Infant Colds

Our littlest one has her first cold. I guess this is as good a time as any to write about treating colds in infants. Even with modern medicine, there's no cure for the common cold. All we can do, even for adults, is treat the symptoms.

There's been a LOT of talk recently about over-the-counter (OTC) medications for infants. Talk to the point that they've pulled them all off the shelves here. They've decided that no ammount of pseudoephedrine is OK for infants. (There's also a high concern about the risk of overdosing.)

That leaves us with "natural" remmedies. All the professionals seem to agree, that the best options for an infant's cold are the following:

1) Nasal irrigation. Saline (Salt + Water) drops or sprays. You could make your own, but then you'd have to worry about sterile conditions when you're preparing it, storing it etc. There are LOTS of OTC versions out there. Just be sure to read the label and make sure that it's infant safe. (No extra decongestants, or medicinal ingrediants.) Babies don't like stuff poured or dripped into their noses. You will have to hold them down to do it. (Gently, of course.) Do one nostril and then the other, folowed by suction. (More on that in a moment.) Irrigation is especially important to do before feeding. If your baby can't breathe properly while feeding, they'll be trying to gasp in air through their mouths while sucking. This will create extra gas and discomfort, and nobody wants that on top of the cold.

2) Suction. In tandem with irrigation, or stand alone if the mucus secretions are already thin and watery enough, suction helps clear the nasal cavities and makes breathing a little easier. Most pharmacies and even large gorcery stores have a few brands/styles of nasal bulbs. Go for one that has a thin, but not too long "needle" and comes apart for easy cleaning. Get one BEFORE your baby gets sick, if you remember. There's a little trick to making it work most effectively, so if you can practice, you should. The trick goes something like this...Unlike say, a turkey baster, you don't want the goo spraying out of the bulb when you're using it on your little one. So you need to do a very gentle squeezing action to compress the bulb, then slide the needle into the nose and release the bulb. This will draw the mucus up and into the bulb. Gently squeeze again so as to compress, but not spray, re-insert into the nose and release again. (If you're having trouble, you can always do this in the bathroom. Then you could squeeze the mucus into the sink before putting the device back into your baby's nose.) Do this in each nostril until you're not really getting any more out. Wash the device with soap and water when you're done.

3) Humidity. There are more than a few ways to use humidity for your sick baby. There are in room humidifiers. (Most doctors recommend cool mist humidifiers. This removes the chance of accidental scalding/burning from getting to close to hot water.) There are several brands and types available, of course. Some have the ability to let you use essential oils to add to the benefits. For example; You could add eucalyptus oil and/or menthol to help with breathing. You could also add vanilla to add a pleasant, calming scent to your baby's room. When using a humidifier, it's recommended that you use distilled/filtered water. This reduces the amount of scaling that occurs inside the unit. Tap water can lead not only to scaling issues, but the minerals may then be spread around the room casuing a film to develop over things. When that film dries out, it becomes dust, which could lead to more nasal irritation/sneezing/mucus...etc. You can also run a really hot shower, close the door, turn off the fan and let the bathroom steam up. That steam can help loosen both the mucus in the nose and congestion in baby's chest. Remember, it's a HOT shower...Don't get in it with baby. we don't want any scalding! And don't leave your baby unattended in the bathroom. Stay in for 10-15 minutes and let the steam do its work. (I suggest you bring a chair in for sitting.)

4) Clean. The final thing you can, and should, do is clean. I know you're busy dealing with the baby and the cold, but cleaning helps too. Change baby's sheets as often as you can. (Every day changing helps to reduce the virus that leaks into the sheets as well as reduce the chance of mold/fungus build up from the humidifier.) Vacuum to remove dust and other irritants from carpets, draperies and stuffed toys. The cleaner the room (and house) the less irritants are around to worsen the effects of baby's cold.

Well, there you have it. For a simple common cold, those are some of the best steps you can take to help baby get through it.

Remember though, to keep an eye on other symptoms. If baby has a fever, red/swollen throat or tugs repeatedly on an ear, CALL YOUR DOCTOR. These are usually signs of a more serious viral infection. And never be afraid to cal the doctor anyways. It's always better to be safe and healthy than to let something get worse. That's why the doctor is there, after all.

J