Treating an infant cold isn’t as straightforward as changing a diaper, unfortunately. Parents may feel helpless when their infants contract a cold, since there’s no cure for it. But, there are plenty of ways parents can treat infant colds to alleviate symptoms.
Mucus Removal
Parents can use saline nose drops to loosen thick mucus from their infant's nasal passages, and then suction the mucus out with a rubber-bulb syringe. The Mayo Clinic explains that parents should first squeeze the syringe to expel the air inside, and then insert it about ¼ to ½ of an inch into their baby's nostrils, pointing it toward the back and side of the nose. Then parents should release the bulb while holding it in place to suction the mucus. Finally, parents should remove the syringe and empty its contents by squeezing it quickly while holding its tip down into a tissue.
Humidifiers
Parents can help relieve some of their infant's nasal congestion and runny nose symptoms by using a humidifier in their baby's room to moisten the air, according to the Mayo Clinic. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a cool-mist humidifier rather than one that uses hot water, to help prevent the possibility of infants getting accidentally burned.
Fever and Pain Medications
Parents should never give over-the-counter cold and cough medicines to infants and children younger than two years old, the American Academy of Pediatrics cautions, because those medicines can have life-threatening side effects. The risk of side effects from such medicines can affect children up to six years old, and cold and cough medicines haven’t been proven to be effective in children younger than age six. Rather than giving cold or cough medicine to a baby, parents should reduce the infant’s fever and alleviate pain if necessary by using either acetaminophen or ibuprofen. The Mayo Clinic recommends using acetaminophen or ibuprofen only for infants six months old or older, and only for fevers that are 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If parents use these medications, they should make sure that each dose they give is appropriate to the infant's age.
Calling a Doctor
For infants age three months or younger, both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Mayo Clinic recommend calling a doctor at the first sign of a cold. Colds in babies that young can develop quickly into more serious illnesses such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis or croup. For infants older than three months who have colds, parents should call a doctor if the infants have: a temperature that’s 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, rapid or difficult breathing, ear pain, lips or nails that turn blue, a cough that lasts longer than one week, nasal mucus that remains for longer than 10 to 14 days, or if they seem excessively cranky or sleepy.
