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| What Do I Do If My Baby Gets A Cold? |
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When the winter months set in with a vengeance, many new parents find themselves wiping runny noses and worrying over flushed cheeks. Most babies experience between six and ten colds per year, and that number rises if they are in daycare. So if it seems like your baby is always sick, it may very well be that he is! Taking good care of that little one so that the sick days are numbered is the best course of action when he gets a cold. The signs of a cold are a runny nose (the discharge may be clear at first and then turn green), a low grade fever, sneezing, coughing, and watery eyes. Most cold viruses also make the victim feel tired and worn-out as the body uses its energy to fight the virus. Your baby may want to nap more or just seem fussier than normal. For babies under three months, always call the doctor at any sign of illness, including the symptoms of a cold. Babies that young do not have developed immune systems and a little infection could get serious quickly. For babies older than three months, take him to the doctor if he isn't wetting as many diapers as he usually does, has a fever higher than 103 degrees Fahrenheit, a fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for more than three days, yellow eye discharge, a cough for more than a week, thick green nasal discharge for more than two weeks, or any other symptoms that you are concerned about. You are the best judge of your baby's normal behavior because you are the only one there day and night. If you are worried, take him in because losing the $15 co-pay to have the doctor tell you "it's just a cold" is worth not wondering if something more serious is going on. Mother's (or parent's) intuition has saved more than one child. Don't discount yours. When it is "just a cold" but your baby is still miserable, there are several things that can help him feel better sooner. The same advice that works for adults also works for babies. Rest and fluids are the key to washing that yucky virus out of the body as soon as possible. Try to keep your baby home as much as possible and let him rest. Your play date buddies will thank you, too, because no mom wants her child to get sick. If your baby is breast-fed, keep it up because that will provide him with an extra dose of antibodies and nutrients. For an older baby, sips of water between nursings will also help ensure he stays hydrated. He also may have a hard time staying asleep because the congestion makes it harder to breathe. It may be helpful to elevate his mattress slightly. There are commercial mattress pads available that lift the head of the mattress. The incline cannot be too steep or the baby will simply slide down it, creating a potentially hazardous situation if his neck gets turned at an odd angle. Also, remember not to use pillows in the crib because a baby, especially one who is congested, may suffocate in a soft pillow. Instead, use a couple of rolled up towels or baby blankets between the mattress and the box springs of the crib to create a slight incline. You also might find that he sleeps better in the car seat since his head is elevated. Keeping those nasal passages from drying out will do wonders for keeping baby healthy. Use a cool-mist humidifier, either a small one in the baby's room or a large one suitable for the whole house. You can also create an at-home sauna for your baby. Turn on a hot shower and let the steam build up while you hold him in the bathroom. Breathing in the steam will help your baby's nose and sinuses to stay moisturized. A warm bath can have the same effect. Use saline drops to loosen the mucus built up in his nose and sinuses. Wait a few minutes and then suck it out with a rubber bulb syringe. If your baby's congestion is interfering with nursing, try doing this around fifteen minutes before his next feeding. It should help clear him out enough so that he can breathe and suck simultaneously. Cold medicines have not been proven to be effective with babies and young children. Cough suppressants can be actually harmful because in order to keep the mucus from building up, the baby has to cough. The ingredients found in cough medicines are powerful and an overdose could be fatal. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is best to just let the virus run its course. My seven-month-old daughter has had two colds so far. For one, I paid $15 to let the doctor tell me that's what it was. The second time, I just diagnosed it myself. Both times, she had a runny nose (clear, then green), seemed to like sleeping in her car seat more than usual, and was a bit fussy. The first time she also had a cough and a low grade fever. The fever only lasted a few hours, but the cold stuck around for about a week. I tried to stay close to home and made sure she was well-hydrated with frequent nursings. We run a humidifier all the time, which definitely seems to help in these dry winter months. I only used a bulb syringe a few times (she didn't enjoy it and neither did I). Overall, though, I was amazed at how quickly she recovered. Babies are so resilient! There is one positive thing about your baby's cold - it ensures you plenty of cuddle time. So put down the to-do list and settle him down into your lap. A good dose of tender loving care is almost a sure-fire cure, and your baby will be up and crawling around in no time! |
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