Managing Your Child’s First Cold

This year’s cold/flu season has been terrible, and the first time your child comes down with something can be scary and overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help you manage their symptoms:

1. You should always have some sort of suction on hand to suck out those boogers. This helps clear your baby’s airway to help them breathe better. You can use a traditional bulb syringe, or my husband’s favorite boogie gadget. Use saline drops prior to suctioning to help loosen the mucus. Try to suction child/baby before feedings because sometime coughing can make them vomit. Once your child is old enough to blow their nose, you don’t need to suction anymore. I like these wipes for snotty noses.
2. Steam is helpful. Run a really hot shower, close the door, and sit with baby/child in the room. Dont physically go into the shower just sit in the bathroom and let them inhale some of the steam to open up their airway. For little babies set up a rock n play or bouncy seat in your bathroom while you take a hot shower. Both of these items have slightly elevated heads, which can also help your baby breathe easier.
3. Cold humidifier. This can be helpful when child sleeps but whatever you do make sure you are cleaning this DAILY. It can get moldy if you don’t. Follow the directions on the packaging for cleaning.
4. Saline spray. Buy a new one every time your child is sick. This helps loosen mucus.
5. Achiness/Fussiness can be managed with Tylenol or Motrin depending on what is appropriate for your child’s age. See my post on what ever parent should have on hand linked here for more information.
6. Vicks vapor rub for baby. Rub on child’s chest or feet, but then make sure to cover them becuase you don’t want your child to ingest.

Please Please Please see your doctor if your child exhibits any of the following:

1. Fever. Ask your pediatrician what their fever threshold is. Typically in babies under 3 months (or immunocompromised children) it is 100.4 and older children is 101.4. Fever in baby under 3 months is a big deal– always call your doctor.
2. Less than 6-8 wet diapers a day. Dont worry if your baby isn’t eating. That is normal—you don’t eat as much when you are sick. But fluid intake is important. If your baby isn’t having enough wet diapers/isn’t nursing or drinking you should call your pediatrician.
3. Difficulty breathing. Is your baby’s nose flaring(moving in and out)? Do you see retractions (baby’s chest caves in when he/she takes a breath)? Is your baby breathing really fast? Wheezing? You need to go to your doctor if you see any of these things.
4. Persistent cough
5. Tugging at ears/ear pain— this can be an ear infection which often happens after your child has had an upper respiratory infection.
6. Child is puny or weak. If your child isn’t acting like themselves, you should see your doctor. High pitched or weak cry that is different from normal is also concerning.
7. Changes in skin color. If your child turns blue –seek help immediately. You may notice this around the lips first.

Rachel

Rachel is a mama to two beautiful identical twin girls, Izzy and Maddy, and lives in Atlanta with her husband, girls, and cute little pup. Rachel graduated with honors from New York University earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and the Founders’ Day Scholar Award. She also received her Masters of Science in Nursing degree from New York University. Rachel has spent the majority of her career as a pediatric nurse and currently works in pediatric oncology.