Let’s just face it, babies are going to get sick no matter how hard you try to prevent it. As a stay-at-home mom, I thought I would be able to protect my child from getting sick. I’ve always heard, babies that go to daycare get sick often because the germs get passed around so easily. But even if your child stays home with you, we still need to run to the store every once in a while. And at some point, your child will catch a virus. I’d like to give you some tips on how to help your baby recover from a cold fast and make it easier on them during recovery.
Currently, we are right in the middle of cold and flu season as I’m writing this post. And in the last month or so, I have bought so many different products that claim to kill germs and viruses. I’ve also washed my hands countless times a day. But this did not prevent my child from catching a cold. We went to the store the other day and someone sneezed right next to us! A few days later, we both ended up with cold symptoms.
No matter how hard you try to prevent a sickness from happening, sometimes it’s just bound to happen, unfortunately.
To help your baby or toddler get through a cold, I want to share a few tips that have helped my us stay comfortable while fighting a cold.
This post contains affiliate links which means that I will make a small commission if you purchase a product after clicking on any of them, at no extra cost to you.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, I’m just a mom giving other moms ideas to help their baby /family from what I’ve learned through experience. Consult with your pediatrician/doctor before trying anything mentioned on this website.
Contact Your Pediatrician
The first thing on the to-do list when you suspect your child is coming down with something is to contact their pediatrician.
Get in contact with your doctor at the first signs of any sickness or odd behavior from your child. The earlier you start treatment, the easier it will be on them.
Write down all symptoms your child is having and in what order they started. This can help in diagnosing and treatment.
Over-the-counter cold and flu medications are not recommended for children under 4 years old. Talk to your pediatrician and see what they recommend for your child’s age.
Lots Of Cuddles
Think about when you have a cold, how do you feel? You feel tired, might have a headache and pressure in your head from sinuses, can’t breathe through your nose. Just downright miserable! That’s what your baby is dealing with. They may be a lot fussier and more irritable than normal because they simply do not feel good.
Your main job is to help them feel more comfortable as their body fights off the virus. Giving your baby plenty of love and cuddles is much needed when they don’t feel good. Skin-to-skin time can also be a great way to comfort your baby while they are sick.
Plenty Of Fluids
Be sure your baby is getting enough liquids to drink so they don’t get dehydrated. Your baby may be fussy at feeding time due to their stuffy nose. Spray some Saline spray in your baby’s nose prior to them drinking anything. This will help loosen the mucus to enable your baby to breathe better while drinking. To be sure your baby is getting enough to drink, monitor how many wet diapers they have in a day.
Pat Their Back
Pat your baby on the back as if you are burping them. This will help break up the mucus that may be in their chest to enable their cough to be more productive.
Monitor Temperature
Monitor your baby’s temperature and notify your doctor if they develop a fever. We have tried out every thermometer made for babies. From the very pricey ones to the very cheap ones. The one we trust most is the ExacTemp ear thermometer. It is the most accurate thermometer we have used.
Use a Humidifier
Run a cool-mist humidifier in your baby’s bedroom when they sleep or in the living room while they’re playing. This can help in breaking up the mucus to be able to breathe better and recover faster.
Take a Steamy Shower
If you have time, a warm steamy shower will work faster than a humidifier to clear the mucus out. I don’t know that there is any scientific evidence to back that up, but in my own experience, a steamy shower helps to break up the mucus in my child’s chest to help her cough it up. Therefore, I suggest before bed having a steamy shower with your baby, then using a humidifier while they sleep. Remember not to make the water too hot!! We don’t want to burn our babies’ fragile skin!
Use Saline Spray
Saline spray will loosen the mucus in your baby’s nose and aid in the removal with a nasal bulb. You can also use the spray to help naturally moisten your baby’s nose if there are crusty boogies in there or if they have a stuffy nose. It will help move everything away so they could breathe easier.
Wipe Their Nose With Saline Wipes
Wiping your baby’s snot away with a tissue will quickly irritate the sensitive skin of their nose. Boogie Wipes are gentle enough to use many times during the day and effectively wipe away snot and boogies. I even prefer them over tissues for myself when I’m the one with a cold!
Use A Nasal Aspirator Bulb
Use a nasal aspirator bulb to suck out the mucus from your baby’s nose. Try not to use it more than 4 times per day as to not irritate the inside of your baby’s nose thus creating more mucus. Learn the proper way to use a nasal aspirator bulb with this YouTube video.
When using a nasal bulb, be sure to take it apart and clean it. If you’re using the bulb the hospital gave you, they do not have a way to take them apart. The bulb we use is easy to clean and sterilize and works perfectly for my baby.
Baby Chest Rub
Vicks vapor rub is not recommended for children under 2 years of age. But there is an alternative called Zarbee’s chest rub. It’s made of all-natural ingredients so it can be used for babies 2+ months.
Tylenol
Always ask for proper dosage from your baby’s doctor before giving any medication to avoid an overdose.
Infant Tylenol can help your baby sleep better, taking away the headache and pain that might come with a cold. It’s also great for lowering a fever that may come with the cold as well.
When giving my baby Tylenol by mouth, it often makes her gag and throw up because of the taste. Therefore, we give her FeverAll Suppository, suggested by her doctor. Ask your pediatrician for tips on administering Tylenol if your baby has trouble taking it.
Plenty of Sleep
Sleep is a major help in healing one’s body fast. Most babies don’t sleep well while recovering from a cold, due to the stuffy nose and overall just not feeling good. But as much sleep as your baby can get while they are sick, the faster their body can heal.
Conclusion
Remember to give your baby plenty of love and hugs and keep their nose clean and clear. Keep the room moist and humid with a humidifier, don’t use the nasal aspirator bulb too much in one day. Non-medicated saline drops are your baby’s friend.
Most importantly: keep baby hydrated and stay in contact with your pediatrician to make sure everything is going as good as possible.
All of these things also helped myself, my older child, and my husband recover quickly!
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