Over-the-counter cold medications are never the remedy for a baby's cold, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics. Cold medications can harm your child more severely than a cold will, Kids Health notes, possibly causing hallucinations, irregular heartbeats, a trip to the emergency room or even death. While the common cold has no cure, and medications are a no-no, you still have options that can soothe and comfort your child.
Saline Drops or Spray
Saline nose drops or saline spray, with saline being a fancy name for salt water, work to help unclog a baby's nose, the Mayo Clinic, Healthy Children and Kids Health note. Drug stores and pharmacies sell the drops and spray without a prescription and they all work to thin and loosen the mucus built up in your baby's nose. As long as the saline products do not contain any type of medication, they are safe for infants.
Suction Bulb
A suction bulb may also be used to clear baby's nose, either used in conjunction with saline drops or on its own, says the Mayo Clinic and the Healthy Children website. Suction bulbs, available in small sizes appropriate for infants, are rubber bulbs with a nozzle on the end you insert into your child's nose. Flatten the bulb, insert it into your baby's nose, then gently open the bulb so it sucks the nasal passage clear. Use before sleeping, feeding and every couple of hours if needed. Be sure to wash and dry the bulb thoroughly before using it again to avoid reintroducing bacteria to you're baby's nasal passages.
Humidifier
A humidifier adds moisture to the air and makes it easier for congested babies to breathe, the Mayo Clinic, Healthy Children and Kids Health point out. Humidifiers loosen mucus and alleviate a runny nose. Stick with a cool-mist humidifier, rather than a hot-water vaporizer, to avoid scalds and burns. Let the mist cascade near, but not on your baby, so his bedding does not get wet and keep the unit out of your infant's grasp. Refill the unit with fresh water daily.
Fluids
Giving your baby plenty of fluids is another remedy suggested by the Mayo Clinic and the Healthy Children website. You don't need to overload your baby with excess fluids, but just make sure he takes in at least his usual daily amount. Even if your baby is fussy about eating, make sure he gets his daily quota of formula or breast milk. Breastfeeding infants have an edge, as they get extra germ protection from their mother's milk.
Other
A few other remedies have been shown to work to soothe and comfort babies with colds. Plenty of rest is recommended by the Mayo Clinic, Healthy Children and Kids Health. Sitting in a steamy bathroom with your baby, running a hot shower in the background, helps ameliorate congestion, Kids Health says, and a dab of petroleum jelly beneath baby's nose can soften any rawness there.
A trip to the doctor is the remedy if your baby's cold is not improving, but getting worse after three days; your baby has trouble breathing; your baby's fever is 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher and lasts more than a day; or your baby is three months or younger and has a fever at all, Kids Health says.
