When babies have a cold: causes, tips and effective home remedies

When babies have a cold, they have trouble drinking and are tired. In this article you will learn more about the causes and how you can help your baby with home remedies.

Causes of rhinitis in babies

These are the causes of colds, especially in babies:

• As in adults, an infection of the respiratory tract is often responsible for the cold. Viruses or bacteria are transmitted by droplet infection and trigger the disease. Since babies have a lower immune system than adults, they are particularly susceptible to such infections.
• Rumped breast milk that has gotten into the nasal passages can also cause nasal congestion.
• In states of excitement, the nasal mucous membranes can swell and cause a runny nose.

Prevent a cold in the baby

With these simple tips you can prevent colds in the baby:

• Avoid infecting yourself. Also keep your baby’s contact with potentially contagious people as little as possible. People are most contagious in the two to three days following the onset of the common cold.

• It is very helpful if you wash your hands thoroughly to keep germs away from your baby.

Home remedies for colds

A normal cold will subside after a few days. If your baby still has a cold after a week, you should seek medical advice. Under no circumstances should you give your baby medication without medical advice.

To relieve your baby’s cold, you can use the following remedies:

• Babies often find it difficult to drink with a stuffy nose. So make sure you drink enough fluids.
• If your baby is already on complementary food, you can offer him warm tea. It helps against a sore throat.
• Fresh air is good for your baby too. A short walk can at least free your nose a little.
• Rest and sleep help. Try to keep stress and tension away from your baby as much as possible.
• Too warm and too dry air ensures that the irritated nasal mucosa cannot recover. Therefore, ventilate sufficiently. However, make sure that your baby is not exposed to drafts.
• Essential oils are often recommended for adults. However, these can lead to allergic reactions in babies, which is why it is not recommended.

• Inhaling can help. However, you should not expose your baby directly to the hot steam. Instead, run hot water in the shower and sit next to it with your baby for a few minutes. The water vapor is good for the respiratory tract. Then make sure that the baby’s clothes are not damp or even wet. Dress your baby in otherwise dry clothes.

• If the mucus in the nose runs down the throat when lying down, this can also lead to coughing. Therefore raise the headboard of your baby’s bed slightly. To do this, simply place something directly under the mattress and make sure it is slightly inclined.
• You can use a nasal aspirator (e.g. online at **Amazon) to clear your baby’s nose of secretions – if your child accepts it. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Read more on Techzle.com:

• Inhaling for a cold and cough: What to look out for with salt water and oils
• Schuessler salts for colds: salts against coughs, colds and sore throats
• That’s how long a cold is contagious