Infant Cold Medicine – Natural Decongestant And Home Remedies
Common Cold Medicines For Infants
The common cold is something that has inconvenienced all of us at some point in time or the other. Although colds are not something serious, they can surely cause a large amount of discomfort, particularly to infants and their parents. On an average, an infant has about eight to ten colds before his or her second birthday.
At present there is no cure or vaccine for the common cold, thus making catching a cold an inevitable part of growing up. A large number of parents prefer resorting to natural methods to relieve their child’s cold symptoms, as compared to using medications such as decongestions and expectorants.
Here are a few simple ways to treat your infant’s cold.
- Use a cool mist humidifier in your baby’s room at night. This will act as an effective decongestant and will ensure that the air stays moist, hence preventing the nasal secretions from drying out.
- Make sure that your baby is drinking a lot of fluids. This will help thin the mucus and make it easy for the baby to expel any secretions. Fluids are also important to make sure that the mucus that builds up does not develop a tougher viscosity, which will cause discomfort due to the difficulty involved in expelling it.
- For older babies (not breast feeding) limit the intake of dairy products for a few days. This is because milk and other dairy products can sometimes cause very thick mucus secretions, which could be difficult for the baby to clear.
- You could create your own steam room by letting your shower run on “hot”. Sit in the bathroom with your baby for about 10 minutes, two to three times a day. This treatment will help loosen some of the congestion. Please remember not to leave your baby unattended or under the shower at any given time.
- Keep your baby in a semi upright or upright position. This will encourage nasal drainage.
- Home made saline (salt and water) nose drops are good for thick and dry nasal secretions. There are also a large number of brands that cater specifically to children. You could get your pediatrician to suggest an appropriate brand for you.
As a result of your child being young, there are only a few home remedies that should be tried out safely. Please remember to always consult a pediatrician if your baby’s condition does not improve and the cold persists.
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