I’m back again with my Almost Wordless Wednesday. We skipped last week and almost skipped this week again, but Mommy and I wanted to give a few tips since I was sick over the weekend. Yes, I had a temperature of 103.1 degrees F and a very nasty cold. Thank goodness for Boogie Wipes.
Signs and symptoms:
There are a few things that you need to be on the lookout for. A very high fever is one of them. If your baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher, call your doctor immediately. Between ages 3 and 6 months, a temperature of 101 degrees F and older than 6 months, a temperature of 103 degrees F or higher. Keep a thermometer on hand. Mommy uses one that’s in-ear, but there are the forehead scanners as well. The most accurate reading, though, is in the bum, but this can be a pain to do since babies tend to squirm around a lot.
You may also notice that your little one is sleeping more than usual, has a loss of appetite, coughs, is unusually fussy, and might even have diarrhea and vomiting. Your baby may also be pale and flushed and may even have difficulty breathing. I sure was. I started off having a hard time breathing, then my nose became so runny I was always wiping.
I was also sneezing all the time. Thankfully, I never had any vomiting or diarrhea, but some babies do experience that as well.
If your baby has any of these symptoms, it’s best to call the doctor and find out what you should do. They may tell you to come in for a checkup or they may give you instructions over the phone. My doctor told Mommy to bring me in right away since I was so young and my temperature was so high.
Treatment:
There isn’t much that can be done for a cold, but there are some things that can help make your baby more comfortable.
There are a few things that you may want to keep on hand at all times. As most of you know by now, my mommy is a Medic in the US Army, so she always keeps a few things on hand for me, so there is no need for me to go rushing to the ER.
One thing that is always kept in our medicine cabinet is Children/Infant Tylenol (Acetaminophen) and Children/Infant Motrin (Ibuprofen). They can be given together, but not at the same time. Ibuprofen is stronger than Acetaminophen and is recommended to be given every 6 hours, while you can give Acetaminophen every 4 hours. It should be given according to the baby’s weight, and always follow your doctor’s directions. Never overdose, EVER!
Keep baby cool and, if possible, give a cool, not cold, hot, or warm bath to keep the baby’s temperature under control. Mommy uses a lavender baby wash for me, which not only smells good but is really good when I have a cold. There are lots of lavender products out there on the market, but mommy and I prefer using natural products, so we use Babo Botanicals
Well, what do you do about the runny nose and the congestion?
First of all, if your baby is having difficulty breathing, make sure their nose is clear. You can use a bulb syringe to suction out any mucus. This will help your baby breathe a little easier.
It’s also a great idea to have a humidifier or vaporizer in your toddler or child’s room, which would help to prevent the mucus from drying out. Moisture also helps to loosen the mucus, making it easier for your baby to expel.
There are also some great home remedies that can help. One is using a little bit of breastmilk in each nostril. It sounds gross, but it really does help. Another is using a saline spray or drops to help clear the nasal passages.
You could also make a simple saline solution by mixing 1/4 teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of water and using a clean cotton ball to apply it inside each nostril.
If you don’t have any breastmilk on hand, you could also use some expressed milk, or even water will work in a pinch. You just want to make sure that whatever you use moistens the inside of the nostril and helps to loosen and expel any mucus.
Mommy also uses these homeopathic cold tablets, which taste really good as well, and they seem to work for us. It might not work for you, but it does for me. She also uses Vicky Baby Rub, which helps with my congestion as well.
Don’t forget to keep the baby hydrated, whether it’s with water, Pedialyte, or even their favorite juice. Encourage the baby to drink. It is also important to make sure that the baby is getting enough rest and sleep. This will help them heal faster.
It’s flu season and it’s recommended that you get your baby vaccinated with the flu shot. It’s actually recommended for babies ages 6 months and up, and I got it last year and will once again get it this year. This is again a choice for you, since some moms decide not to vaccinate their children, but mommy does.
Once again, these methods may not work for you. If you think that something is terribly wrong with your little one, call your doctor. After all, you are with your little one on a daily basis and will recognize when something isn’t right.
Hopefully, these tips will help you if you ever have a sick toddler on your hands. Just remember to take it one day at a time and that this too shall pass.