A Parent's Guide To Colds, Treatments and Complications (and when you should call your doctor)

It is cold season. And for some of you this may be the first time that your little one has been sick. There is never a more helpless feeling as a parent than seeing your baby or child feeling badly. Even something considered to be minor like the common cold just breaks your heart.

It always feels better if you are doing “something”, but what can you or should you do to make your child feel better when they have a cold?

In this blog, I am going to give you a run down on the common cold signs and symptoms, information about treatment, conditions that are often complications of colds and when to call the doctor.

This is going to be a very  comprehensive article - pretty much everything you may need to know about colds and associated illnesses. This may be something you want to bookmark as a Reference Guide on Colds, Treatments & Complications. 

Did you know that young children get up to 6 colds a year? So, this may be your child's first cold but unfortunately, it probably won't be the last. 

As always, these are some guidelines to follow. If you have some specific questions about your own child’s condition or treatment, make sure that you contact your own personal healthcare provider for the recommendations of their practice.

So, let’s get started.  

Just what is a cold?

The “common cold” is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract --This includes the nasal passages, mouth, throat, and larynx (voice box). These are the passages that are lined with what are called mucous membranes.

Colds are often called Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs).  But they are not infections caused by bacteria that you can treat with antibiotics. These infections are caused by one of many strains of viruses.These illnesses are self limiting - meaning that they go away on their own.

And while they are considered mild illnesses, they can be pretty miserable until they do go away. Especially if you are a baby.

Symptoms

Sore Throat

Colds typically start out with a scratchy sore throat.

Mucus

Then symptoms progress to congestion and runny nose.

Then the mucus production increases.

Mucus actually has a purpose which is to trap the virus (or bacteria or allergens - whatever the foreign invaders are) to keep them from going down the airway and getting to the lungs. But, from just a symptom standpoint - it is difficult to deal with.

The mucous drainage typically starts out as a clear, watery, runny nose. The drainage from the runny nose  - called post nasal drip - can cause the sore throat to feel worse as you have that constant dripping down the back of the throat.  You can have watery eyes too.

As the cold continues, the clear nasal drainage gradually turns thicker and changes color - from  whitish to yellow and even green. But, despite what people believe, the color of nasal discharge does not mean that you need antibiotics.

The longer the mucus sits in the nose, the thicker it gets. For example, when your child wakes up in the morning, you probably have noticed that the mucus is really thick and green. It may even have caused the eyelids to be matted together. That is because it is so thick, it backs up the tear ducts (which drain into the nose) and comes out in the eyes.

Once you clean the mucus out, it will often be thinner and clearer the rest of the day - or until nap time when it turns thicker again.

This green color does not necessarily mean you have a sinus infection (or pink eye).  The timing, or how long the symptoms hang around, has more to do with infection, not the color.

Sometimes, the virus will cause inflammation of the vocal cords. This causes the voice to become raspy or hoarse.

Cough
Most of the time, colds will also have a cough. They can be from many causes.

One reason may be because of one of the body’s mechanisms for protecting the lungs from invaders, called cilia. These are tiny little hairs that line the airway. They trap any little particles that aren’t supposed to be in the airway and sweep them back up and out. When you have a cold, the virus can attack the cilia too and cause some temporary damage. When that happens the cilia don’t work as well, and the mucus and viruses can sneak past the cilia better.

The cough will be triggered to protect the airway. This will propel those virus invaders and the mucus back up the airway. It can sometimes take a few weeks for the new clia to repair itself. So this cough reflex may stick around a while. So, in this instance, the cough is a good thing. It is protecting the lungs from the virus and mucus.

Sometimes no matter what you try, the child will cough and cough. Even long after the cold is gone, some children will continue to cough. The cough may get really annoying, particularly if it is keeping your child awake at night. Then, all of the sudden, as those cilia repair themselves,  and the cough will suddenly disappear.

Some coughs can be caused by complications of the cold viruses. I discuss some of those below.  

Fever
Mild fever can often accompany a cold. It is usually present at the beginning of the cold and will last just the first 48-72 hours. and then goes away. The fever with a cold is not usually very high. But children always feel worse when their temperature is up. Some parents can tell when a fever is coming on based on how their child looks and acts.

Loss of Appetite
Loss of appetite is very common with a cold virus. This is understandable because all that  congestion and mucus can affect your ability to taste and smell. And, of course, when you don’t feel well, you just don’t feel like eating.  

Body Aches
Colds can cause some body aches but these are not as severe as with the flu. These are often only in the first day or two of the cold as well and will often accompany fever.

How are Colds Spread? 

Colds are spread by person to person contact with the droplets of virus. An infected person may sneeze or cough and the droplets of the virus become airborne. They may land on another person directly or on a surface where they are picked up on someone’s hand. They then transfer the virus to their nose or mouth. The virus multiplies in the mucous membranes of the new person.

It typically takes about 3 days after contact with an infected person for an exposed  person to develop symptoms.

You can get a cold anytime of the year, but one of the reasons that colds are more common in the winter is because we spend more time inside. The more people who are inside, the more  germs are packed into a small space. So when those viruses become airborne, they have more people to spread to.

If a person with a cold is outside and coughs, the germs can disperse into the wide open outdoor air.  But if a person coughs inside, there is not as much space to go to. The germs land on a table and many children touch it. Or someone sneezes and those droplets land on many people who then become infected.

How Long Do Colds Last?

Most people handle a cold without any problems. But, for newborns and infants less than 3 months old, we worry about them because their immune system is not yet well developed. Mild illnesses like a cold can become much more complicated in little babies.

They also are likely to run fever and if they run fever, they will require a medical examination because of their age. They may need to have tests and treatments, maybe even hospitalization, just because of exposure to a cold.

The first 3 days of a cold virus are typically the worse. Your child may run fever and be fussy and irritable. Fever always makes someone feel worse.

Symptoms gradually begin to improve after that. But symptoms can last for 10 -14 days. As a general rule, all cold symptoms should be gone by 14 days. If symptoms are still persisting at 14 days or have worsened, you should see your healthcare provider.

Children can get multiple colds within one season, so it is not uncommon to get another cold immediately after getting over one. Sometimes even before the symptoms of one cold are completely gone. So, you and your child’s healthcare provider will need to decide if your child’s symptoms are lingering, worsening, or if your child has just developed a new cold.

There is no cure for the common cold. There are no medications that will change the course of a cold or make it go away any faster.

But, there are some things that will make your child feel better until the symptoms are gone.

We call this symptomatic treatment - because WELL -  we are treating the symptoms and supporting the child until they are better..

Symptomatic Treatment of Colds.

Here are 8 tried and true recommendations to treat your child’s cold symptoms (and they work well for moms and dads too!)

Increase Fluids

Probably the number one thing that you can do during a cold is to make sure that your child stays well hydrated. This is important because children lose a lot of fluids through mucus loss.

They also just don’t take in as much fluid when they are sick. So, the less hydrated children are, the thicker the mucous gets. But the more fluid you get them to take, the thinner the mucous is, which makes the child much more comfortable.

This is not always so easy to do, I know, because children who have a cold don’t want to eat and drink. But, making an effort to make sure that your child is drinking small amounts more frequently will help to get in more fluids.

If you are breastfeeding, you want to pay particular attention to your child’s intake. It is not uncommon for your milk supply to decrease when your child is sick because they are not feeding as long or as often. When the child gets well, you may find that your supply is low. If you can get your child to feed more often, even if they are not feeding for long periods of time, you can typically avoid this problem.

For most children, even if they don’t want to eat solid foods, if you can offer small amounts of their favorite liquids, soups, or popsicles every hour while awake to encourage drinking, you can avoid dehydration and keep well hydrated.

Rest

The body needs rest to heal. Allow children the rest that they need when they are sick. You may notice that they want to sleep more. That is ok. As long as when they are awake, they are alert, and have some normal periods of playful activity throughout the day, sleeping more is fine.

Remember how you feel when you are sick with a cold? Your child is going to feel just as badly.

If you have a school aged child, they may need to stay at home - not only because of the risk of passing cold virus germs to their classmates, but because if they can rest their body they will get well faster. It is also very hard to learn when you feel ill.

 
Help control or eliminate the mucus

One of the most difficult symptoms of the cold is all of that mucus. One minute you feel like your nose is pouring mucus, the next you feel so congested, you cannot breathe. Remember that I said that the longer the mucous sits in the nose, the thicker it gets?

This is a particularly difficult problem for babies because they must be able to breathe through their noses while they suck from the breast or bottle. They will be very cranky and fussy if their nose is congested. Babies are nose breathers. Clearing the mucus will help them to feel better, breathe better and feed better. Clearing the mucous can also help to prevent some of the complications of colds such as sinus infections and ear infections.

Non Medicated Nasal Saline drops or spray

These are readily available at most any store you go to - the pharmacies, big box stores, even the dollar stores, and, of course, online. Stock up now before you need it.

You can get name brand drops made for children - which are more expensive or generic store brand drops for everyone. You can even make your own, but the concentration has to be correct and you must make them daily to prevent contamination. Since nasal saline generic drops are so inexpensive, I would recommend you just buy them.

The purpose of the solution is to thin and rinse the mucus from the nose. Because the mucus can get very thick in the nose, it can cause a lot of symptoms of pressure, post nasal drainage, cough, sore throat, etc. Using the nasal saline will thin and loosen the mucus an help to clear it. 

You can use this alone in older children and teach them to blow their nose. 

You can use the nasal saline drops alone with a child who can't blow their nose.  Sometimes this causes the baby to sneeze and out comes the mucous. or you can use with a suction device below. 

 You do not want to purchase medicated decongestant nasal sprays. These can be very dangerous in children. These are sometimes used in adults for short periods of time ( 3 days or less) but not for the purpose of irrigating mucous. Only use the non medicated sprays for clearing mucus in children.  

Bulb suction or suction devices

In children who have not yet learned to blow their noses, you will have to help them clear the mucus from their nasal passages with a suction device. You will want to use the saline/suction before a baby feeds and before bedtime if the baby is sounding congested or pulling away during a feeding.

You don’t want to use the suction more than about 4 times a day, as using it too much can cause the nasal passages to get irritated and cause swelling.

You may not be successful with getting mucus out with your suction device if you don’t use the saline with it to loosen up the mucus.

There are basically two types of nasal suction devices.

     Bulb aspirator

The bulb suction is the type like you got in the hospital when your baby was born. There are varying kinds of this but they are all basically the same - a squishy bulb with a flexible tip that fits in the nostril.

You want to make sure that you get a bulb that you can see inside ( a clear bulb) or else replace it frequently.

You also want to wash it after each use with hot soapy water and allow to stand upright to drain.

There have been reports of mold growing inside bulb suction devices. This is not surprising - I am sure that a lot of bacteria grows in there too. It is hot and dark and sucks up snot so what would you expect! You have to wash them out. My favorite is the NeilMed NasaBulb or Naspira.

Procedure:

Put one or two drops of nasal saline in each side of the baby’s nose.

Let this sit for a few seconds to soften up the mucous.

Squeeze the bulb and place it just inside the nostril and

Release the suction on the bulb.

You will hear the mucus sucked into the bulb aspirator.

Remove the bulb from the baby’s nose.

Squeeze the bulb and dispel the mucous out onto a tissue

Repeat again on the other side.

You may need to repeat until the nose is clear.

     Nasal aspirator with mouth device  

These devices use an aspirator that goes to the baby’s nose and a tube that goes to the parent’s mouth. You suck the mucus from the baby’s nose with the tube using pressure from your mouth. The mucus goes into a collecting device that looks like a test tube and does not go into the parent’s mouth. There is a filter to prevent any contamination.

This sounds really gross and feels gross too for a lot of parents - the thought of sucking mucus out of the baby’s nose - but it works really well. Most parents are able to get over the thought when they see the benefit to the baby.

The most popular one is the NoseFrida - it works really well. I particularly like the Neilmed Naspira (mentioned above) - It is the traditional clear bulb suction with an oral tube attached. So you have two options for how to use it  - as a regular bulb suction or with the mouth tube attached. (This is a good choice for parents who aren’t sure they can really suck that mucus out with their mouth!)

Use the procedure above for instilling the nasal saline drops but vary it according to the directions for your own particular nasal aspirator with the mouth device.

I have had parents who tell me that they sucked the mucus directly from the baby’s nose with their own mouth. Although I know that this is effective, it is just nasty - for both the parent and the baby. The transfer of germs from the parent’s mouth to the baby’s nose is very risky and, of course, the transfer of the mucus from the baby directly  into the parent’s mouth is a sure health risk. Please do not do this. Go ahead and get a suction device and nasal saline and be prepared so that you don't have to do this to help your baby breathe. 

Humidified air

Keeping your air moist will help the mucus to stay thinner and also helps with sore throats. I know we all have had the experience of waking up in the winter and feeling like our mouths are stuffed with cotton. Or waking with a sore throat.

Using the heat in the winter will often dry out the air. Keeping the air moist will help to prevent some of those symptoms. When it is cold season, this helps even more.

Here are some ways to humidify the air

     Cool Mist Humidifier

You may find that having a humidifier in your child’s room with help to keep him more comfortable. You want to choose cool mist over a warm mist or vaporizer due to the possibility of burns from hot water. The other reason is the warm mist makes the room too hot which is a risk factor for SIDS. 

You also want to clean it regularly to avoid the growth of mold in your device. Read your own product manual for recommended instructions.

Some devices have availability for the addition of aromatherapy or essential oils to use with the humidifier. Keep in mind that there is lack of safety information on the use of these products in children.

When the particles from these oils are dispersed in the air, they can trigger an asthma attack.

There is no evidence that the addition of these products improve symptoms. Use under the advice or guidance of your own healthcare provider.

     Steamy Bathroom

You can use the steam in your own bathroom to humidify the airway. Close your bathroom doors and turn your shower on as hot as you can get it and let it fill your bathroom with steam. Then sit in the bathroom with your child and let the child breathe in the steamy, humid air.

This will often help to get the nose to run all on its own. This is often helpful for a child who is coughing and especially for a child with a croupy cough (barking like a seal).

Decrease Cough

Remember cough is important in clearing the airway of mucus, and other dangerous particles. So, even though cough is annoying, it has a valuable purpose. And sometimes cough alerts us to more serious conditions. Just suppressing the cough is not always a good idea.

 If cough is due to nasal drainage from mucus, then using your saline and suction will help with this.

One way you know if drainage is causing your child's cough, is if your child is coughing mostly during the night time. Drainage is always worse at night because of laying down. So, clearing nasal drainage can avoid this. Use your nasal saline prior to bedtime. 

Now that the cough medications have been mostly been taken off of the market for young children, parents have been at a loss for how to handle those nagging coughs. ( see information on medication use below) 

But, a 2007  study showed that using honey in children with colds works really well for improving night time cough and helping children sleep better.

The study showed that giving children 1.5 tsp (7.5 ml) of honey 30 min before bedtime was better at reducing the severity of the coughing and helping children sleep when they compared it to no treatment at all. They also compared the honey to using cough medication with Dextromethorphan in it and found that the honey worked just as well.

Honey is an antioxidant and has germ killing properties and those may be the scientific reasons why it works. A study in 2013 reproduced that 2007 study, this time using over 300 children.

The researchers were looking to see if different types of honey made a difference and once again they showed that honey controlled cough. The type of honey did not matter but was more effective than no treatment at all.

Now remember that honey cannot be used in babies under one year of age due to the risk of botulism spores being transferred in the honey.

But honey is cheap, tastes good and most people have it on hand, so this is a much safer alternative to use for your child’s cough than the cold medications that are still on the market or other unproven therapies.  

Elevate your child WHILE AWAKE to help facilitate drainage

Keep your child upright while awake so that gravity can help the drainage.  But do not elevate your child or his bed while asleep.

I know that the mucus and cough can be worse at night, but elevating your baby while sleeping is a risk factor for SIDS.

All of the Sleep Positioners designed to keep your child upright are discouraged for use by the American Academy of Pediatrics. The sleep positioners can make sleeping more dangerous.

Sleeping in an inclined position is a risk factor for SIDS. The risk of SIDS is far greater than any benefit your child may receive from sleeping upright.

Treat your child’s fever

As I stated earlier, children always feel worse when they have a fever. Their symptoms are magnified when the temperature is up. Remember that a fever is considered 100.4 degrees rectal or higher in a child.

Do not treat any fever in a baby less than 2 months old.  You must call your healthcare provider.

If your child has a fever and your healthcare provider has approved the use of fever reducers, you may use ibuprofen or acetaminophen in the appropriate dose for your child’s age and weight.

Make sure that you use a medication syringe or spoon with appropriate measurements to give the dose and give at the correct time intervals. Alternating ibuprofen and acetaminophen is not necessary and only risks overdosing your child. 

You do not need to treat all fever. Some fever is helpful in stimulating the body’s own defenses in killing viruses. If your child does not act like the fever is making them feel bad, you do not have to treat it.

Also, fever does not have to come down to “normal”. You are only treating the symptoms which are causing the child discomfort. So, the fever just needs to come down enough to make the child feel better.

Don’t worry about taking your child’s temperature repeatedly. If your child is acting better after giving the medication, you don’t need to keep taking the temperature to see if it is “normal”.

Treat Sore Throats

Sore throats can be very difficult with cold viruses, particularly with there is a lot of drainage. So, take care of the cause if you know what it is. Early morning sore throats are often related to post nasal drainage from the night before. They usually resolve after being awake and up for awhile.

You can treat sore throats with ibuprofen or acetaminophen if appropriate for you child's age. If your child will not eat due to a sore throat, you may need to use your pain reliever about 30 minutes prior to meals.  

Some children find that the numbing effect of cool liquids like popsicles or slushies make their sore throats feel better.

Some children like the soothing effect of warm liquids like soups and hot tea with honey. 

Severe sore throats accompanied by fever should always be checked by your healthcare provider. Strep throat does not usually have associated cold symptoms, but it can. 

What about Medications? 

Do NOT use over the counter cold medications in children under 6 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly recommended in 2008 to suspend the sale of cough and cold medication to children less than 2 years of age due to serious and potentially life threatening side effects including seizures, rapid heart rates and death.

Specifically, they warned against using antihistamines and decongestants in young children. At that time, most of the makers of children’s cough and cold medications voluntarily re-labeled the children’s cough and cold medications to read “Do not use in children under 4 years of age”.

The American Academy of Pediatrics issued strict warnings about using cough and cold products in children less than 6 years of age.

There are several reasons for this. Between 2005 and 2008, there were 65,000 calls to the Poison Control Centers in the US related to cough and cold medications.

First of all, no true studies have ever shown that the cold medications have any real benefit in improving the symptoms in children. There may be some benefit with some of the medications in adults, but none can be seen in children.

Using medications that cannot be proven to have any benefit, but with so many risks, just is not a good practice.  

There have been many medication errors that have occured with cold medications over the years that have led to seizures, very fast heart rate, anxiousness, high blood pressure and even death.

Many of the cold medications are multi-symptom cold medications - they treat coughs, cold, fevers, body aches, runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, etc. Because of this, they obviously contain multiple medications. These medications can have interactions with each other causing bad reactions.

The medications also have confusing names and sometimes parents give children more than one medication trying to treat all of their children’s cold symptoms. They often do not realize that they have now given their child two of the same category of medication ( such as two different cough medications, or two different antihistamines or decongestants or fever reducers). Children were accidentally overdosed because of this.

The doses of the medications are also very small. Children were being overdosed because of medication errors - either giving the wrong dose or giving too often. For example, even using a home teaspoon can cause overdosing because there is such a wide range of sizes of teaspoons. A teaspoon is typically measured to be 5 ml but some teaspoons are much larger now.

Using a proper measuring devices is very important. Never guess or use a home teaspoon. Always use a medication measuring spoon or syringe when giving medication to your child.

Some of the medications cause sedation. There are many dangerous problems associated with sedation, but one very practical one, is that children cannot drink enough when they are sleepy from medication. So that can lead to dehydration.

The bottom line: Over the counter cold and cough remedies have not been shown to be effective in changing the course of the cold, or make it go away any faster. No research has shown that the medications help with symptoms and the risk of side effects is very high. They are not recommended for us in children under 6 and should be used with caution in any age child.

What about Homeopathic therapy?

Homeopathic therapy is based on treatments from nature - plants, animals and minerals. The FDA does regulate the homeopathic industry as drugs and regulates their preparation to make sure that what is on the label is what is in the bottle.  (If using homeopathic medication in the US, look for the label HPUS)

The FDA  does not regulate the claims of the effectiveness of the products themselves. So, a product can be labeled as effective in treating a certain health condition, when there may not actually be any evidence to prove the claim.

Homeopathy is based on the premise that symptoms can be cured by taking very small diluted doses of the same products that would actually cause those symptoms if taken in larger doses.

For example, a wet cough is treated with a plant that causes increased secretions. The higher the number on the bottle, the more dilute the concentration. At some point the dilution is said to no longer contain any active ingredient, but the solution holds a “memory” of the ingredient.

However, there are still reports of toxicity, allergic reactions, and adverse reactions to these products. Those could be due to additives or stabilizers in the medication, or other ingredients in the product, such as a meat or dairy derivative, which people could be allergic to. Or, the child may be given the dose too frequently and then may actually develop the symptoms you are trying to avoid.

In the past, homeopathic remedies were dispensed by practitioners who were skilled in these practices. But now many of these medications are available over the counter.

As with any medication, you should discuss with your child’s own health care provider the use of homeopathic medications.  

If you decide that you want to use a homeopathic remedy, it is best to go to a practitioner who is well versed in the actual products and what they are used for.

A best practice would be never to use homeopathic medications with an infant. You should always have your infant or young child evaluated by their own health care provider to make sure of the diagnosis prior to being treated with a homeopathic remedy.

Another good practice would be to only use homeopathic medications in previously healthy children who have no pre- existing health conditions.

What about Essential Oils?

Essential oils, sometimes called aromatherapy,  are becoming increasingly popular in use in children. They are fragrant essences that are found in many plants, each with its own chemical makeup, that affects how it smells, how it is absorbed and how it is used by the body.

You may see these products claiming to treat or even prevent some of your child's cold symptoms. Who regulates these products? 

Under the law, how essential oils or aromatherapy products are regulated depends on how they are "intended for use". The FDA determines a product's intended use based on the claims in its labeling, the advertising and its website. 

It is then classified as a drug or a cosmetic. Or sometimes both. The law doesn't require cosmetics to have FDA approval before it goes to market. 

But if a product is intended for a therapeutic use, such as treating or preventing disease, it is classified as a drug.

So if a product claims to relieve colic, or help you sleep, or relieve pain or cold symptoms, these are drug claims. 

Even though a product that is marketed as a lotion or oil is made from a plant doesn't keep it from being regulated as a drug. - Or because it claims to be natural or organic. The FDA does not make that distinction. 

This is where many essential oils may be concerning. No essential oil company to date has gotten approval to sell essential oils as drugs due to not having the data to meet the FDA standards for sale of drugs.

They have not submitted data to support the effectiveness of their claims, nor is there any safety information on their products for use as drugs.

Many products were regulated for use in one area but are being marketed for use in another.  Several large companies have received warnings from the FDA to suspend these practices or become compliant. 

If an essential oil distributor makes a claim regarding a potential therapeutic use, you should look for this statement.

"These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease".

So, the concern is you may be using a product marketed as a drug that has no safety profile for use in your child. 

Now one of the more common uses of essential oils, particularly for colds is diffusing the oils. 

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology made the following statement: 

There are no published studies specifically examining the effects of diffused essential oils on asthma. However, there have been data published on the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from diffused essential oils (Su HJ et al, 2007; Chiu HH et al., 2009). These studies have found that diffused essential oils such as lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree, were found to release terpenes, toluene, and benzene, among other VOCs, into the air. Terpenes have been associated with increased nocturnal breathlessness, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and peak expiratory flow variability among patients with and without asthma (Norback et al, 1995). Anecdotally, there have been reports of respiratory symptoms in asthmatics and non-asthmatics due to a variety of diffused essential oils.

One of the hallmarks of asthma, especially during episodes of sub-optimal control, is non-specific bronchial hyperactivity, where airborne irritants can trigger bronchospasm. Given this information, I would recommend that patients exercise caution when using essential oil diffusers. Though these oils are “natural”, they release VOCs which have been associated with increased asthma symptoms.

Essential oils can have different effects on children than they do adults. The oils can have a much stronger reaction in children. Some of the oils when ingested are safe but when placed on the skin can cause an allergic reaction or irritate the skin.

And some of the oils can be poisonous if swallowed.

As always, discuss the use of essential oils with your healthcare provider first and never use in children with asthma, allergies or respiratory problems.

Should you decide to use essential oils in your child , use them with caution, watch for any side effects, particularly skin reactions and increased respiratory problems.

You should always let your healthcare provider know if your child is taking any homeopathic remedy, using any essential oils or using any other over the counter medication in case of potential reaction or interaction with any prescribed drugs.

Prevention

Of course, I would be remiss without mentioning PREVENTION!

The best way to deal with a cold is to prevent it. And the 2 best ways to prevent a cold are:  

Avoid People Who Are Sick

Cold viruses are so contagious. Do a good screening before you allow guests in your home. Especially with newborns and children under 3 months of age. And, if you go out in public, be cautious about where you are going and who you are exposing your child to.

Good Handwashing

Cold viruses can survive on surfaces for several hours outside the body. That is why good handwashing with soap and water or an alcohol based product for you and your child - and people who will be touching your child is so important. It is important as well to wipe down public surfaces that your child will be touching - like shopping carts.

 
When to call your healthcare provider

Always follow the instructions given to you by your own healthcare provider.  I provided some general guidelines for you to follow.  But, these are just guidelines. If you are unsure about anything or have any questions, or are worried, never hesitate to call your own healthcare provider.

Some important situations when parents should call the healthcare provider.

• Any fever (>100.4 rectal)  in a child less than 2 months of age
• Any cold symptoms in a child less than 3 months of age
• Fever that goes away then comes back again later in illness
• Any noisy breathing or difficulty breathing
• Symptoms that are getting worse not better
• Child is uncomfortable, has persistent crying and cannot be consoled
• Child is not taking fluids well, decreased diapers or has signs of dehydration
• Prolonged symptoms greater than 2 weeks
• Persistent cough

Complications or Conditions You Might See   

Any signs or symptoms that indicate that these conditions have developed should prompt you to call your healthcare provider right away

Sinus infections

How do you know when your child may have a sinus infection? Remember it is not based on the color of the drainage. The common cold typically lasts 10 -14 days and should be getting better each day.

What you may see:

If your child has had symptoms of prolonged nasal congestion and mucous for two weeks or more, often with worsening cough (often worse at night or early morning) then your child may either have developed a new cold or a sinus infection.  

What you need to do:

Contact your healthcare provider for further evaluation

Ear infections  

Ear infections are not typically present at the beginning of the cold. They usually develop a few days after the cold when the mucus has blocked the airflow between the nose and the ear and bacteria or viruses begin to grow.

What you may see:  

Fever may develop or return or increase. Fever is often very high with an ear infection, but not always. Baby begins to get extremely fussy, crying and not able to be consoled. Ear infections are very painful.

You may notice that the child is pulling on the ears or batting at the face. Baby may seem hungry but then pull away from the breast or bottle and not want to eat due to the pressure in the ears. Baby often won’t lay down during naps or night. Ear infections are painful all the time though, so baby won’t just show signs at night.

What you need to do:

Contact your healthcare provider for further evaluation right away

Dehydration

It is unusual for a baby to become dehydrated from the common cold alone but complications can lead to dehydration.

What you may see:

Baby is not drinking as much, not feeding as often or finishing bottles, or not breastfeeding as long or as often. Child will have decreased activity. You may notice that they are not as active or playful. They may be sleeping more and difficult to wake up. When the child is awake, they don’t want to play or interact with you. The child will have a decreased number of wet diapers. A young child should have at least one wet diaper every 6 hours as a guideline.

What you need to do:

Contact your healthcare provider for further evaluation right away

Bronchiolitis

Usually caused by one of the cold viruses such as RSV. This is a common condition in the winter months in which the small airways in the lungs become inflamed, swell and get filled with excess mucus causing difficulty breathing. It is usually treated with supportive care but can be dangerous for young babies or premature babies.  

What you may see:

Excessive mucus production, rapid breathing - child seems to be panting, chest pulling in or caving in when breathing, (you can see between ribs as they are breathing, and maybe the nostrils flaring in and out). Baby may not be able to finish a feeding due to coughing or panting or getting tired.  

The cough gets worse and changes - it  sounds unusual. The baby’s breathing is noisy -  like a whistling sound when breathing or coughing.

What you need to do:

Contact your healthcare provider for further evaluation right away.  

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that often requires antibiotics to get better. The healthcare provider can most often hear this on examination of the chest with a stethoscope but sometimes an x-ray is required. This is a common complication of the flu.

What you may see:

Persistent cough or worsening cough, chest pain, rapid breathing, fever returns or develops or gets higher.  

What you need to do:

Contact your healthcare provider for further evaluation

Croup  

Cold Virus that causes swelling of the vocal cords and airway.

What you may see: 

Child has a classic coughing sound like a seal barking. It is usually worse at night and early morning hours. May make a raspy noise when breathing in (stridor). The symptoms can either develop after the child has had cold symptoms for a few days or can develop out of nowhere in the middle of the night. It can be very scary as the child can appear to not be able to breathe.

What you need to do:

Try to keep the child calm -the more upset the child gets the more the airway spasms. Treatment is humidity to relax and reduce swelling of the airway. Any moist air will calm the airway - standing on your front porch in the wet night air, opening your freezer and breathing  the cold air, while getting a steamy shower ready. Take the child into the steamy bathroom and let the child breathe the humidified air for 15 minutes.

If the child does not improve or worsens, call your healthcare provider immediately.

Asthma

Children with a diagnosis of asthma, have many things that trigger their symptoms. One of the most common is a cold virus.

What you may see:  

Cold symptoms for a few days followed by a cough that is worsening and/or changing. The child may have coughing spasms with activity such as playing, talking, laughing, or running. You may notice the child struggling or working hard to breathe (chest pulling in with breathing) with panting or rapid breathing. You may hear noisy breathing (wheezing, whistling when breathing out). 

What you need to do:

If you have an Asthma Action Plan, begin this at the first sign of a cold virus.

If symptoms worsen, contact your healthcare provider for further evaluation

The common cold may be considered a minor illness but it sure can make children miserable. It is so hard as a parent to know when something should worry you or not. As parents, we always want to be able to fix what is making our children feel badly, and it is a helpless feeling to have to wait something out or not have a medicine to make something go away.

Most of the time, children get over their cold symptoms in just a few days. And symptomatic treatment is the safest and best way to help them recover with the fewest complications.

I have given you 8 ways that are proven to be safe and effective in helping your child to get over the cold.

I also listed for you some of the most common complications that you may possibly see related to cold viruses and what to do if you suspect that those have developed.

I also gave you some information about over the counter medications and other complementary therapies to discuss with your health care provider when considering use of those. 

With this information, and the most important treatment of all  - some tender loving care and extra special cuddling, hopefully your child will weather the cold season with nothing worse than a little bit of spoiling. (and who doesn’t deserve to be spoiled when they are sick, right?)

(ps I don't really believe that nonsense about spoiling your baby!) 

You may want to bookmark this information so that you can look it up the next time your child gets a cold - as children can get up to 6 colds in a year  - you may be needing it again. 

I made this pretty comprehensive for you so that you can have some fact based information to turn to when your child is sick.

If you need to discuss your own child's condition,  contact your healthcare provider.  If you have more questions, come on over to the Private Dream Baby Cafe FaceBook Community and let’s have some further discussion. I would love to hear your concerns.