When a baby comes down with the common cold, parents feel helpless in helping them feel better until they are over it. Stuffy noses, coughing, fever and difficulty sleeping make baby irritable and parents unhappy. Fortunately, there are ways to ease your baby’s suffering that are safe for baby.
Know if it is a Cold or Something More Serious
Before treating, make sure your baby does have a cold and nothing more serious that may warrant a visit to the doctor. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of a cold include:
- sneezing
- coughing
- irritability
- trouble sleeping
- runny nose
- nasal discharge
- low-grade fever of under 101 degrees F
- decreased appetite
If your baby is over three months old and isn’t running a fever over 101 degrees F, and is still drinking liquids and keeping them down, then she probably only has a cold. However, if your baby has a fever higher than 101 degrees F, has trouble breathing, is wheezing or is not drinking fluids; take her to see a doctor immediately. Also, babies under three months old who develop any cold symptoms should see a doctor. Young babies can develop pneumonia, croup or sinus infections easily and can also become dehydrated quickly.
Relieving Cold Symptoms in Babies
Cold symptoms such as a stuffy nose can make it difficult for baby to eat and sleep. The Mayo Clinic suggests that the safest way to clear out your baby’s stuffed nose is to spray a little saline nasal spray in the nose and then suction out the mucus with a bulb suction device. Try doing this 15 minutes before baby begins to nurse or is bottle fed so it is easier for your baby to drink. Repeat before bedtime for easier sleeping.
Another way to relieve baby’s stuffy nose and coughing is to use a humidifier to keep air moist during the day and at night. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus oil into the water to help clear the sinuses. Giving baby a warm (not hot) bath is another way to help drain sinuses and to relax the baby if he is irritable.
The Food and Drug Administration states you should never give a child under the age of two years old any over-the-counter cough and cold medications, even ones made for young children, unless directed by a doctor. In fact, babies under three months of age shouldn’t take any form of children’s pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Children’s TYLENOL) either. However, if your baby is over three months old and has a low-grade fever, you may use the baby form of acetaminophen. The Mayo Clinic does warn to be careful with dosing instructions for babies and make sure the pain reliever is made for infants. Always ask your doctor if you are not sure.
Your baby’s symptoms should begin to dissipate in five to seven days and he should start feeling and acting better again. However, if the symptoms continue, it is time to see a doctor.
It is difficult for parents to stay calm when their baby is sick but rest assured that if the symptoms are not severe, then your baby will be feeling better soon. Knowing how to relieve some of your baby’s cold symptoms will help you both get through this illness, and the many other colds that are sure to occur in the future.
Sources:
Mayo Clinic “Common cold in babies” Retrieved October 17, 2010.
Baby Center “Colds” Retrieved October 17, 2010.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Deanna Lynn Sletten - Deanna Lynn Sletten has been a freelance writer for newspapers, regional magazines and websites for 20 years. She specializes in the ...
