As parents, it can be heartbreaking watching your baby suffer through his or her first cold. With a cold, your baby may have some trouble feeding and can be visibly uncomfortable. Rest assured that colds are common (that's the reason it is called the common cold), even for little babies. In fact most babies get about 8 colds during their first year alone. Thankfully there is a lot parents can do to ease their baby's discomfort.
What can you do when your baby has a cold? It can be very upsetting to parents when their baby have their first cold. It is important to relax and be calm with your baby. Here is some useful information and helpful tips on what you can do to help your baby feel better.
What are the causes of the common cold? The common cold is an infection. It occurs in the mouth, throat and nose (ie the upper respiratory tract). It is caused by a virus. As babies' immune systems are still gaining strength and developing, babies tend to get more colds than older children or adults. Colds are spread when infected people cough or sneeze, which unleashes the cold virus into the air and the baby inhales it. Also, colds are often transmitted from contact by hands. Be sure to clean your hands after blowing your nose and cover your mouth when coughing.
How will a cold affect my baby? When your baby gets a common cold, the following symptoms are normal: cough, fever, sore throat, reddened eyes, runny and stuffy nose, irritability, restlessness, loss of appetite, swollen lymph nodes under arms, on neck and at the back of the head, Chances are your baby's nose will be stuffed up, making it hard for him or her to breathe. This will also make feeding harder. As babies cannot blow their noses, you will have to help your baby clear the mucus. Most parents will get a nasal aspirator to help with this and possibly even use some saline if the mucus is dry. A stuffy nose may wake up your baby throughout the night so try to get the nasal passages clear prior to putting him or her to sleep. Thankfully, a cold doesn't last too long. It should disappear in about ten days in an older baby but may last up to 2 weeks in a young baby.
How do I treat my baby's cold? . Typically your baby's cold will go away by itself so medical attention is not necessary. However, parents will want to treat the symptoms of the cold to ease the discomfort their baby feels. Here are some simple things you can do to help your baby. Let your baby sleep - plenty of rest is important in order for your baby to fight the cold. Encourage your baby to drink often as fluids will keep him or her hydrated while bringing down a fever. Wipe your baby's nose or use a nasal aspirator throughout the day to help him or her breathe more easily. Rub a bit of petroleum jelly on the outside of the baby's nostrils to help reduce any irritation. Use saline drops to help unblock your baby's nose if the baby is having trouble eating. Breathing in steam may help your baby's congestion. Turn on the shower on hot, close the bathroom door and sit with your baby on the bathroom floor to allow him or her to breathe in the steam. Be sure to change the baby into dry clothes following the steam. Use a humidifier in your baby's room.