Treating Your Baby's Cold

Adapted from the Babycenter article ''Colds"

If your child is younger than three months old, you should call your pediatrician at the first sign of illness, particularly if he has a fever higher than 100.4?F (taken rectally) or a cough. In an older baby, call if you notice any of the following:

Your baby takes a turn for the worse instead of starting to improve after five to seven days, or if cold symptoms last for more than 14 days.
His cough worsens and he's wheezing or gasping. These symptoms could be a sign of pneumonia or respiratory syncytial virus, a relatively common but potentially serious respiratory problem in babies under 12 months.
He cries when sucking during a feeding, or he pulls and rubs his ear. This could be a sign of an ear infection.

Don't feel guilty if your baby does come down with a cold. Sometimes no matter what you do, your child will get one, especially in the first few months of life and if he is exposed to other children. Remember, each time your child comes down with a cold, his immunity is being built up against the thousands of viruses that surround us.

Ways to Comfort Your Infant When He Has a Cold

No medicine will make the virus go away faster, but you can help your baby feel better and prevent the infection from getting worse by making sure he gets plenty of rest and liquids. For babies under six months, that means breast milk or formula only.

Follow your pediatrician's advice and instructions for using saline drops to loosen mucus in your baby's nose.
To remove mucus crusting around the nostrils, roll a moistened cotton swab, such as a JOHNSON'S® Safety Swabs, around the outside opening to remove crusts. Do not insert the swab into the nose. Lubricate the outside of the nostrils with petroleum jelly or DESITIN? Creamy. You can also try JOHNSON'S® SOOTHING NATURALS™ Soothe & Protect Balm, which soothes and helps prevent dryness of the cheeks and face.
Wipe mucus with a moistened cotton pad, such as a JOHNSON'S® Pure Cotton Rounds.
Use a humidifier or vaporizer. Always use a cool air mist to prevent burning from spilled hot water.
Note: don't use nasal sprays on your baby unless your pediatrician says it's okay. They may work temporarily but can cause a rebound effect in which the congestion gets worse with continued use.
Infants become easily dehydrated, so be sure to encourage fluids.
Give your baby a warm (but never a hot) bath to help relieve fever and the general crankiness of a cold. The bath and your touch will help relax both your baby and you. For babies over three months, use a soothing baby cleanser, such as JOHNSON'S? Soothing Vapor Baby Bath, which is enriched with rosemary, eucalyptus and menthol - natural ingredients known for their aromatherapy benefits. JOHNSON'S? Soothing Vapor products can provide a gentle way to comfort babies with colds. If your baby does not have a stuffy nose, you may just want to give him a bath with JOHNSON'S® BEDTIME BATH® to calm and relax him for a more comfortable night of sleep.
Never use pillows to prop up your baby; they could suffocate him. And don't put anything under the legs of the crib because that can make it unstable. Alternatively, consider letting your baby sleep in his car seat in a semi-upright position to help alleviate his stuffy nose.