Infant Jaundice: Causes, Treatment & When to Seek Help

More than 25 percent of full-term infants develop jaundice with a higher percentage among premature babies. High levels of bilirubin, a yellow-colored pigment in the blood, cause the characteristic yellowing of skin and eyes when deposited in these areas. Most of the time infant jaundice goes away with little or no treatment while more severe cases need prolonged hospital management. Read on to learn how to treat jaundice in infants.

Things You'll Need

• Infant formula
• Phototherapy blanket
• Hydration fluids

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Instructions

• 1

  Substitute breast-feeding with formula for a 24-hour period when diagnosed with breastfeeding jaundice. This speeds up the removal of bilirubin and recovery.

• 2

  Employ light treatment for most cases of jaundice. This phototherapy places fluorescent lamps around an incubated infant causing the bilirubin to pass out of the body through stools and urine.

• 3

  Arrange with the hospital personal home therapy with rented light treatment equipment for mild cases. Fiber-optic blankets emit the healing light directly to the skin.

• 4

  Use phototherapy at home around the clock, stopping only at feeding time.

• 5

  Keep your infant hydrated during light treatment.