Lifestyle and home remedies

Here are some tips for caring for your child after coming home from the hospital:

• Keep regular follow-up appointments with your child's doctor. Your child will likely need regular appointments with a doctor trained in congenital heart conditions. These appointments need to continue even after your child is an adult. Ask your child's doctor how frequently your child needs to be seen.
• Help your child stay active. Encourage as much normal play and activity as your child is able to tolerate, with ample opportunity for rest and nap time. Staying active helps your child's heart stay fit. As your child grows, talk with the cardiologist about which activities are best for your child. If some are off-limits, such as competitive sports, encourage your child in other pursuits rather than focusing on what he or she can't do.
• Keep up with routine well-child care. Standard vaccinations are encouraged for children with congenital heart defects, as well as vaccines against the flu, pneumonia and respiratory syncytial virus infections.
• Preventive antibiotics. Your child's cardiologist may recommend that your child take preventive antibiotics before certain dental and other procedures to prevent bacteria from entering the bloodstream and infecting the inner lining of the heart (infective endocarditis). Practicing good oral hygiene — brushing and flossing teeth, getting regular dental checkups — is another good way of preventing infection.