No matter how much you try to protect your kids from anything bad ever happening to them, the fact of the matter is its impossible to keep every harmful thing away, especially when it comes to illness. With such tiny immune systems, its only natural and normal for them to experience sickness in one form or another from all those big, bad germs out there. However, taking care of a sick child, especially one thats too small to talk to you and express what theyre feeling, can leave you feeling helpless as a parent. So to try to give you a little assistance in making your little one feel better when sick, here are three tips to help you take care of your baby when he or she isnt feeling well.
Soothing During Sickness
If your baby is experience typical infant discomfort, like gas, stuffy or runny nose, mild fever or other cold-like symptoms, theres little more you can do for them than offer comfort. According to WebMD, there are a few things you can do for your child to soothe him or her while youre waiting for the sickness to run its course. Some of these things are offering plenty of liquids and rest, keeping their nasal passages clear with saline drops or syringes, loosening up mucus with a humidifier or sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running, and simply offering love and attention. Of course, you also know what special things your baby likes when theyre feeling upset, so just hunker down and try to make the best of this bad situation.
Consider Natural Remedies
Offering medication to babies is not always a good idea. Many types of medications dont react well with the growing body of an infant and can actually cause more harm than good if administered before theyre old enough or big enough to handle it. In these situations, you may want to consider some natural remedies to help. Meryl Davids Landau, a contributor to Parents.com, recommends some natural remedies like heated honey and lemon juice, chamomile tea, fresh ginger and more. By using these natural remedies, you can ensure youre not giving your baby harmful medications before you should.
Know When To Seek Medical Attention
While many of the mild illnesses your child experiences can just be handled at home with a little TLC, there are times where youll want to seek medical attention to be sure nothing more serious is going in with your baby. Baby Centre suggests for parents to visit their doctor or emergency room in circumstances such as 12 or more hours of vomiting or diarrhea, high fever, persistent crying, signs of dehydration and more. Also remember that its better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your childs health, so make an appointment with the doctor for any other medical reasons you feel to be suspicious.
When you baby gets sick, youll want to do everything you can to help him or her feel better quick and be as comfortable as possible. To help make both of these things happen, use the tips mentioned above to ensure youre taking the best care of your ill child as possible.
