What is the best way to treat a baby's cold?
Viruses don't respond to antibiotics, so no medicine will cure a cold. Your baby's immune system has to fight it off. And
don't give your baby over-the-counter cold remedies, at least not without checking with your doctor first. Doctors usually advise against using cough suppressants because coughing serves the important purpose of clearing your baby's airways. (Talk to your doctor, however if coughing interrupts your baby's sleep. If your baby has a fever, you can give her a pain reliever like children's acetaminophen (Tylenol) or, if your baby is at least six months old, children's ibuprofen to bring it down and make her more comfortable. But never give aspirin, which can cause Reye's syndrome, a serious condition.
There are lots of ways you can make your baby feel better and make sure the cold goes away quickly and doesn't turn into something worse. Here are the basics of cold care:
+ Make sure she gets plenty of rest and sleep.
+ Give her plenty of fluids such as breast milk, milk, or formula, water, or juice to loosen the congestion and help prevent dehydration. Counter congestion by putting over-the-counter saline drops in her nose, then suctioning out the mucus with a suction bulb. Clearing out your baby's nasal passages will help also ease breastfeeding, so do this just before feeding time.
+ Ease irritation around her nostrils by applying petroleum jelly or another topical ointment Moisten the air she breathes by running a cool mist vaporizer in her room. Or make your own steam room by taking your baby into the bathroom with you while you run a hot shower to create steam.
+ Ease your baby's breathing by letting her sleep in the infant car seat or slightly elevating the head of her mattress by placing a folded towel or blanket under the end where her head goes. Don't overdo it, though, or she may roll down to the other end.
Viruses don't respond to antibiotics, so no medicine will cure a cold. Your baby's immune system has to fight it off. And
don't give your baby over-the-counter cold remedies, at least not without checking with your doctor first. Doctors usually advise against using cough suppressants because coughing serves the important purpose of clearing your baby's airways. (Talk to your doctor, however if coughing interrupts your baby's sleep. If your baby has a fever, you can give her a pain reliever like children's acetaminophen (Tylenol) or, if your baby is at least six months old, children's ibuprofen to bring it down and make her more comfortable. But never give aspirin, which can cause Reye's syndrome, a serious condition.There are lots of ways you can make your baby feel better and make sure the cold goes away quickly and doesn't turn into something worse. Here are the basics of cold care:
+ Make sure she gets plenty of rest and sleep.
+ Give her plenty of fluids such as breast milk, milk, or formula, water, or juice to loosen the congestion and help prevent dehydration. Counter congestion by putting over-the-counter saline drops in her nose, then suctioning out the mucus with a suction bulb. Clearing out your baby's nasal passages will help also ease breastfeeding, so do this just before feeding time.
+ Ease irritation around her nostrils by applying petroleum jelly or another topical ointment Moisten the air she breathes by running a cool mist vaporizer in her room. Or make your own steam room by taking your baby into the bathroom with you while you run a hot shower to create steam.
+ Ease your baby's breathing by letting her sleep in the infant car seat or slightly elevating the head of her mattress by placing a folded towel or blanket under the end where her head goes. Don't overdo it, though, or she may roll down to the other end.
(Never use pillows to prop up your baby; they could suffocate her if she rolls over the wrong way.)
ReferencesAmerican Academy of Pediatrics. Common Colds and Young Children