Teeth, colds and small problems near the first birthday

Brush erupted teeth twice daily with a soft child brush and a tiny smear of fluoride toothpaste, especially after the last milk feed. Teething may cause gum discomfort and drooling but not high fever or severe diarrhoea.

✅ What you can do: Use a clean cool teether or cloth and arrange a dental visit by the first birthday or within six months of the first tooth. Avoid honey before 12 months, amber necklaces and numbing gels.

⭐ Zango Clinic’s view: At 10–12 months, tooth care begins with the first tooth; night bottles and sweet biscuits cause more harm than lack of an expensive toothpaste brand.

Constipation means hard, painful or pellet-like stool, not simply missing a day. Too little fluid, low-fibre meals and excessive cereal or milk can contribute as diet changes.

✅ What you can do: Continue breastfeeding or the age-appropriate milk plan, offer safe water with meals and soft pear, papaya, plum, vegetables or dal. Avoid soap, matchsticks, ghutti and repeated suppositories.

⭐ Zango Clinic’s view: At 10–12 months, painful hard stool needs feeding review; rectal home remedies can injure the child.

Continue breastfeeding, safe fluids and age-appropriate food. Use correctly prepared ORS and zinc according to national or clinician guidance. Juice, tea, fizzy drinks, plain-water-only treatment and anti-diarrhoeal drugs are not substitutes.

✅ What you can do: Count wet nappies, watch alertness, prepare ORS exactly and seek early care for frequent stool, repeated vomiting, blood or reduced urine.

⭐ Zango Clinic’s view: At 10–12 months, diarrhoea can dehydrate quickly; breast milk, correct ORS and urine monitoring matter more than stopping food.

Fever often accompanies viral infection, but the child's breathing, alertness, drinking, urine, rash and duration matter more than temperature alone. Teething should not be used to explain a persistently unwell child.

✅ What you can do: Measure temperature correctly, offer fluids, avoid cold baths and use only a weight-based medicine plan. Seek prompt review for persistent fever or concerning behaviour.

⭐ Zango Clinic’s view: At 10–12 months, treat the child, not only the thermometer; breathing difficulty, dehydration or reduced responsiveness changes urgency.

A mild cold cough can occur while drinking and activity remain normal. Recurrent wheeze, cough with feeds, chest indrawing, fast breathing, poor sleep, fever, ear pain or reduced intake needs clinical assessment.

✅ What you can do: Keep the nose clear with safe saline if advised, offer fluids, avoid smoke, incense and steam burns, and do not give over-the-counter cough or cold medicine.

⭐ Zango Clinic’s view: At 10–12 months, cough syrup and steam are not routine infant treatments; breathing effort and feeding decide urgency.

A small occasional vomit can follow gagging or overeating. Repeated vomiting, green colour, blood, force, severe pain, swollen abdomen, dehydration, poor growth or vomiting after a specific food needs assessment.

✅ What you can do: Offer small sips and feeds as tolerated, note colour and timing, and seek urgent care for green, bloody or repeated forceful vomit. Do not give anti-vomiting medicine or ghutti.

⭐ Zango Clinic’s view: At 10–12 months, green vomit is an obstruction warning—not ordinary food adjustment or teething.

Immediate allergy can cause hives, facial swelling, repeated vomiting, cough, wheeze or collapse. Eczema, diarrhoea or blood in stool may have several causes and need assessment rather than removal of many foods.

✅ What you can do: Stop the suspected food, record timing and seek advice. Call emergency help for breathing or circulation symptoms; avoid broad milk, egg, wheat and nut bans without a nutrition plan.

⭐ Zango Clinic’s view: At 10–12 months, a clear history guides allergy care; unnecessary restriction can worsen growth in a child already learning family foods.