Tips for Treating Colds in Children

Having a cold can be miserable for anyone, particularly children. We can not make a cold just go away, but as parents we can find the best possible ways to make our children comfortable. Your first reaction may be to look for medications to treat your child's cold symptoms. However, recent research and information from the Food & Drug Administration indicates that children under the age of six should not take over the counter cold medications. These drugs are generally ineffective, and dosing them is very tricky and not well documented. It is best to try other measures of treating cold symptoms. Here are some tips for treating colds in children:

1. Lots of fluids are important for treating colds. Fluids will help soothe a sore throat and thin the mucous that clogs nasal passages. Staying well hydrated is vital, especially if the cold has affected the child's appetite and he or she is not eating much.

2. Saline nasal spray will help keep nasal passages moisturized and will help loosen mucous that is interfering with breathing freely. Spray the saline solution into each nostril as directed on the bottle, then let it stay in there for about a minute. Then you can use a nasal bulb syringe to suction out the mucous. Older children may be able to blow their noses themselves.

3. Vaporizers or humidifiers are also helpful in keeping nasal passages and bronchial tubes moisturized. Try using these especially at night in your child's room.

4. Menthol rubs, such as Vick's VapoRub, can really help with coughing and stuffy noses. Rub generously on your child's chest and neck, and dress him or her in a loose-fitting shirt. There is also a Vick's BabyRub recommended for children under the age of two. These rubs can be very soothing, particularly at bedtime when coughing tends to be worse because the child is lying down.

5. Prop your child up on pillows when you put him or her to bed. Being propped up will often make breathing easier and alleviate coughing. For infants, you can put a pillow under one end of the crib mattress to prop up the mattress itself. Infants under the age of one should never be put to sleep directly on a pillow.

6. Vitamin supplements are a good idea if your child is not eating well during a cold. You can help build up the immune system and provide your child with nutrients by giving a multivitamin.

A typical cold will usually run its course in 7 to 10 days. If your symptoms persist beyond this period of time, you should call your child's doctor. You should also call the doctor if your child has a fever for several days, or if the symptoms are so severe that your child is getting little or no relief from the above remedies. Colds are viral infections, so antibiotics will not help. However, sometimes secondary infections that are bacterial will develop and may need to be treated by a doctor. Do your best to use these tips to make your child comfortable, but do not hesitate to call your child's doctor if you feel like you need something more.