In my few years of experience, having a sick child is one of the most helpless feelings as a parent. I know that we all get sick and that it’s just part of life and boosting our immune systems, but I still hate it when my girls are miserable and uncomfortable. If I can help them feel any relief or shorten the length of time that they’re experiencing symptoms, I’m going to do that for them.
This post is my personal list of everything we have used to soothe cold and flu symptoms for our baby and I hope you find it useful!
PREVENTION
If you’re reading this, you may already be in the thick of child sickness which means it’s too late to implement any of these to ward off illness, but I felt like it’s all worth sharing anyway (since there will be a next time… 😞).
Make sure that your little one is up-to-date with their routine vaccinations and boosters — this seems pretty obvious, but it’s an easy thing to forget as a busy parent!
…
Encourage regular hand washing for everyone in your household! This is a really great life skill that all kids should carry with them into adulthood (obviously, you don’t want to create an obsession, but it’s definitely a healthy habit to be in!). Babies obviously can’t do this for themselves, but if everyone else is routinely washing their hands then the germs should be minimized!
…
MEDICINE TAKING
Oh good grief, what a nightmare it is to give children medicine — even flavored ones! 😵💫 Please consult your pediatrician to get the appropriate dosage for your baby as well as the guidelines for when to administer children’s acetaminophen.
These liquid syringes are so easy for dispensing the right dosage of medicine without any spillage or residual product in the tiny measuring cup that comes with liquid medicines.
The one that I found to be especially helpful for our girls in the baby stage was the one that had a pacifier attachment; it isn’t the same exact shape as their usual paci, but it was close enough to dupe both of them into taking their medicine without too much of a fuss.
…
GEAR
Humidifier
We finally upgraded our humidifier this year and it is so much easier to fill (which was my biggest gripe with our last one). It can also be controlled remotely, which isn’t a must-have by any means, but it certainly makes it easier to adjust if your little one is snoozing and you need to be stealthy! I also love the Auto mode which detects how much moisture is in the air and adjusts its settings to release the ideal volume of cool mist accordingly — truly a “set it and forget it” situation.
…
Owlet Sock Monitor
I can’t tell you the peace of mind that this little foot monitor gives us now that Chloe is sleeping in her own room. Normally, I don’t worry about her overnight the way I do when she’s not feeling well and this monitor helps put those concerns to rest by keeping tabs on her heart rate and oxygen levels.
…
Saline Mist Inhaler
If your baby is especially congested using a saline mist in a more concentrated application is super helpful at breaking things up. I love that this mist inhaler makes it easy for the tiniest family members to benefit, especially with the mask attachment.
Saline has been shown to be beneficial in shortening colds and is even recommended by physicians as a home remedy — regular saline may not be as effective as the hypertonic version, but it’s safe to use on younger kiddos so it’s worth a shot!
…
Chest Rub
Our family absolutely loves this baby-safe (read: no menthol) chest rub. We always use the rub just before nap / bedtime, but if it seems like an application could help open up sinuses a bit more during waking hours we’re certainly not shy about rubbing some on.
Highly recommend this item! A little pot lasts a LONG time since you don’t need much per application.
…
Decongestant Bath Drops
Maximize that bathtime steam-powered decongestion by kicking it up a notch with these decongestant vapor bath drops!
I use these drops in the larger bathtub with EXTRA hot water that’s way too hot for baby to actually sit in, but it creates an excellent steam situation. That way I can use more temperate water to actually bathe Chloe in her infant bathtub, but she can still benefit from the steam!
…
Nasal Aspirator
Ohhh boy does Chloe loathe this process (and I can’t say that I blame her! It seems like it would be super uncomfortable), but it’s so necessary to remove some of that yuck from your little one’s sinus cavities and help prevent a more serious sinus / ear infection! It’s worth the struggle to get the mucous out, especially if you have an infant that isn’t old enough to know how to blow their nose yet.
There are so many nasal aspirator options available, and you can’t really go wrong because they all work effectively, but I personally love this one because it’s clear (so you can see if you’ve retrieved anything) and it disassembles into two pieces which makes it super easy to clean! I’m still pretty nervous to try the aspirator style that requires you to use your mouth to suck the snot / boogers out — I know there’s a filter / guard to prevent anything getting into your mouth, but it still freaks me out. 😅
If you have a toddler, there are a few overlapping topics, but I have even more tips for helping your preschooler through cold and flu season here!
Lastly, this feels like a good post to share this list of medicine cabinet recommendations from a pediatrician for both cold / flu and beyond.
Ugh, having sick kiddos is awful, and trying to take care of them while you are ALSO feeling sick is the absolute WORST. I hope these tips and products are helpful. Wishing everyone a very speedy recovery!
Sending hugs —
xx, Natalie
Leave a comment...