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Comforting Baby during Illness

By Teri Brown

Everyone knows you can't cure the common cold or the flu. Sometimes you can prevent it with a vaccination, but for the most part, when you catch a cold, you just have to deal with it until it goes away. But what about our children? It's difficult to watch our babies and toddlers suffering. And when does the flu go from being inconvenient to dangerous for our little ones?

Dr. Julia Piwoz from the pediatric infectious diseases division of the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack, N.J., says while there is no vaccine for the common cold, there is a vaccine against influenza that can be used for even very small children.

"Current immunization guidelines recommend that children ages 6 months to 23 months be immunized against the flu," says Dr. Piwoz. "In addition, children 2 years and above with certain health conditions should be immunized, but the vaccine can also be given to healthy children as well as adults."

Prevention is the best way to avoid colds and the flu, and one of the best methods available is hand washing. "Keep wipes or an alcohol-based hand gel if you cannot get to a sink easily," says Dr. Piwoz. "By teaching your child to wash their hands frequently as part of their normal routine, you can prevent them from getting many infections."

While babies and children seem to put everything in their mouths, you can at least discourage your children from doing this early on and try to make sure their hands are clean when they do. Keep your child away from other children and adults who are obviously ill and home from playgroup or daycare if they are sick.

Dr. Piwoz believes while there are no easy cures, there are some things you can do to make your toddler or infant feel better. "Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and plenty of fluids," says Dr. Piwoz. "If your child is running high fevers, they may need to drink more than usual in order to stay well-hydrated. You can use over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen for fever. Some children with documented (positive test) flu infection may benefit from an antiviral medication, but this is not necessarily indicated for all cases and should be discussed with your child's doctor. Antibiotics do not work against colds or the flu."

There are very few nonprescription products to use on children under the age of 2 years without a physician providing a safe dose. Never just pick up a nonprescription product and make up a dose for your baby or toddler based on the doses for older kids on the label.

Want to see more?

• Ear Infectionss: How to Spot and Treat a Common Infant Ailment
• The Facts About RSV: What Every Parent Should Know
• The Risks of RSV: Watching for Signs of Respiratory Syncytial Virus
• Talk about it!