Cold in babies can be caused by various things, ranging from allergies, infections, to irritation due to pollution. This condition can usually heal on its own. However, there are several ways that you can do so that he can recover quickly from the cold he is experiencing.
Colds in babies often make parents worried, especially if the cold he experiences does not get better and makes the baby fussy all day long.
Well, you need to know that a cold is not a disease, but a symptom or sign of certain conditions or diseases in the respiratory tract, such as flu, sinusitis, rhinitis, or COVID-19.
Before determining how to overcome it, you need to know first what causes the cold he is experiencing. In addition to the various diseases above, colds in babies can also be caused by exposure to cigarette smoke, dust, or cold weather.
In addition, mites in dust and mattresses also often cause allergic rhinitis. Cold rooms or weather can also worsen allergic conditions. However, colds will generally go away on their own when the baby has avoided the cause of the cold he is experiencing.
How to Treat Colds in Babies
The discharge of mucus during a cold is actually a natural mechanism of the body to get rid of germs in the body. However, if the mucus that comes out of the nose is too much, this condition makes it difficult for the baby to breathe.
Well, to overcome this, there are several ways that can be done to relieve cold symptoms in babies, namely:
1. Make sure the baby gets plenty of rest
Sleep is one effective way to overcome cold symptoms in babies, because when sleeping the body’s immunity can work more optimally in fighting germs or viruses that cause cold. Therefore, it is important for you to make sure he gets plenty of rest while he is sick.
2. Make sure the baby sleeps in the right position
To make him sleep more comfortably when he has a cold, you can position his head higher than his body by using an extra pillow. You can also apply a special baby balm while gently massaging his back when putting him to sleep.
It is even better if you choose a baby balm that contains eucalyptol and chamomile extract. Eucalyptol can help relieve nasal congestion, while the gentle chamomile extract can provide warmth to the baby. That way, he can sleep better, relax, and be comfortable.
3. Pay attention to the condition of the baby’s room
Place him in a room without air conditioning to reduce nasal congestion. If he is more comfortable in an air-conditioned room, use a humidifier to maintain the humidity and air quality in his room.
4. Make sure his fluid needs are met
It is important to always meet his fluid needs by routinely giving him water when he is sick. If he is still breastfeeding, don’t forget to provide regular breast milk intake.
In addition to preventing him from dehydration, the nutritional content in breast milk is also good for increasing his immunity so that his body is stronger in fighting viruses or germs that cause colds.
5. Use a nasal aspirator
If your baby’s cold is very bothersome, thin the mucus with salt water dripped into the tip of your baby’s nostril. Next, use a nasal aspirator to clean the nose.
You can also use cotton wool soaked in warm water to clean nasal discharge or hardened mucus in his nose.
In addition to the methods above, you can also bathe him in warm water to widen the respiratory tract so that he can breathe more easily.
Don’t Just Give Your Baby Cold Medicine
If after doing the methods above, your baby’s cold has not improved or other complaints appear, you can provide treatment according to the symptoms he is experiencing. For example, if he has a fever, you can give him a fever reducer such as paracetamol. If accompanied by a cough, you can give him a baby cough and cold medicine.
However, you need to note that cold medicines on the market are not recommended for children under 6 years of age because they can cause dangerous side effects. Also avoid giving aspirin fever reducers to babies because they risk causing Reye’s syndrome.
To ensure safety, you are advised to consult a doctor first before giving any medication to treat your baby’s cold.
In the meantime, you can also consider getting a vaccine that can prevent illness or relieve cold symptoms caused by a viral infection, such as the influenza vaccine.
Conditions of Cold in Babies That Need to be Watched Out For
In addition to taking the steps above, you also need to be more vigilant if your baby’s cold is accompanied by the following conditions:
A cough that doesn’t go away or is accompanied by rapid breathing and wheezing when the baby breathes
A fever of more than 39° Celsius for children under 3 months or a fever reaching more than 40° Celsius in children over 3 months and lasting more than 2 days
A cold that doesn’t improve after 10-14 days
Shortness of breath or noisy breathing
Not wanting to eat, drink, or breastfeed
Vomiting
Diarrhea
If your baby experiences any of the above symptoms, you should immediately take him to the doctor for an examination. This is important to do because it could be a sign that he is experiencing a more serious condition, such as pneumonia.
A baby’s cold is generally not dangerous. However, you should also remain vigilant. If the cold he experiences is accompanied by the above symptoms, immediately take him to the doctor to get the right treatment and of course safe for the baby.
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