An Ultimate Guide to Cough and Colds in Babies

Although all infants have been immune to sickness to some extent since their birth, getting to a stage where they have fully mature immunity is going to take a while. In the meantime, they can get infected fairly easily with viruses due to their high level of vulnerability which is why colds in babies arise in the first place. 

A cold can happen in an infant anytime. The likelihood of developing colds might rise if your baby hangs out with other elder kids. Your infant can catch a cold up to ten times a year in their first two years.      

Here we have compiled an ultimate guide to cough and colds in babies. It is made up of all important things and FAQs you need to know regarding cold and cough in babies. 

What causes cold and cough in babies? 

Here are factors that bring about cough and cold in babies: 

• Airborne viruses and viruses on hard surfaces 

• Babies’ own tactile activities with other older children and adults 

Does banana cause cold and cough in babies? 

Bananas do not cause cough and cold in babies but if your baby already caught a cold and cough then they can worsen it because it is a fruit that can form mucus. 

Severe cold and cough in babies   

If your baby has severe cough and cold with symptoms such as vomiting or labored breathing then he or she needs to stay in the hospital.  

How to cure cold and cough in babies 

The treatment of cold and cough in babies can be done in three key avenues, namely, drug-free home remedies, cough and cold medicine from drug stores and doctor’s advice coupled with prescribed medicine. If you are in a situation of cough and cold in babies under 2 years old, you are advised to avoid over-the-counter medicine and go with the drug-free method first. If the cold and cough symptoms still persist or even become worse after a few days, then you need to take your baby to a doctor.    

Natural home remedies for cold and cough in babies 

The home remedies for cold and cough in newborn babies include:  

• Provide Your Baby with Some Saline Nasal Drops 

You can purchase these over-the-counter nasal drops at a pharmacy. Saline drops when used with a nasal syringe or nose blowing can soften mucus to help remove it. 

You are advised to follow the instructions on the bottle to administer the nasal drops safely. 

• Keep Your Baby Hydrated 

Due to the water’s ability to fight illness and keep airways moist and strong, give your baby one serving of water for each year of their life. For instance, if you have a one year old baby, then give him or her at least one serving of water per day. Give two servings per day if you have a two year old child. 

If your baby denies drinking milk or eating, provide him or her with water at least every hour or two but keep in mind that do this if they only want to. No pushing. 

• Give Your Baby Some Honey 

Consuming honey can help your baby fight infection and bacteria. However, if your baby is younger than one year old then do not apply it as your baby can develop botulism poisoning with the honey consumption.  

If your child is older than one year of age, then feel free to offer him or her a spoonful of honey as many times as you like. However, be careful of the amount of sugar intake your baby is going to get. 

• Lift Your Baby’s Head While Sleeping 

When it comes to cold and cough for 1.5 year old baby, raising the head while sleeping is something you should consider as babies of this age should not sleep without any pillows, especially if your baby is likely to move around pretty much while sleeping.  

Below are unconventional ways you can treat cough and cold in babies at home: 

• Mustard oil for cold and cough in babies 

Mustard oil helps relieve the nasal congestion for your baby. You can heat it with a few pods of garlic and use it on the chest of your baby. This can somewhat serve as a shield against cough and cold in babies. Another option would be to add basil leaves instead to get the same result. 

• Tulsi leaves for cold and cough in babies  

Try mixing tulsi leaves with either water or milk. Soak them for more than an hour feed the water in sips to your baby. Keep in mind that this remedy is for only children who at least two years old. 

• Eucalyptus oil for cold and cough in babies  

Eucalyptus oil is a safe essential oil for babies and is great for removing nasal congestion but note that you need to ask your doctor first before applying eucalyptus oil to your infant for health and safety purposes. 

• Ajwain for cold and cough in babies  

Several ways you can use ajwain seeds to relieve your baby’s cold and cough include a mixture of gur (jaggery) and ajwain, ajwain potli, ajwain seeds infused mustard oil for massage and ajwain water.    

All of the above Ayurvedic remedies for cold and cough in babies are great if your baby is over 2 years old. Always keep in mind that you need to consult your pediatrician for safety first before using any of the Ayurvedic medicine above.  

• Cold and cough medicine for babies 

According to the Food and Drug Administration, you are advised to avoid giving over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for cold and cough in 2 year old baby or younger. It can be dangerous to these babies as they have not developed sufficient immunity for the OTC medicine yet.  

• Children’s tylenol cold and cough dosage 

If your child has not reached 6 years of age and has a cold or cough, you can give him or her children’s cough and cold medicine such as single-ingredient pain relievers and fever reducers. An example would be Infants’ and Children’s Tylenol.  

Will cold and cough affect baby during pregnancy? 

Typically, catching a cold while pregnant will not impact your baby because colds are mild ailments and can be easily dealt with by the immune system.  

Despite that, your temperature and infections can have an effect on your baby. Whenever you have a fever or other kinds of infections, do consult your doctor at once to cope with these medical conditions before it becomes too serious to handle.  

Takeaway 

On the whole, viruses are a key cause for colds in babies. Despite becoming more immune from drinking milk from their mother’s breasts, infants can still catch colds. 

In fact, colds and coughs are not a heavy burden but they can possibly transform into more harmful diseases. As a consequence, visiting your pediatrician’s is vital especially if your infant has not reached the age of 2 months yet and particularly if they are having a high fever.