As a mom one of the most stressful things that you have to deal with is your child getting sick as it always seems like it happens when you have so many other things you have to do. Then there is the debate in your head as to whether you should take them to the doctor or just try to treat it at home in hopes that it will blow over in twenty-four hours. Though the worst of it is that you know your child doesn't feel well and all you want to do is make all the bad go away. Whether you take your child to the doctor or try using over the counter medicine to make your child feel even a little better it does take time for them to work, leaving you to deal with your sweet little one coughing, sneezing, crying, and possibly more. Lucky for you there are more things you can do to help make your little one feel better while you wait for that medicine to start working or while you wait for that doctors appointment.
For congestion try:
- Good old steam bath or shower. Go into the bathroom, shutting the doors. Then run hot water in the tub or shower for 10 to 15 minutes while your child and you stand in the bath room. Anyone that has taken a hot shower when they have a cold knows that this works. If using the tub you might also look into vapor bath. Many moms have found that keeping a bottle of baby vapor bath in the cabinets at home is a life savor when their family is passing around a cold. However, it can sometimes be hard to find. Babies 'R' Us is a great place to find both the name brand and non name brand. You can also of course find some to buy online, such as amazon.com
- Humidifier. If you don't have one think about getting one. Not only is is a great way to help with colds, but it is also a great thing to have when your heater is drying out the air in your house. For those of you that get nose bleeds or have a child that gets nose bleeds in the winter a humidifier will sometimes help with that. There is also vapor products that you add to your humidifier that might work wonders at night in your child's room to help them breath better all night long, which we all know means you and your kid will sleep better.
- No dairy or cut back on dairy products. It has been a debate off and on as to whether dairy really makes mucus worse or not, but cutting back on the dairy products could help a lot. So instead of giving them a glass of milk or ice cream to help with that sore throat that can sometimes come along with all that sinus drainage try popsicle, cold jello, or frozen juice.
- Keep them elevated. Don't let them lay down flat in bed or on the couch. use pillows, blankets, or even stuffed animals to prop them up so that all that stuff can drain away instead of settling in one spot. If you own a recliner it is a great place to sit them up with a pillow or two. Most kids and adults will be very comfortable with their feet up in a recliner when they are sick.
There are many other things that you can do of course to help make your kiddo feel better when they have a cold. Keeping them hydrated is of course of one of the biggest things with any illness. Though, as a mom you know what all the little things are that make them forget about the yuckies. From watching that movie that you now hate, but know word for word because they love it. To reading the same book over and over.
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