No matter how careful you are, your baby will probably end up with a cold before their first birthday. Nothing can prepare you for that gunky nose, those red-rimmed eyes, that near-constant cough… It can break a parent?s heart.
Though colds aren?t usually serious, they?re no fun to get through, either. But there’s help! We’ve rounded up the best baby cold remedies to help weather these seasonal bumps in the road, plus the treatments you should use with caution or avoid altogether.
1. Steamy bathroom
Good for: Loosening up a stuffy nose and helping baby breathe more easily. Try it when your baby is uncomfortably congested.
How to do it: Turn the bathroom into a steam room by running the shower on hot for 10 to 15 minutes while holding your baby outside of the shower. Get as comfy as you can?you?ll probably end up sitting on the closed toilet seat. Grab a board book for entertainment. Pro tip: This works well for nasal congestion. But if your baby has hoarseness, wheezing or a persistent cough, check in with a doctor to make sure you?re not dealing with a more serious respiratory infection.
Photo: hydraSense
2. Saline drops or mist
Good for: Helping to clear a stuffy nose if your baby is having trouble feeding or sleeping because they can?t breathe through their nose.
How to use: You can buy either saline drops or a spray in any drugstore or grocery store?the ones designed for babies will be easier to use. Squirt two or three drops of this up baby?s nose to ...