Are You Preventing Your Baby from Sleeping Through the Night? |  |
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Kids and the Common Cold The common cold is an infection that almost all children catch. Colds are spread easily among children so it is likely you will deal with sneezing and stuffy noses quite often. When babies catch colds they often have trouble eating. This is because babies instinctively breathe through their noses. If your baby can't breathe properly she will not be able to eat and this will probably make her irritable. There are ways to help your baby nurse when she has a cold. When you are ready to feed her you should do a few things first. Lay her down, tilt her head back and squirt a few drops of a saline nasal solution into her nostrils. Then use a suction bulb to suck the moisture out of her nose. This should make it easier for her to breathe and eat.
For toddlers with colds the most difficult thing is sleep. An initial approach to this problem is a humidifier. Run a cool mist vaporizer in your toddler's room at night. Make sure the machine is near the bed so it moistens their skin. Much of the time this is enough to combat a stuffy nose that is making sleep difficult for them. If all else fails try medications. A good thing to remember is that decongestants should not be given to children under two. As with most medications consult your pediatrician first. A cold may slow your child down but you can help them get back on their feet! | ||
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