The weather is getting colder, will your baby catch a cold accidentally? Get Home Care Tips √

Autumn is the season when babies are most prone to colds. Recently, many babies have developed cold symptoms due to changes in temperature, or have persistent coughs, or have fevers and runny noses, which makes mothers feel pain both in their eyes and in their hearts. Parents may always rush to the hospital if their baby has a cold or fever, thinking that if they are sick, they must see a doctor and get injections and medicine! In fact, for ordinary or mild colds, pediatric experts say that daily care + local treatment is the main method. Taking medication easily may cause greater side effects! In addition, the most typical colds can be divided into runny colds, fever colds, cough colds, sore throat colds, etc. based on the accompanying symptoms such as runny nose, fever, and cough. ▎Colds with different symptoms require different care methods: 1. Cold + runny nose ● At the beginning of a cold, there will be white clear nasal discharge, which then turns yellow, and nasal congestion, sneezing, and slight fever will appear. Babies who often suffer from this kind of cold are physically sensitive or relatively weak in the respiratory system, and a large number of viruses active in dry air are also the cause of this kind of cold, so attention should be paid to adjusting the indoor humidity. ● The runny nose at this stage is actually a process of eliminating viruses. Mothers don’t need to be too nervous, just wipe them off for the baby. But be careful to use gentle and slow movements when helping your baby to suck the nose. ● When the baby has a runny nose, the mother can block one nostril of the baby and take turns blowing the nose. Do not pinch your nose hard to blow it, as this may cause otitis media. 2. Cold + nasal congestion. Because the air in autumn is relatively dry and can easily irritate the nasal mucosa, the baby will feel more uncomfortable after the nasal congestion. ● At this time, the mother can adjust the indoor humidity by using a wet towel or using a humidifier. Or use emery cloth or towel dipped in wet water to gently cover the baby\’s nose, which will make breathing easier. ● If the baby\’s nasal mucus is very dry, sticky and thick, you need to use a small moist cotton swab to help the baby moisten the dry nasal mucus and get it out. ● Mothers can also use saline drops or sprays to clean the baby\’s nasal cavity. It is also best to use salt water when nasal congestion affects breathing (such as mouth breathing) or before feeding the baby. Saline drops can be purchased at pharmacies or DIY. 3. Cold + Cough: After catching a cold, the baby will often cough violently. Babies expel bad bacteria and viruses that have invaded the body through coughing, so don\’t deliberately stop them when they cough. ● If the cough is severe, you may feel pain in your chest and difficulty breathing. At this time, help your baby to stabilize his mood. ● Most coughs are acute coughs caused by cold viruses and other infections. They usually get better naturally after 2 weeks. If your baby\’s cough lasts for more than 1 week, please go to the hospital to check if there are other reasons. ● When the cough is severe and affects sleep, gently pick up the baby\’s upper body and put some quilts under the body, so that the cough symptoms will be relieved. ● If the baby coughs with phlegm, the mother can also use a humidifier. If you don\’t have a humidifier, you can use steam from a warm shower room. But be careful not to use hot water as it may cause burns. You can also give your baby a pat on the back appropriately: use a hollow palm, use a certain amount of force, not too lightly, and do not be too impatient. Avoid patting on the back just after eating milk. If the baby is accompanied by sore throat and irritating dry cough: ◆ Less than 3Month-old baby: It is recommended to see a doctor. ◆ 6 months to 1 year old: clear warm liquid (such as water or apple juice). When coughing, take 5-15ml 4 times a day. ◆ 1 to 6 years old: honey, 2-5ml each time. If honey is not available, cereal syrup can be substituted. Studies have shown that honey is more effective than cough syrup in reducing the onset and severity of nighttime coughs. 4. Cold + Fever A cold usually starts with a fever. After the baby catches a cold, he rarely moves, loses appetite, and starts to have a fever. Sometimes he has a high fever, and after a while he has a low fever, over and over again. This means that the baby is fighting the virus in order to resist the cold, so there is no need to worry if there is no cough. ● As soon as the baby has a fever, some mothers take him to the hospital. However, the measures taken by the hospital are only to lower the body temperature and provide infusion. What the mother has to do is to observe the baby\’s fever every hour, encourage the baby to drink water or milk in small amounts and frequently, and take good care of it at home. ● If the baby\’s temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees, you can give the child antipyretic drugs + physical cooling (drinking more water, hot baths, warm and wet compresses, etc.). Mothers must remember that antipyretics can work only if the body is adequately hydrated. Therefore, ensuring adequate fluid intake is crucial to reducing fever! ● If you have a fever and are accompanied by severe cough, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, difficulty breathing, etc., seek medical attention at any time. ☞Tips: When do you need to take your baby to see a doctor? 1. High fever, body temperature ≥39°C; 2. Low-grade fever lasting for 72 hours; 3. Fever with ear pain and sore throat; 4. Nasal secretions turning green or pus-like; 5. Cold symptoms, wheezing and shortness of breath. Or difficulty breathing; 6. Difficulty breathing: Nostrils are inflamed, and the skin on the clavicle, between the ribs, and the sternum is sunken downward when breathing; 7. The lips, nail beds, and even skin turn blue or purple; 8. Changes in mental status: drowsiness or crying Noisy; 9. Cough that lasts for more than 1 week; nasal discharge that lasts for 10-14 days; 10. The baby is less than 3 months old. Rather than waiting until your baby catches a cold and worrying, mothers should take more precautions. Therefore, on weekdays, parents may wish to take their babies to do some outdoor sports instead of staying indoors all the time; both family members and babies should remember to wash their hands frequently to avoid the invasion of germs; indoors should maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, and be ventilated frequently to keep the air Fresh; add more water and vitamin C to your baby to meet the body\’s needs and enhance resistance.