Cold Care for an Infant

A cold is a virus that infects the upper respiratory tract. The most prominent symptoms are a runny nose and congestion. Infants are much more effected by a cold than we are, so it is important to keep a close eye on their recovery. Calling the pediatrician at the first sign of a cold is a good idea to reduce the risk of complications. There is no cure for the cold, but there are quite a few things you can do for your infant to ease her symptoms.

Reduce Fever

• Your child will most likely develop a fever at some point during his cold. Lower the fever with children's acetaminophen. Follow your physician's recommended dose. This will significantly increase the infant's comfort, enabling him to get better sleep to regain health. Refrain from these medications if your child is dehydrated or vomiting. Never give aspirin to a child younger than 18 months. In some rare cases it can cause Reye's syndrome, which may be fatal.

Clear Mucus

• Clearing your child's nasal passage of mucus will eliminate most of her discomfort and allow her to breathe more easily. Use a rubber bulb syringe to clear away mucus. Squeeze the bulb of the syringe to release all of the air. While holding the bulb closed, put the tip of the syringe approximately ¼ an inch into your child's nostril. Slowly let go of the bulb while still holding the tip in place. This will suction the mucus out of her nose. Once all of the air has re-entered into the bulb remove the tip from your child's nose. Point the tip into a tissue and continuously squeeze the bulb to remove the mucus from the syringe. Repeat this process until all of the mucus is removed from both nostrils. Clear your child's nasal passage as often as necessary.

  In extreme cases, doctors may recommend saline nose drops to thin the mucus, allowing it to more easily drain from the nose. Consult your physician before using nose drops.

Hydrate

• While your infant has a cold, dehydration is the symptom you must monitor most carefully. If you suspect dehydration, contact your physician immediately. Your child may not feel like drinking liquids, but insisting on a normal intake of liquid is essential for his health. It may also help to provide your child with special hydrating juices for babies. These juices can be found at any large store that sells baby food.

  If you are breastfeeding your infant, continue. Breast milk is especially good to help sustain nutrition and hydration to your child as it contains cold-fighting nutrients.

  If your child seems particularly uncomfortable, you may supply moisture within the air by running a humidifier in his room. Point the humidifier away from the sleeping area. Follow manufacturers' instructions in order to avoid any mold contamination. Humidifying the air will ease congestion as well as help nasal discomfort.