My baby has been sick for the last couple of days. And when he’s sick, it truly breaks my heart. Runny nose, coughing, sneezing, has a hard time sleeping, and extra long naps. Normally, when I know he’s sick, I start to prepare for a long day and even longer nights. I keep a few things by my nightstand!
- A Nasal Aspirator – There are so many different types of aspirators on the market. I use the Bulb Nasal Aspirator but I’ve heard many great things about the Frida Baby Nasal Aspirator. I honestly can’t stomach it but I’ve heard you WON’T inhale anything and it’s less messy and easier to use, it’s dishwasher safe and there are disposable filters.
- Little Remedies Saline Spray and Drops – This helps loosen up the mucus in the nose and helps the baby breathe a little better. I normally do 2 quick squirts, just enough to loosen the mucus, into each nostril before and after each time I clean out their nose with the aspirator. I asked my husband to do it for me once and he just held it, it continued to spray with each long squeeze he did! I guess in his defense, the directions don’t say how long to hold the bottle while squeezing, but now he does!
- A thermometer – Personally, I love the Vicks Speedread Thermometer. It reads fast, that way you’re not sitting there waiting for the results while the baby is screaming and the screen changes color based on the temperature. There have been plenty of nights where I would check the baby’s temperature with my hand and try to gauge if the baby had a fever or not! It’s easier to keep it on the nightstand, that way you aren’t looking for it with the lights off or using a flashlight.
- Children’s Tylenol or Children’s Motrin – You can always call your pediatrician to see how much of a dose to give your baby, they’ll most likely ask for the baby’s last weight, that way they can give the appropriate dose. Sometimes underdosing won’t have much of an effect. If the fever comes back in 6 hours or less, you can always alternate which medication you give. But definitely confirm with your pediatrician! Don’t be afraid to call if it’s 2 a.m. or later!
- A Humidifier – It is recommended to use a cool mist humidifier. So technically this isn’t on the nightstand but by the baby’s bed. This is very helpful when sleeping at night. The humidifier helps break up the mucus and soothe an irritated nasal passage. My babies always sleep better when it’s near their bed when they’re sick. The Crane Drop Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier comes at different speeds and is easy to clean. When the water runs out, the humidifier automatically turns off. Before I had a humidifier with my first child, I would run a hot shower at night and wait until the bathroom got steamy, I would then sit with her at night in the shower to make sure she inhaled some of the steam to help her with her cough.
- Hydration – It is important to make sure your baby is hydrated while they have a cold. If they’re still on the bottle or breastfeeding, don’t miss any feeding and try to offer it more often. If your baby is not feeding as long as they normally do, shorter more frequent feedings can help prevent dehydration.
Make sure to call your pediatrician to schedule an appointment, especially with a fever! When my daughter started school when she was 3, she was constantly getting ear infections and the only way we knew was because she would get high fevers. She was never one to complain about her ears until she got older.
I hope you find this list helpful. When your baby is sick, it feels as though there’s not much you can do to help them. But with these few things, especially nearby at night, it’ll make an easier night for your baby and you.