What Are the Treatments for a Baby With a Cold & Fever?
Babies get a lot of colds and fevers, thanks to their immature immune systems and tendency to put anything and everything in their mouths. There's no cure for a cold, but there are some ways to treat a baby with a cold and fever.
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Pediatrician
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Calling the pediatrician is an important step, especially if your baby has a fever. The doctor can tell you whether to bring the baby in and how much infant acetaminophen you can give your baby to reduce the fever.
Elevation
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Keeping your baby's head elevated will help the mucus drain, especially when she is sleeping. Try placing a pillow under the crib mattress to elevate her head, or allow her to rest in her car seat.
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Saline Drops
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Saline drops can help loosen mucus in the nose. Put a few drops in each nostril while tilting back your baby's head. Then use a bulb syringe to suction out the mucus.
Steam
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A cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer moistens the air, making it easier for your baby to breathe and for mucus to drain. To heighten the effect, put a few drops of menthol oil, which is available at health food stores, into the vaporizer. Give your baby a warm bath, or have him sit in the bathroom with a warm shower going.
Liquids
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Babies under 4 months need nothing but formula or breast milk, but they need plenty of it. If your baby is having a hard time sucking because of congestion, use the saline drops and bulb syringe right before each feeding. After 4 months, babies can also have water, which helps them stay hydrated.
Warning
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According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under the age of 6 should not be given any kind of cold medication. Babies can have Tylenol, and babies older than 6 months can have ibuprofen, but they should not be given any other medication.
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Comments
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our 5 month old boy is teething and has the fever. we are sponge bathing him for his temperature to go down.
