Baby Health: Your Essential Medical Guide

Baby Health: Your Essential Medical Guide

by Stephanie Spencer |
Updated on

Worried that your baby is unwell but aren’t sure what exactly is wrong with them? Before you panic, take a look through our medical encyclopaedia to see what could be the problem...

Gallery

Baby Health: Your Essential Medical Guide

Mum holding babies feet1 of 35

Hip dysplasia

Checking your baby’s hip health is important from birth to ensure little one develops properly and goes on to take their first steps. Read more about hip dysplasia here.

Heat stroke2 of 35

Heat stroke

The warm weather may be a welcome change, but keep an eye on your baby or toddler to make sure they’re hydrated and protected. Read more about heat stroke here.

Dehydration3 of 35

Dehydration

Understand how much fluid your child needs – and how to cope when they aren't getting enough. Read more about dehydration here.

Teething4 of 35

Teething

While that little mouth filling with teeth is a big step towards eating solids and growing up, it does mean quite a lot of fuss and discomfort for both you and your baby. Read more about baby teething here.

Tongue-tie - mum breastfeeding baby5 of 35

Tongue-tie

While not overly common, tongue-tie can cause difficulties for babies, especially when it comes to feeding. Understand what it is and how it’s treated with our breakdown. Read more about tongue-tie here.

Balanitis6 of 35

Balanitis

Worried that your baby boy’s swollen penis could be something serious? Take a breath – it could just be balanitis, which displays clear symptoms and is easy to treat. Read more about balanitis here.

Threadworms7 of 35

Threadworms

Your baby’s got what?! Threadworms are dreaded by parents, but they look (and sound) much worse than they really are. Plus, it’s easy to get rid of them. Read more about threadworms here.

Anaemia8 of 35

Anaemia

Anaemia may not be a condition you’d normally associate with babies and toddlers, but it’s surprisingly common (and easily fixed). Read more about anaemia here.

Eczema9 of 35

Eczema

Eczema looks pretty painful and can lead to a grouchy baby. But there are ways to tackle this skin condition. Read more about here.

Bronchiolitis - doctor listening to baby back10 of 35

Bronchiolitis

If your baby’s struggling to breathe and has a wheezy cough, they could have bronchiolitis. Read more about bronchiolitis here.

Common cold11 of 35

Common cold

We all know how grotty a cold leaves us feeling and, joy oh joy, your baby’s really susceptible. Read more about the common cold here.

Gastroenteritis12 of 35

Gastroenteritis

If your baby's having tummy troubles, it could be a bout of gastroenteritis. Read more about gastroenteritis here.

Nappy rash13 of 35

Nappy rash

Nappy rash – if your baby gets this you’ll definitely know about it. But there are ways to soothe bubba's tears – and their bottom. Read more about nappy rash here.

Vomiting bug14 of 35

Vomiting bug

It’s always difficult to get to the bottom of just what’s wrong when your child is sick. Work out the reason and treatment with our expert overview. Read more about the vomiting bug here.

Whooping cough15 of 35

Whooping cough

If it’s whooping cough your baby is suffering from, they're likely to have a persistent, dry cough which is hard to shift. But there are ways to offer them comfort. Read more about whooping cough the word you would like hyperlinked here.

Psoriasis16 of 35

Psoriasis

This red, flaky skin condition can occasionally flare up in babies and toddlers. The good news is there are treatments that will help. Read more about psoriasis here.

Flat head syndrome17 of 35

Flat head syndrome

Try not to be alarmed if you notice a flat patch on your baby’s head – nine times out of 10 it will be flat head syndrome, which is really manageable and treats itself. It's a completely natural problem that affects a huge amount of babies and – most importantly – it doesn’t mean that you’ve missed a page of the parenting handbook. Read more about flat head syndrome here.

Cleft lip and palate18 of 35

Cleft lip and palate

A cleft lip might sound scary, but there is a lot of help and support available to ensure your child still lives a full and happy life. Read more about a cleft lip here.

Jaundice19 of 35

Jaundice

Get to grips with jaundice, one of the most common illnesses to affect newborns: how long it lasts, why it makes your baby’s skin yellow and when you need to treat it. Read more about jaundice here.

Thrush20 of 35

Thrush

Spotted some patches inside your baby’s mouth that look like cottage cheese? It sounds like they have a common infant infection – thrush. Read more about thrush here.

Impetigo21 of 35

Impetigo

Sores? Check. Blisters? Check. Itchiness? Check. It seems like your baby may have impetigo – which is very common and (irritatingly) contagious. But thankfully, very easy to manage. Read more about impetigo here.

Eye infections22 of 35

Eye infections

It’s never nice to see your baby’s eyes all leaky and gunky from an infection, but they’ll soon be back to their usual beautiful best. Read more about eye infections here.

Rotavirus and diarrhoea23 of 35

Rotavirus and diarrhoea

A common illness in babies, rotavirus can lead to stomach flu and become serious. Thankfully, it can be prevented and treated. Read more about rotavirus and diarrhoea here.

German measles (Rubella)24 of 35

German measles (Rubella)

Is your baby covered in red spots, rashes or blotches? Does baby have swollen lymph nodes and a mild fever? Little one may have German measles, also known as rubella. Read more about German measles here.

Food allergies25 of 35

Food allergies

Allergies in baby are common complaints which many grow out of eventually. Learn how to manage a food allergy in the meantime. Read more about food allergies here.

Reflux26 of 35

Reflux

Does your baby keep vomiting up her milk? Welcome to the world of baby reflux – and the solutions you need to know about. Read more about reflux here.

Chickenpox27 of 35

Chickenpox

Worried it's chickenpox? Understand the causes, symptoms and treatment with our expert overview of the condition. Read more about chickenpox here.

Measles28 of 35

Measles

Measles is remerging as a problem childhood infection. Spot the symptoms and get your child seen to as soon as possible. Read more about measles here.

Meningitis29 of 35

Meningitis

Understand meningitis with our expert overview of the signs, causes and treatment. Read more about meningitis here.

Conjunctivitis30 of 35

Conjunctivitis

Sticky, red eyes and odd-coloured gunk – work out if your baby has conjunctivitis. Read more about conjunctivitis here.

Cradle cap31 of 35

Cradle cap

Cradle cap looks worse than it feels for your baby. But there are ways to help it clear up. Read more about cradle cap here.

Flu32 of 35

Flu

If that stuffiness and low mood is due to flu, there are ways to give your baby their very own duvet day. Read more about flu here.

Heat rash33 of 35

Heat rash

Yes, it’s normal to feel anxious when you spot a rash on your baby – and if you're worried or your baby seems unwell, you should see your GP – but it could just be caused by him getting too warm. Read more about heat rash here.

Scarlet fever34 of 35

Scarlet fever

While still considered quite a rare illness, cases of scarlet fever have risen recently, so here’s what you need to know if you spot it. Read more about scarlet fever here.

Spina bifida35 of 35

Spina bifida

Spina bifida sounds terrifying, but there are a whole range of treatments and management options available to help your baby bloom and flourish while living with the condition. Read more about spina bifida here.

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.