Dr. Early Denison, a Dallas pediatrician, says a typical cold in children will run its course over seven to 10 days. Babies under 3 months with cold symptoms should be evaluated by a physician. Older children with colds should be evaluated if there is a persistent fever, lack of appetite, difficulty breathing or if the cold persists beyond 10 days.
Here are some non-pharmaceutical tips for soothing your little one’s illness, according to Denison:
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest.
- Try nasal saline drops or spray, along with a bulb syringe, which can be very effective in relieving congestion in children.
- Make sure your child drinks lots of fluids.
- Use a humidifier in your child’s room. The humidity can decrease irritation in the lungs and therefore decrease cough.
- Elevate the head of the bed with books under the mattress.
- Use Tylenol or ibuprofen for fever or discomfort. Do not use ibuprofen in children less than 6 months.
- Soak in steam from a hot shower to relieve congestion.
- Put Vaseline under the nose to relieve any rawness that develops.
