Americans get 1 billion colds a year, according to the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Unfortunately, babies are not immune. When a baby has a cold, he can be cranky and irritable because of the bothersome symptoms. Unfortunately, a cold is caused by a virus and no drugs can clear the infection. You'll have to let the illness run its course, which can take a week to 10 days, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.
Step 1
Allow your baby to rest. Babies who are sick often get off their normal schedule and sleep more than usual. Let your baby sleep if he is tired. The extra rest will help his body fight off the infection and recover.
Step 2
Place saline drops in your baby's nose to relieve some of the nasal congestion. Because babies cannot blow their noses, the congestion can make it difficult to breath or eat, BabyCenter says.
Step 3
Suction out excess nasal mucous with a bulb syringe about 10 to 15 minutes after placing the saline drops in the nose. This is best done shortly before a planned feeding to make it easier for your baby to suck and breathe while eating, according to BabyCenter.
Step 4
Give your child an over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen if she seems uncomfortable or has a fever. Both are effective, but ibuprofen should only be used in babies older than 6 months, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Check with your baby's pediatrician for a safe dose.
Step 5
Place a humidifier or vaporizer in your baby's bedroom. This will help loosen mucous and nasal secretions, which can help him breathe easier and sleep better, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports. Make sure the humidifier is close to your baby but not within his reach.
Step 6
Place a small pillow or a towel or two under your baby's crib mattress so it is slightly elevated. Sleeping slightly upright can help alleviate a runny nose and make it easier for your baby the breathe, according to BabyCenter. Never place anything in your child's crib to help prop him up because it could cause your baby to suffocate while sleeping.
Tips and Warnings
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends calling your child's doctor at the first sign of illness if she is less than 3 months old. For babies older than 3 months, contact her pediatrician if she has a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit, she has ear pain, her lips or nails are blue, her nostrils are flaring with each breath or she seems excessively sleepy or hard to wake. If your baby's cough lasts more than one week or nasal congestion persists for longer than 10 to 14 days, check in with your pediatrician.
- Do not give cough and cold medicine to babies or children younger than 2 unless specifically instructed to do so by your child's doctor, according to the Food and Drug Administration. These drugs have proven ineffective in children younger than 6 and could potentially cause serious health problems in children younger than 2. Never give aspirin to a child with a fever. Although it is an effective pain reliever and fever reducer, in rare cases can cause a severe and potentially life-threatening condition called Reye's syndrome.
Things You'll Need
- Saline drops
- Bulb syringe
- Over-the-counter fever reducer and pain reliever
- Humidifier or vaporizer
- Small pillow or towel
