By: Alison Rhodes, also known as The Safety Mom
There is nothing more stressful or scary for a mom than a sick baby. And now that the older kids are back in school, colds and viruses are bound to be coming home. So, how do you keep the germs away from not only your baby but the rest of the family and what do you do if you baby does get sick? Here are a few tips and advice for taking care of your baby this cold and flu season.
1. The best defense is a good offense. Proper hand washing is a must for everyone. Doctors agree that this is undoubtedly the most important thing you can do. Get kids into a routine of washing hands the moment they come home from school, after snacks, after being outside and before meals. Send them into school with either wipes or hand sanitizing gel that they can keep at their desks to use after lunch, snacks and recess.
2. Frequently wipe down those items that are frequently touched by many hands. This includes the remote controls, light switches, door handles and faucets.
3. Isolate the baby from all sick family members. While this may not be easy to do it is important. Even with good hand washing, germs travel.
4. If your baby does get sick with a cold the best way to treat it is with a saline spray to clear congestion and a cool mist humidifier. Never try to self diagnose and never dispense over the counter medicines to a baby without consulting with your pediatrician.
5. Many parents become concerned when their child has a fever. Fevers are not necessarily bad as they are the body’s way of fighting off viruses. If your baby is younger than age 3 months, contact the doctor for any fever. If your baby is older than 3 months and has a temperature lower than 102 F (38.9 C), encourage rest and offer plenty of fluids. Call the doctor if they seem unusually irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable however. If their temperature reaches 102 F (38.9 C) or higher, give them acetaminophen. Call the doctor if the fever doesn’t respond to the medication or lasts longer than one day.