I know that
feeling where your baby wakes up screaming in the middle of night with a fever,
tons of mucous and the most heart breaking “I don’t feel good” cry. I’ve been
there. When you get ready to give birth and bring your baby home, most people don’t
plan for when they get sick. Yes, you have a humidifier, thermometer and nasal
aspirator. But do you really know handle this? When babies get sick, it comes
on fast, there are no warning signs, or things leading up to it. It will just happen
sometimes when you least expect it. My advice it to be prepared. Whether you
are pregnant, or have a little one who hasn’t had a cold, or has and it really
rough on the both you, be prepared for when the next time comes around.
This is a
list of Must Haves Items for Babies 1st Cold! Trust me, you should
make sure you have everything on this list, so you won’t wake up at 3am and
need to run out for some fever medicine. I have also, included a list of Tips
for Surviving Babies 1st Cold, so check that out too!
1. Pedialyte: Babies get dehydrated fast
when they run a fever or have diarrhea. They will also have a very small appetite
and might not want to eat food, or even drink milk. Try to keep a bottle of
this on hand at all times. Remember, that it doesn’t stay good for long after
its open!
2. Fever Wipes: This is just an alternative
product to a wet wash cloth that you could hold onto your baby’s head to keep
them cool when a fever strikes.
3. Boogie Wipes: I love these! They are
grape scented, saline covered wipes and will get off all that dried on snot off
your baby’s face!
4. Baby Cold Rub: This will help your baby
to breathe better, and to clear out their stuffy noses!
5. Fever Reducer Medicine: ALWAYS keep
this stocked at your house. Make sure you have an accurate dosing chart, I
recommend printing one out, verifying it with your Pediatrician’s office and
keeping on hand for middle of the night fevers!
6. Thermometer: Make sure you know what
your baby’s temperature is and watch for it to go up. You may want to call your
Pediatrician or take your baby to the ER if it gets too high (I’ve done it!).
7. Vaseline: this has multiple uses, but
if you take your child temperature rectally, this is a must!
8. Humidifier: this is a must! It will
keep the moisture in the air and help you baby to breath better and to loosen
up mucous in their nose. You can even buy the vapor blocks to go into the
water, check with your Pediatrician that your baby is old enough before using
it.
9. Johnson’s Soothing Vapor Bath: when all
else fails to get baby to rest or calm down, give them a bath. This vapor bath
wash, will help you baby breathe easier and get their noses clean!
10. Nasal Aspirator: the picture looks like the generic one a hospital
will give you, but there are many different kinds to buy. This is the one I
prefer. You might have to clean your baby’s nose out every few minutes, but
that’s ok.
11. Saline Spray: Make sure you use this
with the nasal aspirator to loosen up mucous in your baby’s nose; it will get
their nose clean faster by using this!
12 Tips for Surviving
Baby’s 1st Cold
1. Stay Calm: It
is hard for any parent to see their baby sick. Try to stay calm and focus just
on getting them better. Know that you are prepared and that this won’t last
long.
2. Know When to
Call the Doctor: Check their fever often, if it won’t go down or keeps
rising with medicine, call your doctor. Call if your baby starts vomiting or
has diarrhea. Call if your baby is under 6 months old. Go to the ER if your
baby has trouble breathing or an extremely high fever.
3. Treat Fevers:
If your baby has a fever, give the right dosage of fever reducer. I
recommend printing out a chart with the correct dosages on it. You can also use
a cool wash cloth or use fever wipes to put on their fore heads.
4. Clean Out
Their Nose: Do this often! Sometimes, you might have to do it every few
minutes. Clean their nose out before giving them a bottle or trying to put them
to sleep, they won’t eat or sleep if they can’t breathe well threw their nose.
5. Use
Humidifier: Put this in their room to help them breathe better when they
sleep. You might have to go fill it up while their still asleep.
6. Keep Them
Comfortable: Dress them in light
clothing. There is no need to keep their room extremely warm. Just make sure
they are comfortable. If you normally cover them with a blanket or rock them
with a blanket, continue to do that. It will make your baby feel more secure
and comfortable.
7. Keep Them
Hydrated: Babies tend to have a low appetite when they are sick, make sure
they are at least drinking milk. If they refuse to drink milk try pedilyte and
call your Doctor.
8. Sit In A
Steamy Bathroom: If your baby is fussy, try to sit in the bathroom with the
hot water going. It will calm your baby down and help to clear out their noses.
Do this for 15-20 minutes before putting them to sleep, if you have had trouble
getting them to sleep.
9. Give Them a
Bath: a lukewarm bath will help your child start to feel better. They may
even want to splash and play.
10. Prop Up
Their Bed: When a baby has a stuffy nose, they can breathe easier at an
angle. So prop up some comforters UNDERNEATH the mattress, NEVER in the crib
with the baby. Make sure it is enough of an angle to help their breathing, but
not too much where
11. Let Them
Cuddle With You: Babies need their Mommies when they’re sick! Spend as much
time as they need cuddling and rocking them.
12. Don’t
Spread the Germs: If you have other kids or other babies, make sure they
aren’t around the sick baby. Limit visitors and going out with the baby, you
don’t want to pick up new germs or spread your baby’s germs to another baby!
Great Post! I loved all of it! I recommend having Pedilyte, it really helped my little girl! :)
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