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Home Remedies for Colds in Babies

Cold medicines generally aren't effective in children under the age of 6, and they can actually be dangerous for babies. However, there are a number of things that parents can do to ease the symptoms of a cold and keep it from lingering longer than necessary. Call the pediatrician if your baby has symptoms that alarm you, including a fever over 101 degrees, severe cough, difficulty breathing or an earache. Otherwise, you can treat your baby's cold with home remedies.

  1. Steam

    • Spending some time in a steamy bathroom is the easiest way to relieve congestion in a baby. Sit on the floor with your baby for about 15 minutes while running a hot shower or during a family member's shower. You can also place the little one in a car seat, swing or bouncy seat in the bathroom while you shower. Of course, always keep safety in mind while doing this. Don't directly expose a baby to hot water. Another good idea is to use a humidifier in the nursery.

    Essential Oils

    • Essential oils such as eucalyptus or peppermint oil can also help your baby to breathe more easily. They should never be used directly on the skin of a baby or young child. Instead, try diluting them by adding a few drops to the bathtub while doing the steam treatment. You can also boil a pot of water, remove it from the stove, and add two or three drops of essential oils. It will circulate through the air with the steam from the hot water. Vicks VapoRub also has essential oils in it, and it's made to be applied to the skin. Make sure that you use the correct type for your child's age, however. Their BabyRub formula is for babies at least 3 months old.

    Elevation

    • Keeping your baby's head and chest elevated will help drain congestion and ease coughing. While he's awake, try to keep him sitting up or at an incline most of the time. You can put a small pillow or blanket underneath the crib mattress during sleep. Putting a pillow on top of the mattress is dangerous and could cause suffocation. Also, don't elevate too much, or the baby will just gradually slide down to the other end of the crib.

    Fluids and Rest

    • Make sure that your baby is getting plenty of liquids and rest while she is sick. These things will help the body fight off the illness and shorten its duration. Fluids are especially important when there is diarrhea, but they shouldn't be forced. Try to avoid any dairy products with babies who are no longer on formula. Cow's milk can make cold symptoms worse. Breast milk is beneficial, so if you're nursing, continue, and encourage your baby to feed.

    Over-the-Counter Medications

    • Saline nose drops can help loosen a stuffy nose and allow the baby to breathe easier. They are used by tilting the baby's head back and placing a few drops in each nostril. This loosens mucous so that it can be sucked out with a bulb aspirator. The drawback of using saline nose drops is that most babies hate the way it feels to have these things put up their noses, so it may cause a struggle. Infant ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be used to lower a fever or soothe aches and pains. It won't make the cold go away faster, though. Contact your pediatrician about correct dosages.

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