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.




Having a shower for second baby used to be considered... Read More
Baby furniture can be made up of many different pieces... Read More
When I had my firstborn I thought I new everything... Read More
You have made the decision to grow your own vegetables.... Read More
The idea of using potty dolls to potty train toddlers... Read More
It's a fact of life that we live in an... Read More
Throwing a baby shower for grandma could be a great... Read More
Having a baby is one of the most amazing things... Read More
For years, we have been taught that 13 is an... Read More
Buying educational toys for infants can be difficult, because infants... Read More
Today one of the biggest trends in naming is choosing... Read More
To be precise, anything can happen anytime as long as... Read More
How Can We Help Children Learn about Character?Children learn about... Read More
Imagine sitting your baby in your lap and reading a... Read More
You have just learned that you are expecting a bundle... Read More
Did you waste $57 today? I hope not. Unfortunately, so... Read More
Decorating a nursery for your new baby can be a... Read More
Sooner or later, your new baby will develop a fever.... Read More
With you or without you, your baby will be learning... Read More
It's one of the few things your child can do... Read More
After reading several books about potty training (my son was... Read More
Every parent knows the calming effects on their baby of... Read More
Choosing a baby name for your new born can be... Read More
Decorating a baby nursery can be one of the most... Read More
Gift for Dads: The mom is always on the limelight... Read More
There is nothing more fun than getting your baby used... Read More
I'm sure you have heard some of the debate surrounding... Read More
There are many whimsical, fun baby room themes if you... Read More
When children start to walk more steadily, run, push, pull,... Read More
It doesn't make sense does it? You do everything possible... Read More
One of the first decisions we make is if we... Read More
When choosing and buying baby clothes, parents can be faced... Read More
The best birth announcement is both practical and sentimental. Welcome... Read More
Sheepskin offers unique advantages as an underlay for babies. One... Read More
Your Gemini Baby..May 21 - June 20Gemini children are lively... Read More
It's one of the few things your child can do... Read More
In this article you will be provided with information about... Read More
1. Give your child a spray bottle of water and... Read More
For years, we have been taught that 13 is an... Read More
Are YOUR Stuffed Animals DIRTY?Stuffed animals and dollies can lead... Read More
Using baby shower checklist-hostess are the best way to stay... Read More
1) BRAINSTORMIt is a good idea to pick a baby... Read More
So, you are thinking about potty training your toddler and... Read More
When is it that I should start teaching my baby?... Read More
Baby Shower for Moms who just wanna have fun! This... Read More
For ages caring parents have carried their babies with them... Read More
Baby poems and baby shower poems can express any sentiment.... Read More
As new parents, we all want what's best for our... Read More
Besides the fact that they were built to do so,... Read More
Limit the time you allow your child to use a... Read More
Answering Service ResourceAnswering Service Resource |