How to Know, Treat, and Prevent Baby's Colds and Diarrhea

One of the worse experiences a new mother and her baby will go through is when baby is sick. Sickness is even more frightening the younger the baby is. How vulnerable, helpless, and scared a newborn baby may feel if they are experiencing symptoms of a virus for the first time. In this article I will discuss colds and diarrhea, how to treat them and when you will need to call the doctor.

Colds

What are the symptoms of a cold? More than likely you have experienced a cold sometime in your life. You know how it feels to have this ailment. You feel tired, stuffed up, sore throat, wheezy, and just plain awful. Now imagine how baby feels. The baby is probably experiencing many if not all of the symptoms that you have felt before, however, the baby may feel much worse than any experience you have had as an adult, especially if the baby is experiencing a cold for the first time.

Symptoms of a Cold: Coughing, runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and low-fever.

What you can do: Most of the time you and baby will have to tough it out. Viruses cause colds so it will not work to give the baby antibiotics. If the baby is under three months, then you will want to consult a doctor immediately. A newborn's cold can become croup, pneumonia or possibly turn into something worse. Mayoclinic. Despite the fact that there is really not too much you can do but wait it out, there are a few suggestions that may help the baby get over their cold faster and safer.

You should give the baby plenty of fluids. Water, juice, or pediatric drinks hydrate the baby and helps to loosen up those clogged nostrils and throat. You should feed younger babies more and give older babies water between their feedings. Believe it or not, breast milk is a wonderful protection against colds. The milk actually serves as a medicine to help baby recover.