First Time Mum: What to Expect when your Baby has a Cold

When you catch a cold, you can normally handle it on your own, but when your baby’s under the weather, you’ll need to lend a helping hand. Don’t worry though, as there are many different ways to prevent and treat a case of the sniffles. Here’s what to expect…

A grumpy baby

For a mild cold, the thing you want to look out for is an agitated, clingy or restless baby. If your child doesn’t enjoy feeding or sleeping as much as they usually do, then something’s probably up. If you notice this, check for blocked and runny noses, or any other symptoms that you might experience yourself when you’ve got a cold (like sneezing, coughing, tiredness or a slight temperature). Basically, trust your intuition – you’ll know if something isn’t right.

If you spot any of these (or anything else unusual), don’t ever worry about calling your GP or health visitor for a second opinion. They’ll know best. In most cases it’ll just be a simple case of the sniffles and shouldn’t last longer than 3-5 days. Stay calm and don’t start to think you’ve done anything wrong – it’s just a part of those precious first years of growing up.

What can you do?

Thankfully, in most cases a cold isn’t going to cause too much of a fuss (even though your baby might make one), and there are quite a few sure-fire ways of keeping the virus at bay.

Firstly, keep your baby hydrated – it’s a good idea to get slightly more fluid into their body to prevent dehydration and to keep all the airways moist. Go slow, feed little but often and give them lots of cuddles to settle them down.

Then use a saline solution like Snufflebabe Nasal Drops, to clear their nose and help them breathe more easily. According to the instructions, simply squeeze 1 or 2 drops into each nostril and it’ll get to work. If your child is slightly older, you can use Snufflebabe Nasal Spray for an even easier way of clearing their noses. Try it after or during a bath, as the steam will help settle their stuffiness too.

You can also use a nasal aspirator. Snufflebabe’s clever one enables you to suck out any mucus just by placing its nozzle by the opening of the nostril. Once done, give it a clean and it’s ready to use again.

Keep the air in their bedroom clean and healthy, too. Try a humidifier to stop the air becoming too dry and keep your baby’s nose moist. If you want an extra hand for those little nostrils, then you could use some Snufflebabe Vapour Oil to add the calming, antibacterial and decongestant effects of lemon, pine and tea tree oil to the air.

Anything else?

Above are just a few specific ways to keep a cold under control and put your mind at ease. But there’s even more you can do to minimise the risk more generally, like keeping your baby away from sick people or large crowds, making sure people near your baby wash their hands regularly and keeping all your baby’s toys clean. And keep cigarette smoke away, too.

But really, the most important thing is a calm atmosphere. Lots of cuddles, naps, no rushing about – just soothing surroundings to make your baby feel safe and protected. You know your baby best, so you know how best to look after them – all they really want is their mum and you’re the person for the job. If you can, try to put other tasks or worries aside and just focus on your little one for the time being.

And remember, don’t be afraid to ask for help. It can be an overwhelming time, but those closest to you will be happy to lend a helping hand, as will a professional. If problems persist or you notice any other unusual symptoms, then always contact your doctor or health visitor for advice. We all need that extra bit of help once in a while and a professional can give you some much-needed peace of mind.