When your baby has a cold, it can be stressful to see them uncomfortable. A blocked nose, poor sleep, and feeding difficulties can leave both baby and parents exhausted. Although there is no cure for the common cold, simple home care can help relieve symptoms and support recovery. Most babies improve within a week or two.
- Clear the Nose
Saline nose drops or spray can loosen thick mucus. Follow with a nasal aspirator (“snot sucker”). First, squeeze the bulb to push out the air and create suction. Gently place the tip just inside one nostril. Release the bulb so it sucks out the mucus. Remove the aspirator from baby’s nose, then squeeze the bulb firmly into a tissue to empty it. Clean the tip and repeat the same steps for the other nostril. A cool-mist humidifier or sitting with your baby in a steamy bathroom should also help to reduce stuffiness.
- Keep Baby Hydrated
Continue breastfeeding or offering formula regularly, even if feeds are shorter. Fluids are really important to help prevent dehydration. Sipping chicken soup (or just the broth) is a tasty way to give baby extra hydration, plus it can help thin mucus and clear up a blocked nose.
- Manage Fever
A lukewarm bath may help make a feverish baby more comfortable by lowering their temperature. Avoid using cold water, ice, or alcohol, and if your baby starts to feel cold or uncomfortable, remove them from the bath and dry them.
- When to See a Doctor
See a doctor if your baby is younger than three months, with a fever, has difficulty breathing, is not feeding well, seems unusually sleepy, or has cold symptoms lasting longer than 10 days. Signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet nappies, also need attention.
- What Not to Do
- Do not give antibiotics for a cold.
- Do not give fever or pain medicine to babies under 3 months without medical advice, and avoid cough and cold medicines in young children.
- Always check with a healthcare professional before giving any over-the-counter medicine to babies under 1 year.
- Never give aspirin to a baby or child.
- Do not use vapor rubs on babies under 2 years.
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep.
Most baby colds improve with time. Gentle care and comfort are usually all your baby needs.
References
https://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/ss/slideshow-natural-cold-remedies
https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/colds-in-newborns#treatment
