Over the past couple days Little Miss has come down with her first cold. Being a new dad I had no idea how to take care of a sick baby. Luckily mommy with her years of childcare experience has seen her fair share of boogers. So to help her out I went and searched for a few tips about caring for a sick baby. Most of it is common sense that we all should have. But it doesn’t hurt to refresh the memory:
Caring for a Sick Child
- Fevers. A fever left untreated and unmonitored can be dangerous for babies. Do yourself a favor and invest in a fast, good quality thermometer. You’ll wish you had one when you’re trying to hold down a wiggly baby arm for 30 consecutive seconds. If your baby has a fever, dress them in loose clothing and pat them down with a cool cloth. Depending on your baby’s age you can treat fevers with Tylenol or Motrin. You should seek medical attention if treatment doesn’t bring help bring down the fever or it reaches 105 degrees.
- Follow the BRAT diet. If your baby is old enough to eat solids, the BRAT diet (Bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast) can help calm a bad belly. If she is too young for the brat diet, try and pump her full of fluids to avoid dehydration. Avoid sugary juices and pop as it can make things worse.
- Listen for ear infections. Ear infections are surprisingly common with a cold. If your baby is crying uncontrollably, pulling at their ear, has a fever, and not sleeping she might have an ear infection. Take her to the pediatrician as soon as possible for treatment.
- De-congest the congestion. If your baby is stuffed up, consider suctioning the mucus in their nose. As gross as it may sound, these snot suckers work great. Use a baby safe vapor rub and a humidifier at night to help with the sleeping.
- Cough it all away. We’ve all experience a bad cough that makes your lungs burn and your ribs ache. If your baby has a bad cough, chances are they’re experiencing the same thing. A humidifier works great to break up the mucus in the lungs.
- A warm touch. A sick baby is usually a clingy baby. Sometimes they want nothing more than to be held. A little comfort goes a long way towards a speedy recovery.
What tricks do you have up your sleeve when your child is sick?
Related posts:
