How to Treat Infants for Cold Symptoms

Most babies suffer through several colds during the first months of life. When your baby has a cold, he may have a fever, a runny or stuffy nose and a cough. A baby with a cold may have trouble eating or sleeping. There is no cure for the common cold, but there are steps you can take to ease your child's suffering while you wait for his immune system to defeat the virus.

Instructions

• 1

  Call your child's doctor if he is less than three months old. Colds can be more serious for young babies, and the doctor should know about any signs of illness.

• 2

  Purchase over-the-counter saline nose drops, and use them as directed on the package to relieve your baby's nasal stuffiness. Saline drops can thin mucus and make it easier to remove, which can be especially helpful before feedings and at bedtime.

• 3

  Remove mucus with a bulb syringe. Squeeze the syringe before placing it in your baby's nose, and then insert it ¼ to ½ an inch into a nostril. Point the syringe toward the back and side of the nose, not the center, and release the bulb to suction mucus. Squeeze the mucus onto a tissue and repeat as needed.

• 4

  Use a humidifier to moisten the air and relieve congestion, especially at night. If you do not have a humidifier, turn on a hot shower and get your bathroom steamy, and then sit in the bathroom with your baby for a few minutes to relieve congestion before bed.

• 5

  Elevate your baby's head at night. Use a positioning wedge or pillow under the crib mattress to raise your baby's head and prevent mucus from collecting in the nasal passages.

• 6

  Use infant acetaminophen to reduce fever if your baby seems uncomfortable. For babies older than six months, infant ibuprofen is also acceptable, according to the Mayo Clinic.