Most colds last a week or two, but some linger even longer. In the meantime, there's plenty you can do to help your baby beat the common cold.
Classic signs of the common cold
The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by one of many viruses. The first sign of the common cold is often a congested or runny nose. Because babies' nasal passages are quite small, it doesn't take much swelling and mucus to cause congestion.
Nasal discharge is often clear at first. As the cold progresses, the discharge usually becomes thicker and turns shades of yellow or green. Later, the discharge may become clear and runny again.
Other signs of a common cold may include:
· A low-grade fever
· Sneezing
· Coughing
· Watery eyes
Toughing it out
Your baby's immune system will need time to conquer the cold. Since colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics won't help.
If your baby is younger than age 3 months, call the doctor at the first sign of illness. For newborns, a common cold can quickly develop into croup, pneumonia or another serious illness.
Most of the time, you can treat an older baby's cold at home. Consider these suggestions:
Offer plenty of fluids. Liquids can help loosen the congestion. Encourage frequent feedings for younger babies. Offer older babies water between regular feedings. If you're breast-feeding your baby, keep it up. Breast milk offers extra protection from cold-causing germs.
Thin the mucus. Your baby's doctor may recommend saline nose drops to loosen thick nasal mucus. Look for these over-the-counter drops in your local pharmacy.
Suction your baby's nose. Keep your baby's nasal passages clear with a rubber-bulb syringe. Squeeze the bulb syringe to expel the air. Then insert the tip of the bulb (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch) into your baby's nostril, pointing toward the back of the nose. Release the bulb, holding it in place while it suctions the mucus from your baby's nose. Remove the syringe from your baby's nostril, and empty the contents onto a tissue by squeezing the bulb rapidly while holding the tip down. Repeat as often as needed for each nostril. Clean the bulb syringe with soap and water.
Moisten the air. Running a humidifier in your baby's room can help soothe irritated nasal passages. Aim the mist away from your baby's crib to keep the bedding from becoming damp. To prevent mold growth, change the water daily and follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning the unit. It might also help to sit with your baby in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes before bedtime.
Avoid cough suppressants and other cold medicines. Coughing helps clear the mucus from your baby's airway. For otherwise healthy babies, there's usually no reason to suppress it. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns against giving cough and cold medicines to children, especially those younger than age 2 years. Cough and cold medicines haven't been proved effective for children — and for young children, an accidental overdose could be fatal.
Remember, over-the-counter pain relievers and cough and cold medicines don't kill the viruses that cause upper respiratory infections. And low-grade fevers — which do help kill viruses — don't need treatment. If you give your baby an over-the-counter pain reliever, follow the directions printed on the label.
When the common cold becomes something more serious
Most colds are simply a nuisance. But it's important to take your baby's signs and symptoms seriously. Again, call the doctor at the first sign of illness if your baby is younger than age 3 months.
If your baby is age 3 months or older, call the doctor if he or she:
· Isn't wetting as many diapers as usual
· Has a temperature higher than 103 F for one day
· Has a temperature higher than 100 F for more than three days
· Seems to have ear or sinus pain
· Has yellow eye discharge
· Has a cough for more than one week
· Has thick, green nasal discharge for more than two weeks
· Has any signs or symptoms that worry you
· Seek medical help immediately if your baby:
· Refuses to nurse or accept fluids
· Coughs hard enough to cause vomiting or changes in skin color
· Coughs up blood-tinged sputum
· Has difficulty breathing or is bluish around the lips and mouth
Think prevention
The common cold typically spreads through infected respiratory droplets coughed or sneezed into the air. The best defense? Common sense and plenty of soap and water.
Keep your baby away from anyone who's sick, especially during the first few days of illness. If you have a newborn, don't allow visits from anyone who's sick. If possible, avoid public transportation with your newborn.
Wash your hands before feeding or caring for your baby. When soap and water aren't available, use hand wipes or gels that contain germ-killing alcohol.
Clean your baby's toys and pacifiers often.
Teach everyone in the household to cough or sneeze into a tissue — and then toss it. If you can't reach a tissue in time, cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm.
Simple preventive measures can go a long way toward keeping the common cold at bay.
In spite of ongoing studies, the scientific jury is still out on popular cold remedies such as vitamin C, echinacea and zinc.
Here's an update on some common alternative remedies:
· Vitamin C. Vitamin C doesn't appear to prevent colds in most people, but taking large doses — up to 5,000 milligrams — at the beginning of a cold may reduce the severity of symptoms. Lower doses — 200 to 300 milligrams — may shorten a cold's duration. Just what constitutes an optimum dose isn't clear, but amounts in excess of 2,000 milligrams a day may cause nausea and diarrhea.
· Echinacea. A National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine study released in 2005 found that echinacea did little to prevent or shorten colds. But testing herbs is difficult, and scientists say more research is necessary. Some people swear by Airborne, an herbal cold remedy that's sold over the counter in many drugstores.
· Zinc. The cold-fighting reputation of zinc has had its ups and downs. That's because many zinc studies — both those that find the mineral beneficial and those that do not — are flawed. In studies with positive results, zinc seemed most effective taken as a lozenge or nasal spray within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Taking zinc with food reduced side effects, including a bad taste and nausea.
From MayoClinic.com Special to CNN.com· Vitamin C. Vitamin C doesn't appear to prevent colds in most people, but taking large doses — up to 5,000 milligrams — at the beginning of a cold may reduce the severity of symptoms. Lower doses — 200 to 300 milligrams — may shorten a cold's duration. Just what constitutes an optimum dose isn't clear, but amounts in excess of 2,000 milligrams a day may cause nausea and diarrhea.
· Echinacea. A National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine study released in 2005 found that echinacea did little to prevent or shorten colds. But testing herbs is difficult, and scientists say more research is necessary. Some people swear by Airborne, an herbal cold remedy that's sold over the counter in many drugstores.
· Zinc. The cold-fighting reputation of zinc has had its ups and downs. That's because many zinc studies — both those that find the mineral beneficial and those that do not — are flawed. In studies with positive results, zinc seemed most effective taken as a lozenge or nasal spray within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Taking zinc with food reduced side effects, including a bad taste and nausea.