How to Treat Your Baby’s Cold
Your baby’s cold can be just as hard on you as it is on
her. But you can help ease your baby’s discomfort and keep the infection from
worsening by ensuring she gets sufficient rest and liquids, which would include
breast milk or formula if she’s less than four months old. Older babies can
have a little water, and by six months she can begin drinking juices.
To relieve congestion, try squeezing some over-the-counter
saline solution drops into each nostril, then suctioning with a rubber bulb
syringe after a few moments to remove the mucus and liquid. This works well
about fifteen minutes prior to a feeding if it’s difficult for your baby to
breathe nasally while nursing. A bit of petroleum jelly to the outside of your
baby’s nostrils can help reduce irritation.
Sitting with you in a steamy bathroom while the hot water’s
on in the shower for about 15 minutes, or using a cool-mist vaporizer or
humidifier to increase the moisture in your baby’s room should also help provide
some relief for her. A warm bath could also work, and might provide her some
additional comfort.
Sleeping at a slight incline may also help relieve postnasal drip. However,
don’t use pillows in her crib to accomplish this; the risk of suffocation is too
great. Try placing a couple of rolled up towels between the crib springs and
mattress, or you might also want to try allowing her to sleep in her car seat in
a slightly upright position.
Be sure to contact your pediatrician at the first sign of any illness in an
infant less than three months old, especially in instances of a fever of 100.4
degrees or if she has a cough.
Your pediatrician can give you guidelines about
what constitutes a fever in older infants. If baby’s symptoms don’t improve
within five to seven days, her cough worsens, she’s wheezing or gasping
(possible pneumonia or respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV), or tugs at her ear
(possible ear infection), your pediatrician should also be notified
immediately.
