Baby’s Cold
Baby’s Cold
Everything you need to know
about your Baby’s Cold
Colds are common among babies & children. During their first year, babies can catch eight or more illnesses. Though these sniffles and sneezes in babies are rarely dangerous, they can be stressful for parents and are one of the leading causes of paediatrician visits. You might feel more assured till the cold is over if you know how to assist your child feel better and when to call the doctor.
Baby’s Cold Causes
Because their immune systems aren’t yet ready to fend off the 100 or so viruses that cause colds, babies catch a lot of them. When someone who is sick coughs or sneezes, the cold virus spreads through the air. It also lands on toys and tables, among other things. When newborns touch these surfaces and subsequently put their hands in their mouths, as they do frequently, they provide an easy entrance point for the cold virus.
Colds are common among babies who attend nursery. They can also catch it from older siblings who bring it home from school, or from adults who shook hands with someone who should have stayed home from work.
Baby’s Cold Symptoms
About 1 to 3 days after being infected, babies begin to show signs of a cold. The following are some of the symptoms that might occur in young children:
- Nose congestion
- Runny nose that starts off clear but can turn yellow or green.
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Fussiness
- Fatigue
- Appetite suppression
- Sleeping problems
- Fever
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
When to call a doctor
If your kid is above 3 months old, you don’t need to see a doctor if he or she has a cold. Make the call as soon as your baby’s symptoms appear, especially if he or she has a temperature. Cold-like symptoms could be a warning of something more serious, such as pneumonia or an ear infection. Checking on it will make you feel better.
If you observe any of the following more serious symptoms in your kid, regardless of age, call your doctor or NHS 111:
- A fever of 38.8 degrees Celcius or higher
- Breathing problems
- If the child is not eating or drinking
- Dehydration symptoms include no tears or fewer wet nappies than normal
- Sleepiness that is out of the ordinary
- If your baby’s symptoms don’t improve after a week or if they get worse, call your doctor.
Treating your Baby’s Cold
Colds do not require treatment. After a few days, they normally go gone on their own. Antibiotics are ineffective because they kill bacteria, and viruses are at a fault in this situation.
Naturally, you’ll wish to alleviate your baby’s symptoms. However, over-the-counter cough and cold medications shouldn’t be administered to infants or young children. These medications can have serious negative effects and are ineffective in children under the age of six. In children under the age of four, the NHS advises against using them at all.
If your child is above 6 months old, you can use children’s paracetamol or children’s ibuprofen to bring down their temperature and make them more comfortable. Check the packaging to make sure you’re giving them the correct dose for their age and weight.
Never provide an aspirin-containing drug to a child. It can put you at risk for Reye’s syndrome, an uncommon but dangerous disease.
To help your child feel better, let them rest a lot and try one of these at-home remedies:
1. Prevent Dehydration
Increase the frequency of nursing your child. Water and 100% fruit juice can also be given to babies over the age of six months. The extra liquids will keep your child’s nose and mouth moist and prevent dehydration.
2. Relieve Congestion
Spray a few drops of saline (saltwater) solution into each nostril if your kid is having problems breathing through a congested nose. After that, remove the mucus with a bulb syringe. Place the tip of the bulb into your child’s nostril after squeezing it. Release the bulb to suction the mucus out gently. After each usage, wash the syringe tip with soap and water. Use purified water or boiled tap water to generate your own saline solution.
3. Ease Breathing
A cool-mist humidifier will keep your baby’s nose from drying out by adding moisture to the air. To avoid germs and mould accumulation, wash the machine after each usage.
4. Make the Child Comfortable
Allow the child to sleep.
Irritants, such as cigarette smoke, should be avoided.
Prevention tips for your Baby’s Cold
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to prevent every cold, especially during the winter when these viruses are more prevalent. However, you can reduce your baby’s risk of being ill by following these guidelines:
- Request that anyone who is ill stay away from your home.
- Keep your child away from crowded areas where germs are prevalent.
- Throughout the day, wash your hands frequently. Anyone who holds your kid should wash their hands as well.
- Clean your baby’s toys with soap and water on a regular basis.
- Allow no one to use your child’s cup, utensils, or towels.
- Instead of coughing or sneezing into the air, tell older children to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow.
- Allow no one to smoke near your youngster. Cigarette smoke has the potential to make your baby more likely to get sick.