Ask the Doctor-Dad Community

If your child is otherwise alert, drinking fluids, and the fever responds to paracetamol, 3 days is within the watchable range for a viral illness. However, if the fever crosses 5 days, your child looks very unwell or unusually lethargic, develops a rash (especially non-blanching), has difficulty breathing, or you're worried — see a doctor the same day. When in doubt, go. Instincts matter.

Yes — current guidelines (AAP/NIAID 2024) actually recommend early introduction of peanuts from 4–6 months for most infants. The old advice to delay allergens has been reversed by evidence. Thin smooth peanut butter with water or breast milk to a runny consistency — never give whole peanuts (choking hazard). If your child has severe eczema or a known egg allergy, see your paediatrician first.

Very normal, especially after DTaP-containing vaccines. The thigh/arm will be sore and the baby is understandably unhappy. Nurse or feed immediately after the jab — it's the single best soothing technique and also improves vaccine immune response. Give weight-appropriate paracetamol if crying persists. If crying is inconsolable for more than 3 hours, or fever exceeds 40.5°C, call your clinic.

I have personal experience with this — our daughter had ARSA found on her scan too. When ARSA is an isolated finding (no other markers, normal NIPT/combined screening), recent evidence (2023 study of 121 cases) found zero chromosomal abnormalities. The risk is very low. I've written a full article on this — see the ARSA article in the Pregnancy section. Please read it, and then breathe.