Baby Cold Symptoms and How to Treat Them

Remember how miserable you felt when you last had a cold? Can you imagine what your baby must feel when he experiences a cold for the first time?

Viruses are responsible for causing colds. Infected people spread the viruses when they sneeze or cough nearby healthy people. The virus gets into the nose and throat where it multiplies.

What Are The Symptoms?

When your baby has a cold, there will be a number of symptoms. He will be sneezing and have a runny nose. He may have a sore throat and it may be difficult for him to swallow. His glands may become swollen.

He may not feel like eating much and he could become irritable. A cough may develop. He may get a slight fever or have a body temperature of 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If your baby is three months old or less and has cold like symptoms, you should contact a pediatrician immediately. Cold like symptoms in a baby three months old or less are misleading and could lead to a serious ailment.

On the other hand, if your child is more than three months old you should contact a doctor if you notice that he is breathing loudly and his nostrils expand out with each breath. His nails or lips are becoming blue. His mucus is thick, runny and green. He has a cough that hasn't gone a way for more than a week. His ears ache. His temperature is more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit. He has become more drowsy or grouchy.

How to Care For Your Baby

Medical experts tell us there is no cure for the common cold. However, there are ways to alleviate the miserable symptoms your baby undergoes.

Make sure he gets plenty of rest and extra fluids. If he has a fever, give him acetaminophen or if he's older that six months he may take ibuprofen (but don't give it to your baby if he is dehydrated or continuously vomiting).

If your child has a cough and is under three years old, don't give him a cough suppressing medicine unless it was prescribed by a pediatrician. Coughing rids the lower respiratory tract of mucus.

If your baby has nasal congestion, you can use a rubber suction bulb to draw out the mucus from his nostrils. If the mucus is too thick, you can apply saline nose drops to soften the mucus before extracting with the bulb. A humidifier can also be used in the baby's room to help liquefy the nasal secretions.

Concluding Thoughts

The best way for your baby to avoid a cold is to not have him near people who are infected. But if your baby gets a cold, the best thing you can do is make it comfortable for him. Soon his cold symptoms will disappear and he'll be back to health, that is, until the next episode. But by now you'll be ready for that, won't you?

To learn more about newborns and what you can expect during your baby's first year visit: http://www.firstyearbabyadvice.com

Leroy has built and maintained several web sites since 1997. He just became a dad and is looking forward to raising his newborn son.

Mother who left tot in car is charged Daily Breeze, CA - Sep 11, 2008 VAN NUYS - A woman accused of leaving her nearly 2-year-old son in a locked sport utility vehicle while shopping in Van Nuys last week was charged today ...

Library time The Daily Advertiser, LA - Sep 9, 2008 There's music and singing, nursery rhymes, finger plays and books for the little ones who attend Baby Time at the Lafayette Public Library's Southside ...

library corner Contra Costa Times, CA - Sep 18, 2008 24, for babies. Toddler Time, The library is located at 1500 St. Marys Road, Moraga. Hours: noon-8 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays; 10 am-6 pm Wednesdays; ...

Library Corner Contra Costa Times, CA - Sep 10, 2008 15, 22, 29, for toddlers and babies. Toddler and Preschool Time, Sept. 15, 22, 29. Family Storytime, 7 pm Sept. 15, 22, 29, for all ages. Peek-A-Book Time, ...