Baby Talk | How to care for a baby suffering from a cold

Q: Now that cold medications have been taken off the market for babies, what do you do if your baby catches a cold?

A: It really is not a question of "if" your baby will catch a cold as it is "when" your baby catches a cold. The number of colds your baby will have in the first few years averages around 6 to 10 a year. That is because the younger the baby the less developed is the immune system.

There are a few things that you can do to minimize the number of colds. Those things are: keep him away from people that are sick, wash your hands and make sure anyone coming near your baby washes their hands and breastfeed as it boosts the baby's immune system.

There are probably more than a 100 viruses that cause the common cold. The good news is that once your baby has had an infection from a certain virus they may develop immunity to that particular virus.

Dr. George Van Buren, a pediatrician, advises that the symptoms of the cold are what should be treated. If your baby has a runny nose, moist air will help the mucous to keep flowing. Most pediatricians recommend a humidifier in the baby's room at night.

If you are using a humidifier make sure it is far enough away from the baby's crib so that the bedding doesn't become moist. You can also use the hot water from a bath or shower to create a humidifier effect for your baby. With the door to the bathroom closed, turn on the hot water and create a warm moist place.

Of course you should never ever leave your baby alone. So you might think of this time in the bathroom as a dual treatment. It will help your baby and you are giving yourself a facial. You could do this for 10 minutes several times a day. Your pediatrician may also recommend salt water drops in the nose.

A baby's nose is small. If it becomes swollen or full of mucous it can make it hard for him to breathe and eat. The nasal drainage from a cold will usually start out clear and runny, and then become a little thicker. You may also use a bulb suction to remove mucous from his nose. Before you became a mother I am sure you never thought of helping someone else clean out their nose. Now that you are mother you will not hesitate to help your baby get rid of any mucous that might be clogging his nose. Be gentle because you do not want to make the nose swell.

If your baby feels warm, take his temperature. Check with your pediatrician at what temperature they want to be called and where they want the temperature to be taken.

It is always a good idea to call your pediatrician to get their advice on how to handle any symptoms your baby might be experiencing. However if your baby is vomiting, has a stiff neck, has drainage from his ears, is tugging on his ears, is lethargic, has any difficulty breathing, has a cough that is bringing up mucous, a drastically decreased appetite, has decreased urine output, or if the cold is lasting longer than 7 days your pediatrician should be notified immediately.

Being a mother is a demanding job. Not only because babies need you 24/7, but also because when they are sick, you feel helpless. Take care of yourself and stay healthy. That will help keep your baby healthy as well.

Katie Powers, R.N., is a board-certified lactation consultant and perinatal educator at Manatee Memorial Hospital's Family BirthPlace. Contact her at katie.powers@mmhhs.com.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 9:45 PM with the headline "Baby Talk | How to care for a baby suffering from a cold ."