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When your child is born it has an immature immune system, babies are particularly vulnerable to coughs, colds and flu.
In fact, don't be surprised if your little one has up to 10 sniffley episodes in their first year. These illnesses are
mainly caused by viruses which you can't cure with medicine. The best you can do is to treat the symptoms to make your baby
feel better, don't despair just try to remember that each time your baby is ill, they build up more antibodies to protect
them later in life.
Symptoms and care
The most obvious sign of a cold is a runny or blocked nose, your baby might also have a cough and a raised temperature.
There is still no cure because it is caused by a virus but you can help in many other ways to alleviate the symptoms
- The best form of treatment is lots of rest and plenty of fluids
- Tale your child in to the bathroom and run the shower, the steam will help to clear their air ways
- A couple of drops of menthol, eucalyptus or olbis oil placed near the child’s bed on a tissue or in a vaporiser
may help them to sleep.
- Help keep their airways clear by wiping their nose gently every so often.
- If your baby has a fever there are various infant painkillers on the market but always read the label to ensure that they
are suitable for your child
- Always be mindful if your child develops a rash, it could be a sign of another illness such as German measles, mumps or
meningitis so if you see a rash always have it checked out by a medical professional straight away.
- Placing a pillow under your child’s mattress, can raise the head and help them breath
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