Home Remedy for a Baby's Cold

When your baby has a cold, you want nothing more than to make him feel better. While there is no cure for the common cold, there are several home remedies that can help relieve your baby's cold symptoms. Here are some tips for helping your little one feel better.

Use saline drops and bulb suction

• Nasal congestion makes it difficult for your baby to breathe, sleep and eat. The FDA warns against giving any type of over-the-counter cold medicine to babies, but that does not mean you have to let her be miserable. Purchase saline nasal drops from your local pharmacy or make your own at home. To make saline drops, simply add 1/2 teaspoon table salt to one cup of warm water. Once you have saline drops, put 1 drop at a time in each nostril. Then, gently use the bulb suction to clean your baby's nose. You may repeat this process, but use just one drop at a time to prevent choking.

Use a humidifier

• If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier in your baby's room at night and during naps. This helps loosen chest congestion. It also moistens dry nasal passages that lead to stuffiness. Be sure you keep your humidifier clean and the filter changed or it could worsen your baby's symptoms.

Push fluids

• A sick baby needs plenty of fluids. Not only are fluids lost during a fever, but decreased fluid intake allows mucus in the nose and lungs to become sticky. Dry, sticky mucus is more difficult for your baby to cough up. Fluids keep the mucus loose, which helps prevent pneumonia and nasal congestion. Offer your baby fluids frequently. Your pediatrician can help you decide which fluids are best for your baby.

Give warm fluid for a cough

• Warm fluids help relax the airway and soothe dry, scratchy throats. Be very careful not to overheat the fluids, which could result in burns. Warm fluids like apple juice, just as you would formula or breastmilk.

Keep your baby's eyes clean

• If your baby has eye drainage you will need to keep them cleaned out to prevent a bacterial infection. Wet a cotton ball with warm water. Wipe your baby's eye from the inner corner, going outward toward his ear. Do not use the same cotton ball for both eyes. Doing so can spread infection. Clean your baby's eyes as often as needed.

Know when to call the pediatrician

• Always call your pediatrician if your baby is less than three months old and seems sick. Also call if your baby has a high fever, a prolonged fever, is breathing faster than normal or seems to have a hard time breathing, or is coughing so much he can't sleep. When in doubt, call the pediatrician.