Britt Raborn

It is that time of year when babies and small children are most prone to getting sick with a cold or other respiratory infections. This is no fun for baby or mama. Most pediatricians will tell you there is not much you can do for baby since most medicines aren’t suggested for babies until they are 2 years old. That is a tough pill to swallow for mama and baby. When you realize your baby does have his/her first cold, you will be searching aimlessly for ways to care for baby. Hopefully this list of essentials for surviving baby’s cold will help those mama’s caring for sick babies.

Infants’ Motrin
It is nice to be able to give this each night to help with any sinus pressure and alleviate pains from the  cold. Most babies can run a low grade fever, so this is nice to have on hand, especially in the middle of the night. Always follow the recommended dosage from your pediatrician.

Rectal Thermometer
I know no parent wants to use one of these on their baby, but it IS the most accurate and you will worry less wondering if the thermometer was accurate.
You may want to consult your doctor if your baby’s temp is:
103 for 6 months
101 for 3-6 months
100 for 0-3 months

Honest Chest Rub
It is organic and is a lifesaver for babies who are congested. Rub on baby’s feet and cover with socks to help give baby more relief and help them breathe easier.

Humidifier
These are great for all times of the year, but are SO helpful when baby is sick and congested. The best environment for a baby with a cold is warm and humid. A mobile electric heater may also be useful to put in the room if you have one.

Boogie Wipes
These wipes are wonderful. They are super soft and have saline in them. Babies noses are so sensitive, so it is nice to know that these soft wipes aren’t so harsh on their nose. These wipes arealso helpful in keeping little noises moist and non irritated.
The wipes are fairly large, so I suggest halving them to get more use out of them. 

Little Noses Saline Mist
Whenever baby’s nose is dry, spray some in their nose to help break up mucus. Be sure to have an aspirator after to suck out the liquid from the mist afterwards.

Nosefrida
A MUST for any new mom.  You never get any in your mouth, so no worries. You can actually see what you are getting out and can suck harder to pull out the snot. I know, this is so gross to think about, but when your baby can’t breathe you will do everything to help them. Also, the Electric Nasal Aspirator is very convenient if you want to give it a try. It is much easier to use than the Nosefrida, but the suction works the best in suctioning all of the mucus.

Baby Aquaphor
Apply this to baby’s nose every night before bed and randomly throughout the day to prevent it from getting red and irritated.

I hope no mama has to go through this, but it really is something we all go through at some point, so I hope this little list helps any of you who are wondering what else you can do to help out your baby during this vulnerable time when they need you most. But, most importantly, snuggle that baby and love on them as much as you can because they just want you for comfort.