Best Ways To Treat Colds With Infants

Your baby's immune system will be developing during the first year of life; and because of this, your baby may experience a lot of colds during the first year. This is completely normal, yet it can be frustrating for you and your baby. Unfortunately, a lot of medications aren't safe for treating colds in babies, so you may wonder what you can do to help relieve your baby's runny nose. Here are some of the best options you have for treating your baby when he or she gets a cold.

Use saline nose drops

You can purchase infant nose drops or make your own. To make your own, mix one-fourth teaspoon salt with eight ounces warm water. Use a syringe to insert a few drops into each of your baby's nostrils. This mixture will loosen up the mucus in your baby's nose, and this will help clear it out. After you do this, you can use a bulb syringe to remove the runny mucus.

Run a cool-mist vaporizer

A cool-mist vaporizer is very similar to a humidifier, but it is safer for babies. This type of device forces cool air into a room, and this keeps the air moist. Having moist air for your baby to breathe is important when he or she has a cold, and it will help clear your baby's nose faster.

Another option is to purchase a Vick's vaporizer. Vicks is a product that can help clear a stuffy nose, and it is typically safe for children when used in a vaporizer. You may want to talk to your doctor before using one though, just to be sure.

Angle your baby's mattress

When your baby has a runny nose, the position in which he or she sleeps can either help the baby's cold or make it worse, which is why you may want to angle your baby's crib. Propping your baby up to sleep on a pillow is not recommended, but you can angle your baby's crib by propping a towel or blanket underneath the crib mattress. After doing this, place your baby in a position so his or her head is on the side of the mattress that is propped up. This may help the mucus to exit the baby's nose, and this could make a big difference.

If your baby has a cold, you may want to talk to your pediatrician about other options for treating it. To learn more, schedule an appointment with a pediatrician today.

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