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Infant Cold & Cough Relief
When a child is sick, parents often feel helpless and are willing and eager to do whatever they can to help him feel better. When an infant has a cough or a cold, there are not many medicinal alternatives available to help relieve his symptoms. There are, however, some simple home remedies that will help ease his discomfort.
Cold Medicines
There is no cure for the common cold. Antibiotics do not work against viral infections and the Federal Drug Administration does not recommend giving cold medications to children under 4 years of age. If your child has a fever, you can give him Tylenol or, if he is 6 months or older, Ibuprofen to help ease any aches or pains and bring down the fever.
Fluids
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It is important to keep your baby hydrated, but it is not necessary to push extra fluids beyond his usual formula or breast milk. However, if your child is willing, cool drinks such as water or diluted apple juice may be soothing. Avoid orange juice since it can irritate a throat that is sore from coughing.
Nasal Relief
Use a saline-based nasal solution to loosen the congestion in your baby's nose. These drops are available over the counter in most pharmacies or grocery stores. You can also use a bulb syringe to gently suction the congestion from your baby's nose.
Moisten the Air
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Using a humidifier in your baby's room can help improve your baby's cold symptoms. Be sure to point the mist away from your baby's crib to keep the bedding from becoming damp and moldy. You can also run your shower and sit with your baby in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes before bedtime to help loosen congestion.
- Using a humidifier in your baby's room can help improve your baby's cold symptoms.
- Be sure to point the mist away from your baby's crib to keep the bedding from becoming damp and moldy.
Call the Doctor
According to the Mayo Clinic, very young infants--under 3 months of age--should be brought to the doctor at the first sign of a cold since they are susceptible to more severe illnesses such as pneumonia or croup 1. If your baby is more than 3 months and has cold symptoms, call the doctor if he has a high temperature, seems to have ear pain, has a cough for more than a week, or has green discharge for more than two weeks.
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References
- Mayo Clinic: Common Cold in Babies
- Kids Health: Your Child's Cough
- American Lung Association. (2019). Facts About The Common Cold.
- Eccles R. Acute cooling of the body surface and the common cold. Rhinology. 2002 Sep;40(3):109-14.
- Johnson C, Eccles R. Acute cooling of the feet and the onset of common cold symptoms. Fam Pract. 2005 Dec;22(6):608-13.
- Fashner J, Ericson K, Werner S. Treatment of the Common Cold in Children and Adults. Am Fam Physician. 2012 Jul 15;86(2):153-59.
- AlBalawi ZH, Othman SS, Alfaleh J. Intranasal ipratropium bromide for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jun 19;(6):CD008231. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008231.pub3
- FDA. (2018). Use Caution When Giving Cough and Cold Products to Kids.
- Poolsup N, Suthisisang C, Prathanturarug S, Asawamekin A, Chanchaereon U. Andrographis paniculata in the symptomatic treatment of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection: systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2004 Feb;29(1):37-45.
- Lizogub VG, Riley DS, Heger M. Efficacy of a pelargonium sidoides preparation in patients with the common cold: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Explore (NY). 2007 Nov-Dec;3(6):573-84.
- Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, Shaffer ML, Duda L, Berlin CM Jr. Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Dec;161(12):1140-6.
- Hemila H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jan 31;(1):CD000980. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4
- Karsch-Volk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K. Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Feb 20;(2):CD000530. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000530.pub3
- Sexton DJ, McClain MT. (2019). The common cold in adults: Treatment and prevention. Hirsch MS, Aronson MD, eds. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate Inc.
Writer Bio
Lisa Weber is a freelance writer/editor and former special education teacher. She has a bachelor's degree in journalism and professional writing, and a master's degree in special education. Over the last 15 years, she has written for a variety of newspapers, magazines, and on-line publications.