If your child has a cold, bring him to see a doctor as soon as you can and stock up on some essentials to help him recover quickly.
Having a sick baby or toddler can be worrisome for parents. Here are some essentials to help manage the symptoms and help your child recover faster. If you don’t have them on hand, don’t fret - Motherswork offers same day express delivery at $10.
Treating Babies and Toddlers with Colds
Babies with colds should get better within 10 to 14 days, while fevers should subside between three to five days. Bring babies less than three months to see a doctor as soon as you can to ensure they don’t have anything more serious. Some worrisome symptoms for older babies and toddlers include having a temperature higher than 38°C, with a persistent cough, trouble breathing or wheezing or having extreme fatigue. Easily consult a doctor via WhiteCoat, and have your babies and toddlers’ medicines sent straight to your home.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
1. Hand Sanitiser
While your little one is sick, wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Alternatively use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser like these from Purell ($3.90 to $24.50) with at least 60 per cent alcohol. Your older children should also wash their hands regularly and avoid touching their eyes, noses or mouths with unwashed hands.
Frequently clean your baby’s toys and pacifiers and common areas to reduce spreading germs to other family members.
2. Surface Disinfectant
Additionally, clean frequently touched surfaces like your baby’s toys and pacifiers to reduce spreading germs to everyone else. Try Twinkle Baby’s Multi Purpose Cleaner ($27.20) to kill any viruses on your child’s toys and other high contact areas like high chairs and door handles. For food contact surfaces, use the Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant (up to $18.90), which kills 99.99 per cent of viruses within a minute.
Keep the air in your home clean with the Airfree TulipAir Babyair Purifier, which uses TSS air sterilising technology to destroy viruses.
3. Air Purifier
The Airfree P series, certified to kill or destroy Coronavirus, uses TSS air sterilising technology to destroy bacteria, viruses and other organic allergens. Completely silent, it does not require any filters or maintenance and helps reduce indoor harmful ozone levels. The Airfree Filterless TulipAir Babyair 80 Air Purifier ($499) also offers a night light projection of stars and moons to create a soothing environment for your little ones.
Treating Fevers
Try to get babies and toddlers to eat and drink as normally as they can. Little ones who are still nursing can get extra protection against cold causing germs. Additionally, toddlers can take panadol or paracetamol to reduce their fevers, but carefully follow the dosage instructions.
4. Thermometer
While the rectal thermometer is the most accurate, using this may prove to be nearly impossible. Consider using the Lollababy Forehead Thermometer ($129) instead, which measures temperatures in two seconds and hygienically for large groups or families. Once temperatures are above 37.5°C, the thermometer will emit beeps to signal fever. Additionally, it’s portable and runs on two AAA batteries, with a blue LED backlight on the LCD screen.
Another option is the Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Digital Ear Thermometer ($99). Simply place the tip in your baby’s ear and get a reading in a second. This is also suitable for the whole family to use, and can store up to nine readings for easy monitoring and comparison.
Sweaty babies and those with fevers can cool down on these Hi Jell-o Mats from Lolbaby, which are five degrees lower than room temperatures.
5. Cooling Mat and Sheets
Help lower your child’s temperature with the Lolbaby Hi Jell-o Cool Mat ($168). Suitable for high fevers, this mat is also used in Paju’s hospital emergency rooms to treat high temperatures. This mat is five degrees lower than room temperatures so your baby will always be cool. It’s waterproof, and its microfibre weave protects against house dust mites. Use this as a sleeping mat, waterproof pad or a cooling mat.
Additionally, the Pigeon Cooling Sheets ($6.50) absorbs heat and helps cool your baby’s temperature. Dermatologically tested, these are gentle on your baby’s skin, and can last up to eight hours.
Gentle and breathable, little ones will love being tucked in with Little Rei’s four-layer blanket, so they’ll get the rest they need to recover from their cold.
6. Blanket
Keep your little one comfortable with Little Rei’s premium bamboo rayon muslin four-layer blanket ($79). This gets softer with each wash, and is gentle and breathable, so your little one will not overheat, even with a fever. It also helps babies feel more comfortable and secure so they can get more rest to fight off their colds.
Clearing Stuffy and Blocked Noses
Use the biodegradable, ultra-soft Aleva Naturals Nose n Blows Wipe to clean your child’s nose - it’s gentle and moisturising.
7. Nose Wipes
Help clean stuffy noses with the Aleva Naturals Nose n Blows Wipes ($7.90), with eucalyptus oils and natural saline solution. Even better, the wipes are biodegradable in 28 days. Use these ultra-soft, unbleached wipes to gently clean, clear and moisturise their noses, while the lavender oils help soothe and comfort them.
Even kids can clear their noses on their own with the Lollababy Nasal Aspirator.
8. Nasal Aspirator
Another option is to use an aspirator to help clear stuffy noses. The Lollababy Nasal Aspirator ($119) is medical grade, gentle yet powerful to clear mucus, snot and boogers easily and quickly. Choose from the three silicone tips to use on newborns and young children. Otherwise, suck out the snot easily and gently with the NoseFrida Aspirator Bundle Set ($25.90), where the hygiene filters block the germs and snot. A cool water humidifier can also help loosen nasal congestion.
A Lollababy battery-operated nebuliser can help open your child’s airways and help him breathe better, but it’s always best to check with your doctor before usage.
9. Nebuliser
Open the airways and treat breathing issues due to a cold with a Lollababy Battery-Operated Portable Micromesh Nebuliser ($209). This nebuliser, safe for both infants and adults, can help deliver medicine in the form of a mist, which is inhaled into the lungs. It helps loosen the phlegm and mucus which can be sucked out later. With an effective, newly-developed micromesh design, the nebuliser has an alloy mesh and titanium vibration to improve its efficiency. Furthermore, it comes in two mask sizes for children and adults.
With Aleva Naturals’ Soothing Chest Rub, relieve congestion from your baby’s airways and help them sleep better.
10. Chest Rub
Help clear your baby’s airways with Aleva Naturals Soothing Comfort Chest Rub ($22.90), with eucalyptus and lavender oils. Apply a small amount to your fingertips and massage your baby’s chest or back area. The chest rub also has organic shea butter, olive and natural almond oils to moisturise your little one’s skin. This is best for babies six months and older.
Relevant Reads: The Common Cold
Credits: Rawpixel, Jauz Chen, Sianne, Donne, KoyouriChan
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