All babies get colds — eight or more a year is normal, mostly concentrated in the winter months, which means it's quite common to feel your child is never free of a cough or cold.
Even more frustratingly, children with coughs and colds are almost always most unwell in the middle of the night. This is partly because when they lie down, the mucus trickles to the back of their throats and makes them cough.
So for most parents, coughs and colds are an occupational hazard of parenthood. The tips below will help you deal with most of the symptoms. They will also tell you when you need to get medical help urgently. If your baby doesn't have any of the warning signs below, you're better off avoiding the GPs' surgery. Instead, contact your pharmacist, who can offer invaluable advice and a wide selection of remedies (see below). Above all, don't let your baby's cold ruin your enjoyment of this precious, and very short-lived time.
Should My Child See a Doctor?
The signs and symptoms that your doctor will look for to decide if treatment is needed are your child:
- has a high fever (above 39° C)
- has difficulty breathing, is breathing very fast or grunting when they breathe
- has a temperature, but the skin of their hands and feet feels cold and clammy
- has a purply-red rash that doesn't fade when you press a glass tumbler against it
- turns blue or very pale (in a dark-skinned baby check the palms of the hands) or seems floppy
- is unusually drowsy or hard to wake
The NHS has a wide range of information on coughs.
NHSCoughs »
How to Help My Child
The following are helpful tips in dealing with a child's cold or cough:
- colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria. That means antibiotics won't help, and they can have side effects
- most colds get better on their own in 5 to 7 days
- snuffles in babies can be treated with normal saline nose drops, cotton buds or a nasal sucker (ask your pharmacist)
- try and ensure your baby gets as much fluid as possible. Don't forget that your baby will lose fluid through their skin when they have a fever
- a pillow or blanket under the head end of your baby's mattress may help your snuffly baby to breathe more easily
Key points for coughs
- Never smoke in the house
- Coughing may sound distressing, but it does serve a purpose. As long as your child doesn't have the warning signs above, coughing serves to clear mucus away from your baby's throat and chest.
- Cough mixtures rarely help, and should usually be avoided in children under 1 year old anyway
- Coughing is very rarely worrying if your baby or child is feeding and breathing normally
- You can treat coughs very effectively with steam. A flat bowl of warm water placed on the radiator overnight, or a kettle boiled in your baby's room (well out of baby's reach!) can be very useful. If your child is disturbed or distressed by coughing at night, give him a sauna. Fill the bath up with really steamy water (much to hot for either of you to touch) until the bathroom is steamed up. Sit in the bathroom with your child for up to half an hour.
How to Bring Down a Fever
- Check the temperature of your baby's room. It should between 16° and 20° C. You should be comfortable wearing light clothing. Ideally, invest in a nursery thermometer.
- Strip your child off to his nappy or pants and vest
- Cover your child with a sheet if necessary, but not with blankets
- Cool the room down by opening a window or using a fan. Don't worry about draughts – overheating your child is far more likely to do harm
- Sponge your child down with tepid (not cold) water
- Give paracetamol at the correct dose (ask your pharmacist)
- If your child is over 1 year, they can usually have ibuprofen as well as paracetamol (ask your pharmacist)
- Try and make sure your child takes plenty of fluids