Best Ways to Shield a Baby from Seasonal Coughs and Colds?
One of the most searched questions online that parents sought answers to is how to protect their baby from seasonal coughs and colds. This is because in India, the weather keeps changing frequently, and children tend to catch infection quickly.
Small kids are more prone to coughs and colds since their immunity is not well-developed. Thus, parents have the added responsibility of taking care of and protecting their babies against illnesses. The chances of infections, coughs, and cold bouts increase during a season transition as babies cannot adjust to the change.
6 Tips To Protect Baby From Seasonal Coughs and Colds
As parents, it is firstly necessary to understand that the baby cannot take care of himself, and he is entirely dependent on you, even for the primary care routine. Below are some tips that are easy to practice in daily routine and are very effective in safeguarding your little one in the long run.
● Hand washing:
In most cases, babies are exposed to infections when they come in contact with adults; therefore, everyone in the family should act responsibly and maintain proper hygiene. Ensure all family members wash their hands regularly, especially before touching the baby and his belongings, like toys, clothes, and other baby gear.
Also, use a mild, natural disinfectant to clean surfaces and baby’s toys so that there are minimal chances of infection. If there are situations where hand washing would be impossible, choose a good quality sanitiser.
● Boost your child’s immunity:
If your baby is breastfeeding, you provide the best immunity booster, as human breast milk contains high levels of antibodies that support the baby’s growth and development.
Also, to enhance the baby’s disease-fighting capabilities, you can use vitamin D drops and multivitamin health supplements after consultation with an experienced pediatrician.
Your child will have to take several vaccinations within the first three years, aiming to introduce antibodies against different diseases and infections. Therefore, always keep a check on the vaccine schedule and get the shots done on time.
● Avoid outings and gatherings:
When your child is small, you should avoid visiting crowded places and huge gatherings since this means exposure to viruses and infection.
During the season when flu and cold infections are common, it is necessary to restrict visitors so that the child is least exposed to disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
If you have to go out and the visit is unavoidable, sanitizing the car seat, your child’s stroller, and all baby gear you have carried out is advisable. Also, make sure you use your baby’s feeding bottle and carry food from home.
Also Read: How To Protect Newborns In Cold Weather?
● Follow a diet and sleep routine for your baby:
Stress and inadequate sleep can interfere with your child’s health and growth. Thus, it would be best to properly care for your tiny tot’s feeding and sleeping routine. If your baby is under 6 months old, breast milk will offer all the essential nutrition to keep the baby happy and healthy.
For babies over 6 months, a diet plan consisting of protein, vitamins, fat, and carbs is necessary. Feed seasonal fruits and veggies and keep the little one hydrated to ensure a wholesome meal.
When talking about sleep routines, you should first create an ideal sleep environment in the room so that the baby has uninterrupted sleep. Make sure there are not any disturbing sounds and the room temperature is appropriate according to the season.
Sing a melodious lullaby and pat your child so that he dozes off quickly. Your baby needs time to adjust to the day and night sleep cycle, so you need to stick to the sleep routine so that he adapts to it well.
During the day, let the baby have short naps, as this keeps the baby calm and active throughout the day. If you do not make the baby nap during the daytime, he will get cranky till the end of the day. You should look for the baby’s cues indicating the baby is completely exhausted and desires to sleep, as over-exhaustion indirectly affects the baby’s health.
Also Read: Healthy Eating Tips For Your Baby
● Watch for illness symptoms:
Babies are prone to infections as they are delicate and still adjusting to the changing weather, which means you need to be watchful and check for symptoms like cough, congestion, fever, fatigue, or loss of appetite, as these indicate emerging health issues.
If you keep an eye on the symptoms, it will help you tackle the situation without any problems. Some parents make a mistake by neglecting mild fever as they are unaware of the fact that fever surfaces only when the body is fighting viral or bacterial infections.
● Seek expert consultation and treat symptoms:
You should never self-administer medications for your baby since they can have hazardous effects. Strong medication with the wrong dosage will do bad rather than good, so expert consultation is a must.
You should follow the paediatrician’s advice and use saline spray, nebulizer, and nasal suction to give instant relief to the little one in case of congestion and cold. If your baby is vomiting or suffering from diarrhoea, use oral rehydration solutions to maintain water levels in the body.
When the weather transitions from summer to winter, cold and breathing problems are common in babies, which can be reassured by the precise use of a humidifier in the house. The role of a humidifier is to maintain moisture levels in the air, which eases breathing and eliminates the chances of infection. Nasal suction and saline sprays work wonders in treating congestion and stuffy noses without side effects.
Also Read: Common Childhood Illnesses And Knowing When To Seek Medical Attention
Key Takeaways:
So, we discussed how to protect a baby from seasonal coughs and colds. Baby flu and infection are a challenge that every parent needs to face at some point in time since these are the most common seasonal conditions that every child suffers from frequently during season change.
The best approach to dealing with the challenge is maintaining a hygiene routine and avoiding situations where your baby can be exposed to infection-causing germs.
Give your baby proper rest and serve nutritious food to boost immunity and keep him healthy. Never hesitate to connect with your child’s doctor when you see him uneasy or lethargic during the day with common symptoms like fever, congestion, or diarrhoea.
