Taking Care of a Baby with a Cold

Children get sick. This is just a fact of life. There isn't too much you can do to prevent it from happening. The only thing you can really do is make her "comfortable" until the virus works its way out of her system. Here are a few tips:

1. Try saline nose drops.

Saline nose drops help to thin and clear out the nasal mucus. It's a great way to relieve congestion. For best results, try using a bulb syringe. If she'll let you, tilt your child's head back slightly, then gently squeeze the bulb to deposit the saline drops into your child's nose. Then use the bulb to remove the excess mucus. (If your child is old enough, simply have her blow her nose.) Repeat this process several times a day.

2. Make sure she gets enough rest.

While it's probably easier said that done, the more rest your child gets, the sooner she'll feel better. Even if she doesn't take naps anymore-encourage a nap or two each day she's sick. When she isn't resting, sit her on the couch with a kids' video or children's book on a tape. Encourage her to do quiet activities instead of things that require her to exert a lot of energy. She needs that energy to get better.

3. Hook up the humidifier.

This works especially well at night and during naps. This is when a persistent cough or trouble breathing can prevent your child from getting the rest she really needs right now. The moist air from a humidifier thins mucus secretions, which helps to calm her cough and relieve congestion. The humidifier shown at the end of this article is a great buy! It works very well and doesn't cost as much as many other humidifiers you will find. I found this one at thebabyoutlet. They have a couple other high quality humidifiers in case this one isn't quite what you're looking for. And right now, Enter Coupon Code: YG05 and Take 5% Off Your Order at TheBabyOutlet.com!

4. Urge her to drink up.

Children lose body fluids fast when they're sick (especially if they're running a fever or have diarrhea). Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids (such as juice, an electrolyte solution, or milk) to replenish those fluids. There is no scientific proof that dairy products make congestion worse. If she doesn't want to drink a lot of fluid, try offering her an extra juicy fruit (such as watermelon or oranges). And warm chicken soup actually does help relieve cold symptoms by soothing a sore throat and thinning nasal secretions.

5. Try vitamin C.

There is evidence that shows vitamin C helps make cold symptoms less severe and might even shorten the amount of time a cold lasts. Be careful not to "mega-dose" your child, though. Kids shouldn't have any more than 500 mg of vitamin C a day.

6. Know when to call the doctor.

Be sure to call the doctor if your child complains of: ear or face pain, which can signal an ear infection or sinus infection; a very sore throat combined with a high fever (strep throat); wheezing or trouble breathing (bronchial infection or pneumonia); diarrhea and vomiting (which can lead to dangerous dehydration); a fever over 102 degrees; or a temperature over 100 degrees that lasts for more than three days.

7. Make time to snuggle.

When kids are feeling bad (like most of us), they need an little extra attention and love. If it makes you feel better, isn't it only logical that it would make your child feel better? So make some time to snuggle up together and watch a movie or something. Amazon has some really great entertaining and educational kids' videos that you and your child can enjoy together.

8. Keep it all in perspective.

When you're taking care of a sick, miserable child, always remember that most winter illnesses pass in a week or so. And ultimately, all of them will help strengthen your child's immune system. As she gets older, you'll notice your child has fewer and fewer sick days. In the meantime, encourage hand-washing and stock up on Kleenex!