Sick Baby

 Cold season is right around the corner and in our house it is starting a little early.

How do you take care of a little one with a cold? How do you know it is a cold and not something serious? How do you keep the little one from turning into a green eyed monster when he/she is not feeling well?

This is what I do. . .

A baby with a cold with typically have a clear, runny nose, maybe a mild cough and sometimes a low fever (if the fever is high you're probably dealing with the flu). The child might be a little cranky (just like you are when you have a cold), but should typically play regularly and eat normally with the exception of drinking if he/she has a stuffy nose.

There isn't any medicine to cure a cold, you just have to wait it out, but there are lots of things you can do to make the little one feel less miserable.

If your little one has a stuffy nose the best thing it so squirt some saline solution into each nostril, then suck it back out with the bulb syringe (you were probably given one when your child was born). This helps break up all the gunk that is keeping your child stuffed up, making it easier to breath and eat.

Keep a humidifier turned on in the room when the little one is sleeping. This helps breathing to be easier. Also try rubbing some baby Vicks Vapor Rub on the his/her chest or back before bedtime. This is soothing and helps make breathing easier. I've also had people tell me to keep the childs head elevated while sleeping, but my son tosses around so much during bedtime that it would be useless. It might work if your child is a good, heavy sleeper.

Natural Remedies

I am an avid user of the time tested remedy of chicken noodle soup (home made of course). This is the best thing to feed a sick little one. It is easy to eat, healthy and tasty.

There are many herbs that are known to help speed up the process of getting a cold out of ones system. Some of the easiest ones to use are eucalyptus and pine oil. These can be added to the humidifier or bath before bed to sooth and help the little one sleep.

Don't forget the extra hugs and kisses when your little one is sick. . . they can be the best medicine out there.

Also, don't forget to call the pediatrician anytime you have questions or concerns. The doctors expect it and after taking your child to the office five times when you're sure he has an ear infection, just to pay the copay to hear that he is perfect (who did that??), you've earned a few over zealous phone calls to the doctor.

Get well soon!

(All of these remedies work just as well for adults as they do for children, except maybe the bulb syringe, just blow your nose)