How to Comfort a Sick Baby
While every parent would like to avoid it, sickness during a baby̵7;s first year is almost inevitable. In fact, due to an infant's immature immune system, he's likely to get sick more often in his early years than during adulthood and is more prone to infection, explain researchers at the University of Michigan Health System. When your baby isn't feeling well, your first instinct is to provide as much comfort as possible, and, while there is no single method to soothe away all of your baby's discomfort, you can use a variety of measures at home to soothe cold and flu symptoms and make him feel comfortable.
Things You'll Need
- Cool mist humidifier
- Saline drops
- Bulb syringe
- Lavender or eucalyptus baby bubble bath
- White noise machine or vacuum cleaner
- Blanket or pillow
Instructions
Hold your baby against your chest. You can sit and rock, walk around or sway to music playing gently in the background. The contact and warmth can provide comfort, and the rhythmic beating of your heart can help soothe her even more. Sing, read a story or talk to her. The sound of your voice can help make her feel more secure and relaxed. Encourage your baby to breastfeed or take a bottle of formula often to stay hydrated. The skin-to-skin contact can help to provide comfort as well. Bring your baby into the bathroom if he is congested and run the shower to make it steamy. The moist air will help alleviate nasal and chest congestion caused by the common cold. You can also run a cool mist humidifier in his bedroom at night and in the main areas of the home during the day to keep his passageways moist. Remove excess mucus from your infant̵7;s nose if she is congested. First, use saline drops to help loosen the mucus in her nasal passages. For suction, use a bulb syringe for infants and gently insert the tip into one nostril after squeezing the bulb. Release the bulb slowly to suction the mucus and then remove the syringe. Repeat for the other nostril. Give your baby a bath to provide soothing comfort. If he has a fever, use lukewarm water to help bring down his body temperature, or use warm water to help loosen nasal congestion if he has a common cold. You can enhance the comforting experience by adding a lavender baby bubble bath or one with eucalyptus to help relieve congested sinuses. Use only products that are designed for babies to ensure they are safe, and consult your health care practitioner before using a new product for the first time. Turn on a white noise machine or vacuum cleaner. The low, whirring drone of either one can help your baby drift off to sleep when she is having a difficult time settling at bedtime. Elevate the head of your baby's crib slightly to help alleviate a cough at bedtime. Fold up a blanket and place it directly underneath the mattress or place a pillow underneath the mattress instead. Never place the pillow or blanket in the crib with your baby because these objects can pose a suffocation hazard, advises the American Academy of Pediatrics. Previous:What is Gripe Water?
