Tips and Tricks for Wellness; Baby and Toddler Colds
This cold and flu season is unlike any we’ve seen for pediatric illness. Emergency Departments are overwhelmed, and pediatric beds in hospitals are sparse. Supportive home care is more important than ever to keep your babies well and out of the hospital! Here are some tips and tricks to help you through this season’s colds:
STEAM!- Steam has so many benefits! It thins mucous so little ones can clear it up and out. Give your kiddo a nice, warm bath with bathroom fan off and door closed, or steam the bathroom up with a hot shower, and stand in the room (not in the hot shower), allowing your child to inhale the steamy air for five minutes or so. (Directly putting steam in a child’s face is NOT RECOMMENDED as it can cause burns.)
Humidify- A steam humidifier in your child’s bedroom will help keep that mucous thin throughout the night. Steamed water is all they need, so if you’ve never tried eucalyptus, menthol, and other vapor oils, the middle of an illness is not a good time to start, since even mild reactions can cause increased inflammation of airways.
Clear the nose!- Keeping the nose clear of mucous helps to prevent ear and sinus infections, pneumonia, and keeps your baby breathing normally. If your toddler is a good nose blower, meaning they can blow all the mucous out so you no longer hear the mucous gurgling behind their nose, encourage them to blow every time you hear the dreaded mucous rumble or see a runny nose, before meals, and before bed and naptime. With infants and toddlers who are not great blowers yet, use a nose suction device such as the Fridababy NoseFrida® before sleep times and meals and as needed. If possible, time nose clearing for after spending time in steamy air- you’ll get more bang for your blow!
Honey (for children 1 year and older) and warm fluids- Honey relieves sore throats from post-nasal drip and has been shown to decrease inflammation. Warm fluids thin mucous resting in the upper airways. In our house we mix honey and warm water as a nighttime remedy for colds before bed.
Percussion (for children without chronic respiratory illness)- If your little one just can’t seem to cough up the mucous in their lungs, percussion can sometimes do the trick! Best done in combination with steam to really help loosen mucous. Any sort of light, but firm, rapid tapping of the upper and middle back will help. What we do: While your child is sitting upright, support their upper body with your non-dominant arm, curl your dominant hand into a fist, and using the broad edge of your palm, firmly but gently tap on your child’s upper back, rapidly and repeatedly. (Similar to a light massage.) Percussion should never be painful; if your child shows signs of distress, stop immediately.
Positioning- For toddlers who sleep with a pillow, adding an extra pillow for bedtime to keep their head above their chest helps drain mucous and prevent overnight coughing.
Hydrate- Frequently encourage your child to drink additional water; as much as they can tolerate! Extra fluids in children really helps to thin that mucous!
Rest!- The most important thing for sick kids is sleep. Let them sleep as long as they want- they need it!
Of course, if you note that your child is breathing extremely fast or slow, having retractions of their muscles between the ribs, having trouble catching their breath between coughing fits, or their lips, mouth, extremities, or face are turning blue, proceed directly to your local urgent care or emergency department.
We hope these recommendations are helpful, and we are right there with all of you parents and caregivers struggling through this cold and flu season! Most important to remember is that sometimes, parent snuggles soothe all pain, sunshine is essential, and laughter really is the best medicine!
-Kathleen Clark, RN, BSN
*These recommendations are intended for parents and children with non-specific medical concerns. For children with acute or chronic conditions such as asthma or CF, advice may vary. In either case, always reach out to your primary care provider for questions or concerns!