The paediatrician who knows newborns

No. If your child is comfortably asleep with a fever, there is no need to wake them for medicine: thin their clothing and keep the room cool. The purpose of bringing a fever down is to make the child comfortable, and that does not work for a child who has been woken and is upset.

Not without asking your doctor. Alternating between different fever reducers can lead to confusion over which medicine was given when, and to too much medicine being given by mistake. Decide with your doctor which medicine to use.

Because a fever is a defence mechanism. Once the fever has come down, the child is more comfortable; giving medicine for a temperature that has already fallen is unnecessary treatment. Medication is given when it is needed and on medical advice.

Jaundice is common in newborns and usually resolves on its own. The risk is higher in babies who are premature, had a difficult delivery, have a blood group incompatibility with their mother, or have an infection. If feeding decreases, the urine darkens or the abdomen swells, see a doctor the same day. If the baby is hard to wake, stops feeding, has a high-pitched cry or has seizures, call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Swallowed mucus is not harmful; children swallow it routinely. Frequent swallowing can, however, be a sign of a blocked nose. If there is noisy breathing, fast breathing, daytime sleepiness or a fever, it should be assessed.

For young children, measuring under the arm is considered the most reliable method: place the thermometer in the armpit and keep it in place. Forehead and ear devices are less dependable. Do not cool the child with water or alcohol, and clean the thermometer afterwards.

Fever is the first thing that separates them: it can come with a cold but is not expected with an allergy. In an allergy the runny nose is usually clear, watery and itchy, and the symptoms keep returning; in a cold the discharge may thicken, with tiredness and aching muscles. A cough that is worse at night or after exercise needs its own assessment for asthma.

The routine immunisation schedule in Türkiye is set by the Ministry of Health and is applied according to the child's date of birth. The schedule of a registered child is reviewed together at routine checkups. It is best to raise any questions about vaccines with your doctor.

Too little fluid, a diet low in fibre, too little movement and an irregular toilet routine are common causes; plenty of fluids, fruit and vegetables, movement and a regular toilet time help prevent it. But blood in the stool, weight loss, a swollen abdomen, inability to pass wind, or no stool at all since birth is not ordinary constipation and needs to be assessed.

Start by reviewing the routine: the same bedtime, a calm wind-down before bed, no screens in bed, and a dark, cool room. If there is snoring, breathing pauses, or the child wakes up sweating, that may be a sign that the airway narrows during sleep (obstruction) and needs to be looked into.