08/2025

Is it colic? Here's what you need to know:
Colic isn’t an illness—it’s prolonged, intense crying in an otherwise healthy baby. It usually starts at 2–4 weeks old and eases by 3–4 months.

Signs include:
😢 Crying for 3+ hours a day
🕕 Episodes often happen in the evening
👶 Pulling legs to tummy, clenched fists, gassy tummy

Possible causes:
- Immature digestive system
- Allergies or milk intolerance
- Not enough burping
- Overstimulation

What can help:
🍼 Burp baby during feeds
🌿 Adjust your diet if breastfeeding
🧴 Baby massage + warm bath
🎵 White noise or gentle music
👣 Lots of cuddles and close contact

There’s no instant cure—but this phase will pass.