Little crises Dr. Mom can cure - sometimes By Bev Caley and Faith Reidenbach Even healthy infants can develop problems that worry parents. But can you tell which problems can be treated at home - and which require the skills of a professional? Here's how. Sooner or later, every baby has a bad day. Very few newborns get to their first birthday without a nuisance problem or two. Here's the skinny on a few you can take care of on your own - and a few that need more than Dr. Mom. Diaper rash. At one time or another, many babies develop diaper rash. Starting as red and irritated skin under the diaper, the rash can spread to the stomach, upper thighs or genitals. It's usually caused by irritation of the skin from contact with soiled diapers or a yeast infection. Most cases can be treated with over-the-counter zinc oxide ointment. But you also need to change diapers often, cleaning the skin with warm water and patting dry with a soft towel. Avoid wipes that contain fragrances or alcohol. Also avoid plastic pants. Call your doctor if the rash doesn't improve in several days or looks bright red, crusty or blistered - these are signs of a yeast infection or worse. Colic. Defined as crying more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, this condition is much more stressful on the family than it is on baby. Experts aren't sure what causes it, but it almost always goes away by 6 months. There's no medical treatment. It's often hard to comfort a colicky baby, even with rocking, cuddling or playing soft music. But if you try and your newborn still can't be quieted and also appears sick, call your doctor. If you need a break, call a friend. If you're worried that you may hurt your baby, get professional help. Cradle cap. This condition appears as greasy, yellow-brown scaly patches on a baby's scalp or behind the ears. Use baby oil to soften the scales. Gently wash the scalp often with mild shampoo and pat dry. Gentle brushing of the areas with a soft toothbrush may help remove the scales, but take care not to break the skin. If home treatment doesn't work, or if the patches spread to the face or diaper area, see your doctor. Jaundice. More than half of full-term newborns and most premature newborns have jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes. It's caused by high levels of bilirubin, a blood pigment. Jaundice usually develops because the baby's liver has not matured enough to recycle red blood cells. Your doctor can do a blood test to measure the bilirubin level. Mild cases do not need treatment. More severe cases need phototherapy - fluorescent light treatments - to convert the bilirubin into harmless excreted substances. Sometimes jaundice must be watched closely but usually disappears in a week or two. Thrush. White patches on the inside of the baby's mouth or on the tongue may indicate thrush, which is caused by a type of yeast infection in the baby's mouth. Report it to your doctor within 48 hours. He or she may prescribe anti-fungal drops to prevent a recurrence and an anti-fungal cream for your nipples if you're breastfeeding. All bottles should be sterilized. Thrush improves within days of treatment and usually clears up in a week. Failure to thrive. A baby fails to thrive if his or her growth rate and weight gain are significantly below that of other infants. Sometimes failure to thrive is caused by social or economic factors, such as inadequate nutrition or poor living conditions. But there are also many medical causes, such as thyroid or growth hormone deficiency, brain damage and gastrointestinal abnormalities. If your doctor suspects failure to thrive, your infant will have to undergo further tests. Anemia. Premature babies are at risk for this condition, which means they have an insufficient number of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. This is detected by laboratory testing of a blood sample. The baby may require transfusions or a drug called erythropoietin. An iron-fortified formula may be needed when the baby is a little older. Apnea. Infants with the condition known as apnea stop breathing for 15 to 20 seconds, usually during sleep. Apnea is especially common in premature babies because of problems with the brain's breathing control center, or underdeveloped heart or blood vessels. Rubbing or patting the baby may help breathing start again. Consult your doctor immediately. Treatment might include a home apnea monitor device and medication to stimulate the nervous system. Bev Caley and Faith Reidenbach are a medical writing team in Ashland, Ohio.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Pediatrics KidsHealth Mayo Clinic Medem, Inc. National Library of Medicine WebMD, Inc.