Baby Chest Cold Remedies

Commoncold, Inc., states that by the age of six months babies have lost the immunity that it is provided by the mother and become increasingly susceptible to colds. Babies do not possess the ability to care for their own hygiene needs and other illnesses, such as excessive drainage in the ears, can cause a baby to be more susceptible to viral infections. Therefore, common remedies for baby chest colds have been investigated to assist caregivers in the healing process.

Humidity and Moisture

• KidsGrowth.com indicates that because babies are not capable of blowing their noses, the mucus from a cold easily drains into the chest and becomes a cause for alarm for many parents. According to Kidsgrowth.com, babies need both humidity and water to remedy a chest cold. The use of a humidifier in the baby's room will cause mucus in the chest and sinuses to loosen, and relieve the congestion that accompanies a chest cold. However, Kidsgrowth.com specifies that placing over-the-counter products in the humidifier is not needed, because these products often irritate babies eyes or breathing passages, creating additional symptoms during the course of the illness.

  Kidsgrowth.com states that moisture is a vital element in treating a baby with a chest cold. For example, the temperature in a room should be cool, rather than hot, because the moisture in cool air promotes better breathing. Additionally, baths will assist in not only eliminating germs that naturally accumulate on the baby's body throughout the day, but in providing moisture to the body.

Suctioning and Drops

• Treating a baby chest cold means that the airway passages through the nose must be attended to regularly. This can be accomplished with the use of drops and a "bulb syringe."

  Drops can either be purchased, or they can be homemade. When purchasing nose drops, saline nose drops are preferred. These drops have no added chemicals and are safe for baby. Homemade nose drops can be created by using a "quarter teaspoon of salt to a cup of water."

  A few drops in the nose will loosen the mucus and after a few minutes a bulb syringe can be placed in the baby's nostrils and the mucus removed. Kidsgrowth.com advises that the bulb syringe need only be placed one eighth of an inch inside the nostril and that while this is being done the other nostril should be closed off with a finger.

General

• To allow any remedy to be used effectively there should be no smoking in the house and parents must monitor the baby's symptoms and seek a physician's care if they worsen.