Babies and the common cold
Caring for a newborn baby with a cold can be hard for a parent, as you may watch your little one struggle to breathe and feed. It can be upsetting, but the common cold is not usually dangerous. This mild ailment usually clears up all by itself in a week or so.
Whilst mild, they tend to be fairly frequent, especially in their first year. Colds in babies are all too common because they have little resistance to infection. However, as their immune system develops and strengthens, they become less prone to catching colds.
Baby cold symptoms
Babies with colds may have the telltale runny nose, possibly combined with a high temperature, sore throat and a headache. It is hard to determine for sure, because younger babies cannot tell you that their head or throat hurts. More concrete symptoms of a cold in babies are quite often red eyes, a cough, restlessness and an irritable mood.
In any case you can be sure that babies with colds do not feel well and will make sure that you know it!
How to deal with it
Most over-the-counter cold remedies are not suitable for children under the age of six years, and often comfort, adequate rest, fluids and nutrition are all that is required. In the meantime there are lots of ways to help ease the symptoms through infant analgesics, such as Nurofen for Children*. It relieves cold and flu symptoms and starts to work in just 15 minutes to relieve any associated fever and lasts for up to eight hours.
If your baby is less than three months' old and catches a cold, it is best to visit your GP or paediatrician.
Wash your hands!
Babies catch colds through airborne or hand-to-hand contact. As with any contagious viruses, prevention is better than the cure. So, when someone who has a cold sneezes or touches a baby's favourite toy, they can pass it on to the baby.
The key thing is basic hygiene. Lots of hand-washing with antibacterial soap will cut down chances of contact contamination. Covering your mouth when sneezing is just as essential, again washing your hands afterwards.
* Nurofen for Children Orange singles and Nurofen for Children Strawberry singles. Contains ibuprofen. Always read the label.
Caring for a baby with a cold
- Nurofen for Children* relieves cold and flu symptoms
- Aim to prevent colds –cover your mouth when you sneeze and wash your hands! Tell others to do the same
- Babies under three months showing signs of a cold should see their GP / paediatrician
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