Baby Colds

Baby's First Cold

Parents never want their baby to suffer any ailment, ever. The arrival of the first baby cold is a dreaded affair – hoped by many to be put off indefinitely. There are preventative measures you can take to delay your baby’s first cold experience, and there are treatments for battling every cold.

• Parenting
• Child Health
• Doctors

Preventing Baby Colds

• Keep as much of a distance as you can from other sick babies and adults. If the main caregiver is sick this is almost impossible, however don't hesitate to ask sick visitors to come another day. If you are planning to go visiting, check first that everyone in that household is well.
• Adults and babies are contagious for the whole time that they have cold symptoms, not just at the start. Don't allow someone to convince you that their cold is past the contagious stage.
• Anybody caring for or holding your baby should wash their hands first. Lots of soap and warm water should be used and the hands thoroughly dried. Carry hand wipes or a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you for those times where there is no soap and water.
• Minimise the spreading of bugs. Make sure everyone in your house uses a new tissue each time they cough or sneeze, and immediately throw out the infected tissue.
• Clean your baby's toys.
• Keep your baby away from cigarette smoke.
• Keep your baby well hydrated. Your baby is drinking enough fluids if he/she is producing five or six wet diapers a day. If your baby is four months or older you can give him/her a little water. If he/she is younger than four months stick to your breast or bottle feeding routine.

The Beginnings of a Baby's Cold

• Your baby may get a runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever and red eyes.
• This experience may last from 7 to 10 days. Some colds will hang around for a bit longer.
• Your baby is likely to be irritable. They may get grumpier quicker, and be generally unhappy and harder to get a smile from.
• Your baby can not blow his/her own nose, so you will need to keep it clear.
• Your baby may not like lying flat at times when they are badly blocked up.
• If your baby spends a lot of time around other babies and children he/she may experience 6 to 10 baby colds in a year because the immune system is immature.
• If your baby is under 6 months of age they will have difficulty breathing and be more likely to wake during the night.
• If your baby has itchy, watery eyes, repeated sneezing attacks, itchy skin, or the mucus from the nose stays clear and doesn't thicken, he/she may have an allergy and not a baby cold.

Battling a Baby Cold

• Clear any mucus from your baby's nose. Either wipe your baby's nose gently with a tissue or use a rubber suction bulb. Rubber suction bulbs pull the mucus from your baby's nose and can be purchased at a pharmacy.
• Loosen the mucus and then clear away prior to feeding or sleep. You can help provide congestion relief with an over the counter saline (salt water) solution. Squeeze saline drops into the nostrils to loosen the mucus, and then clear the mucus away. Clearing your baby's nostrils can make it a lot easier to feed or put him/her to bed.
• Help make breathing easier. Rub some baby balsam on their chest (check age restrictions), or use a humidifier or cool mist vaporizer in the room. If you use a humidifier keep it very clean to prevent bacteria accumulating and vaporising into the air.
• If there is a fever you can provide some relief with infant Pamol. You need to seek your advice from a medical centre before using this or any cold medicine.
• Avoid cough suppressants, coughing does help your baby by clearing the mucus. If you do use a cough suppressant you need to be very careful with the dosage amount.
• Lots of rest. Easier said than done as your baby may find it harder to sleep with a blocked nose. Still it is important you provide your baby with every opportunity to sleep - don't rob them of their sleep by taking them visiting during nap times.
• Elevate the head of your baby's mattress by placing a couple of towels beneath it. A slight incline may help your baby sleep with congestion.

See Your Doctor If -

• You have any concerns regarding your baby's health. It is wise to err on the side of caution. A good doctor will not object to seeing an unwell baby.
• Your baby is younger than 3 months.
• Your baby's cold symptoms take a turn for the worse or persist for more then 10 days.
• Your baby has a fever.
• Your baby seems to be in pain while sucking or swallowing, for instance if he/she pulls away while feeding.
• Your baby has breathing problems, wheezing or a persistent cough. Wheezing or gasping could be pneumonia.
• The number of wet diapers reduces.
• A rash covers your baby's body, or he/she seem floppy, or can't tolerate bright lights. In this case seek immediate medical attention as it may be meningitis.

Vaccinations
If your baby is due for a vaccination, contact your doctor for advice. They are likely to ask you to wait until your child is well again for a couple of days, so that the immunity system can concentrate on the vaccination.

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Family images from Flickr: Children Full of Happiness, Kids Classroom and Hands.