Tips For Dealing With A Baby Cold

Stuffed noses and mucus discharge can often be a normal sight in babies as their nasal passages are still growing and developing. Babies, however, are still quite susceptible to everyday illnesses such as colds and fever. Most healthy babies will usually have up to 8 or 9 instances of colds in a year, so it’s always good to be prepared for a sick day.

Know When Mucus Is And Isn’t Safe

Mucus isn’t as gross and unhealthy as you think. In fact, it plays quite a huge role in the body’s fight against disease. Mucus acts as a barrier between you and harmful particles like dust and smoke. When you end up inhaling smoke from a dirty car engine or dusty road, the mucus inside your body traps these harmful particles and keeps them from going in any further. The same goes for harmful germs, as the antibodies and proteins inside mucus can kill germs and prevent them from causing illness. Mucus plays the same role of guardian for babies. When mucus flows out of a baby’s nose, it usually just means that the body is keeping harmful particles away from the lungs.

There are many noticeable differences between healthy and infected mucus that you can watch out for. The first sign that you should take note of is the thickness and consistency of your baby’s mucus discharge. Healthy mucus should be colorless and have a thin water-like consistency. If your baby’s mucus starts to become way too thick and sticky to the point of clogging up the nasal canal, it’s a sign that your baby might be experiencing the first stages of a cold. It’s also important to watch out for changes in color. If your baby’s mucus discharge stays yellow or green for more than a few days, it could be a sign that they’re dealing with a cold or other sinus infection.

Calm And Soothe Your Baby

A cold isn’t a harmful disease in itself. It’s just how the body defends itself against harmful attackers from within. A baby’s immune system has to learn how to fight against harmful antibodies and particles in the same way that soldiers need to know how to weaken and fight the enemy during battle. Illness is often an inevitable part of life, but it should by no means be completely ignored or treated improperly. One of the best ways you can make your baby feel better while they struggle with a cold is to simply soothe them and reduce discomfort when you can. Clear up clogged noses every few hours, keep them warm and insulated, and make sure they get plenty of good sleep. If your baby starts to wail and cry, don’t hesitate to cradle them in your arms and let them know that you’re there to keep them safe.

Don’t Be Careless With Medication

Over-the-counter medication isn’t something to give your babies on a whim. A baby’s immune system is still developing and unprepared to deal with the multitude of side effects from a single dosage. If you simply have no other choice than to buy medication for your baby, be sure to consult a pediatrician first instead of heading to the pharmacy right away. A baby’s age and weight, as well as other physical conditions, play a huge role in the way medication affects their health. A competent pediatrician will know what medicines are compatible with your baby, and what medications should be avoided at all costs.

Most over-the-counter medications for small children and babies often come with their own cup, spoon, or liquid dropper. It’s always better to use these companion tools to measure your baby’s dosage instead of relying on a kitchen spoon. The tools that are packed with medicine are specially designed in order to help you give your baby the right dosage of medicine. Normal kitchen cutlery isn’t designed to measure medicine, and can even exceed the normal dosage that a baby should be taking.

Alternatively, there are plenty of home remedies that are less risky and just as reliable as medicine. Giving your baby a teaspoon of honey and lemon juice mixed together every 4 hours, for instance, can help soothe coughing. The nutrients in a warm bowl of chicken soup can also help your baby’s immune system fight against disease.

Suck Up Snot With A Few Good Tools

Nobody likes dealing with a stuffed up nose. It’s especially important for babies to breathe and clear up their nasal passageways since their lungs aren’t strong enough to support the flow of oxygen alone. As much as possible, check up on your baby’s nasal canal every few hours during an onset of colds. When mucus thickens up inside the nose, it can cause painful irritation and keep your baby from breathing normally.

A good way to relieve your baby’s stuffed up nose is to use some good saline drops and a strong yet gentle nasal aspirator. Saline drops can reduce the amount of thick mucus in your baby’s nose and help air pass through the nasal canal. They’re also free from chemicals or medication so you don’t have to worry about any negative side effects. Nasal aspirators can suck away stubborn snot and mucus from your baby’s nose without scratching up or bruising the delicate nasal canal.

Using saline drops and nasal aspirators together is one of the best ways to help your baby deal with a nasty cold without any unnecessary risks or complications. A nasal aspirator can also be a wonderful tool to use even when your baby is already healthy and happy. Our store comes with a reliable nasal aspirator that you can use to clear up all those nasty boogers from your baby’s nose, so why not try one today?