What are the best treatments for infant's common colds?

Question

My baby's pedia told me that otc cold drugs just makes common colds dry and stick inside his body.

Answer 1

I have been struggling with my 3 year old having a cold with stuffy nose for almost 2 weeks now, trying all sorts of remedies - today I went back to my old tried and true method of a steam bath. Put a wash cloth in the bottom of a shower with a few drops of essential oil on it (tea tree or lemon is great for kids) and just sit with the baby in your lap, close to the steam outside the running shower and try to get her to breath it in deeply. I also try to rub the sinus areas on the face from nose to the outer edge of the eye to loosen the congestion. 10 or 15 minutes of that and you will see a big improvement. On the first day you might want to do it again just before bed to help baby sleep (but don't use lemon at night, lavendar would be better) and maybe once more the next day - but that always works.

Colloidal Silver is also very popular in our house. I've been taking it this whole time while she is sick and I am fine. I give it to them too in a dropper - 1 or 2 a couple times a day - and then I use it preventatively (1 or 2 droppers before and/or after playdates, playgrounds or classes). Mine was the only kid never sick at Gymboree for a long time!

Peace!

Answer 2

What he really means is that many OTC meds are not designed for babies, and should NEVER be given to them. Not even children's drugs. NEVER. Their little bodies are not made to break down something like that, and it could KILL them. I want you to understand that this is very very very dangerous for your baby, and he could die if you make a bad choice. You doctor just filled you full of crap because he was afraid you may not understand the language he was using. Seriously, do not give your baby anything OTC unless it has been okayed by your baby's doctor.

Here's what you can do to help him. Prop him up during the day in his car seat. That will help him breath with all the congestion. Next, get one of those vapor rub plug ins. Put it in a room next to his, and leave the door open. This will help alleviate some of the congestion.

Give him plenty of fluids. This will help with the mucus. Make sure to use a humidifier in his room, and that will also help him with the congestion. Massage your baby, hold him, and kiss him on the face. You will make antibodies to fight the cold he is carrying, and pass it to him in your breast milk if you are breast feeding. Finally, realize that this too shall pass. Keep up the good work, and good luck.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

Time cures all." That may not always be true, but in the case of the common cold, it's pretty close. Medicine can't cure the common cold, but it can be used to relieve such symptoms as muscle aches, headache, and fever. You can give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight.

However, aspirin should never be given to children younger than 12, and all children and teens under age 19 should avoid aspirin during viral illnesses. Use of aspirin by kids or teens with colds or other viral illness may increase the risk of developing Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can be fatal.

Although you may be tempted to give your child over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants and antihistamines to try to ease the cold symptoms, there's little or no evidence to support that they actually work. In fact, decongestants can cause hallucinations, irritability, and irregular heartbeats in infants and shouldn't be used in children younger than 2 without first consulting a doctor.

Some ways you can help ease cold discomfort include:

saltwater drops in the nostrils to relieve nasal congestion (you can buy these - also called saline nose drops - at any pharmacy)
a cool-mist humidifier to increase air moisture
petroleum jelly on the skin under the nose to soothe rawness
hard candy or cough drops to relieve sore throat (for kids older than 3 years)
a warm bath or heating pad to soothe aches and pains
steam from a hot shower to help your child breathe more easily
But what about chicken soup? There's no real proof that eating this soothing, warm concoction can cure a cold, but sick people have been swearing by it for more than 800 years. Why? Chicken soup contains a mucus-thinning amino acid called cysteine, and some research shows that chicken soup helps control congestion-causing white cells, called neutrophils.

The best plan, though, is not to worry about whether to "feed a cold" or "starve a fever." Just make sure your child eats when hungry and drinks plenty of fluids like water or juice to help replace the fluids lost during fever or mucus production. Avoid giving your child caffeinated beverages, though, which can cause frequent urination and, therefore, increase the risk of dehydration.

When to Call Your Child's Doctor
Your child's doctor won't be able to identify which specific virus is causing your child's cold symptoms, but can examine your child's throat and ears and take a throat culture to make sure the symptoms aren't from another condition that may need specific treatment. (If your child's symptoms get worse instead of better after 3 days or so, the problem could be strep throat, sinusitis, pneumonia, or bronchitis, especially if your child or teen smokes.) Taking a throat culture is a simple, painless procedure that involves brushing the inside of the throat with a long cotton swab. Examining the germs that stick to the swab will help the doctor determine whether your child has strep throat and needs treatment with antibiotics.

If symptoms last for more than a week, appear at the same time every year, or occur when your child is exposed to pollen, dust, animals, or another substance, your child could have an allergy. If your child has trouble breathing or wheezes when he or she catches a cold, your child could have asthma.

You should also see your child's doctor if you think your child might have more than a cold, or if he or she is getting worse instead of getting better.

Also call the doctor if your child has any of these symptoms:

coughing up a lot of mucus
shortness of breath
unusual lethargy/tiredness
inability to keep food or liquids down or poor fluid intake
increasing headache or facial or throat pain
severely painful sore throat that interferes with swallowing
fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39.3 degrees Celsius) or higher, or a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit (38.0 degrees Celsius) or higher that lasts for more than a day
chest or stomach pain
swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck
earache
Like most virus infections, colds just have to run their course. Getting plenty of rest, avoiding vigorous activity, and drinking lots of fluids - juice, water, and noncaffeinated beverages - all may help your child feel better while on the mend.

Keeping up regular activities like going to school probably won't make your child's cold any worse. But it will increase the likelihood that the cold will spread to classmates or friends. So you might want to put some daily routines aside until your child is feeling better.

Answer 5

you should always go by advice of your doctor.

however this is what i use~ tylenol for fever or pain only as needed a vicks vaporizer in the childs room and vicks baby rub on the child's chest. do not use regular vicks as it is too strong, use the baby vicks, it has a pink lid on it.

if the child is over age two, I use the childrens robotussin during the day for cough, tylenol for fever and pain and vicks children's nyquil at nite to help sleep with the cough and the vaporizer in the room.

good luck, and hope your baby gets to feeling better.

Answer 6

common colds are caused by viruses,and for this fact we dont treat the viruses we just treat the symptoms ie,running nose,blocked nose,sneezing.
The effect of the viral infection can wear off after about 1 week.
It is true otc 'dry' the nose but it is a side effect that you have to bear with.

Answer 7

Listen to your pediatrician. The common cold is caused by a virus. It has to run its course. Just do what you can to make the baby comfortable while he/she is getting over it.

One thing to watch for is fever. Babies' fevers can jump very quickly. Ask your doctor if it's OK to give Tylenol (NOT ASPIRIN) and what dosage to give if your baby starts to run a fever.

Answer 8

get a cold mist vaporizer and put it in the the childs room ,rub down the baby with camporated oil nut vicks rub as its to strong for young babys.Take your baby to see the doctor for checkup so he can precribe best for med for your baby.I hope your baby will feel better soon.

Answer 9

Know this isn't answer you are looking for, but you need this as well.

Don't even read the other posters or doctors or nurses or any others in healthcare field as well above or below here and their answers because they are definetly wrong for sure. The reason why is because medical birth hasn't been around since the beginning of time and has been here for since medival, spl times as I think. Personally, I'm not for this kind of birth, but when it is truly a medical necessary and not made up to medical necessary and scaring you and your family, friends, and etc. I know I haven't been pregnant or give birth yet, but that will happen in the future. Since ever subscribing to Mothering Magazines and like how I see things now from the past. Also, I volunteer in Maternity Department at the local hospital by me, so I see, and etc there as well. I recommed you don't show up for your the rest of doctor's appointments or don't consult the doctor or its office or the hospital either pre regisation or admission test or the section, and so on. Definetly don't listen to your dh or any of your family or friends or doctor or others . Definetly get a midwife that's isn't mainstream or stuff like that. Also, please try to breastfeed afterwards because it's it much more better then formula. Breastfeeding as around since the beginning of time and formula was introducted last half century so breastfeeding is way better then formula again. Also, do attactment parenting more then mainstream parenting because again it has been around since beginning of time and not like mainstream parenting when it has been around for at least a century now.

Think thats it and good luck with it.