OK… I’ve been resisting for so long, but I have to admit that it is autumn now! The leaves are turning gorgeous golden colours, the weather is decidedly chillier, and our little bubba has had her first ever cold!  🍂 🤧💊🧤🌡️

It started innocently enough, with a few coughs and sneezes and a bit of a bewildered expression on her face! Her dad had caught a cold at work, so it seemed almost inevitable that she would soon follow suit with this little test of her budding immune system! 

Despite the sniffles, sneezes, and a hint of fever, I have to say, I was so impressed by bubba’s quiet resilience and stoicism! During the day, she had lots of bright moments where she played happily. Still, with a stuffy nose making breathing and feeding difficult, she sometimes looked at me with eyes that seemed to say, “What’s this cruel trick, mummy?” Cuddles and cosy afternoons by the fire were our secret weapon, though they couldn’t entirely erase the frustration of not being able to explain to her what was happening. But overall, she did an amazing job at soldiering through, and not letting a common cold get in the way of family fun! 

Cold Comforts

Facing her so-to-speak inaugural cold at the age of just 5 months meant she couldn’t take over-the-counter cold and flu remedies, so we had to tackle the cold with a blend of extra patience and cuddles, plus some natural remedies. Here are some of the strategies that helped us through those trying days.

Relieving a Runny Nose

Our main duty really was relieving the stuffy nose.  During the day, we used a baby-safe angelica nose balm that I found at the chemist’s. It’s made with plant-based ingredients and herbs. You rub it on the outside of the nostrils, and breathing in the scents helps to loosen mucus – and it did work, for as long as we didn’t have to wipe the runny nose and end up wiping off the balm at the same time. It glistens in the light, too, and makes your baby look a little bit like a sweet little sniffly puppy! 🐶

Also from the chemist’s, I got a baby bubble bath created especially for tackling colds. It has sage and pine oils in it, and again aids in relieving congestion and clearing swollen sinuses. Of course, babies aren’t having hot enough baths to make steam, but it seemed to help nonetheless. 

The aim of loosening the mucus is to be able to remove it with a suction bulb, which is another delightful parenting challenge! Have you seen them? I mean, I wouldn’t really like that mini vacuum cleaner up my nose; and the gurgling noise it makes when you successfully capture some boogers is a dubious reward! 😂🤦‍♀️

At night we employed one of the more innovative methods: onion in a sock. I read about this on a German herbal medicine blog called “Kraut und Wurzel” (external link), and didn’t believe it until I’d tried it for myself. If you finely chop an onion and put the little chunks into a thin sock, then place this near your head while you sleep, the chemical agents that give onions their  pungent scent can help to clear your nasal passage so you can breathe more freely – and get a better nights sleep, despite having a cold! I say “your” because it works for adults as well as babies! Apparently, drinking hot onion water can also have an antibacterial effect and can help with a sore throat – but I didn’t try that, and don’t think our daughter would appreciate that flavour, either! As it was, it felt weird enough making her sleep in an onion-scented bedroom; but it works! 

I’ve read that you can use saline nasal sprays or nose drops, too, or even put a drop of breastmilk in a baby’s nose, apparently, to keep it moisturised and make it easier to remove mucus, but we didn’t try that this time. 

Drinking Games

When your nose is all stuffed up, and you’re breathing through your mouth, eating and drinking become a real struggle, even for grown-ups! I noticed bubba had a tough time breathing while feeding, so I used the suction bulb to clear her nose before latching her on. But, drinking was still a challenge; she’d either give up or doze off quicker than usual. This meant more frequent feedings because the milk intake each time was low and she got hungry again sooner. But actually, it meant she kept herself well-hydrated, so that’s a plus. Drinking all that breast milk I guess also gave her some of my antibodies that helped her fight off the cold. And I’m sure the warm liquid helped soothe her throat, too, if it was sore or dry from coughing. Our bodies do really know what they’re up to! At night, though, it meant she’d wake up more often to feed, so we ended up getting less sleep (nothing surprising for new mums caught in the sleep odyssey!). She made up for it by napping more during the day, so at least she wasn’t too grumpy – Not sure I can say the same for myself! 😏😄

Tablets against Temperatures

We mainly stuck to natural remedies because our bubba’s cold didn’t seem too severe, and in any case a lot of medicine is only suitable once the little ones hit the 6-month mark! But I did ask our paediatrician about syrups or other medication. She recommended a safe dosage of infant paracetamol to alleviate discomfort from high temperature or fever. We kept a digital thermometer handy to monitor our bubba’s temperature, especially as her head seemed unusually warm. In the end, we only needed one little paracetamol suppository on day 2 of the infection. You can get ibuprofen syrups with fruity flavours for kids, but they seem to usually be suitable from 6+ months. Of course I have to say: always consult a doctor or pharmacist before giving your baby any medication, even if it’s available over the counter.

The Cold’s Conclusion

After about 3 days, bubba’s stuffy nose eased off, she could breathe more freely, and wasn’t coughing as much. We had survived her first ever cold! Thank goodness, it wasn’t too bad, and thinking about how to tackle it has probably helped us be prepared for any worse colds or flu in future! It was yet another learning opportunity for us as new parents, though the sleepless nights were like a nightmare reminder of the early days! But I’m glad we’ve found surprisingly simple, yet effective ways to soothe her sniffles and managed to weather the storm together.

Remember, every baby’s experience with a cold is unique, and it’s crucial to consult with your healthcare provider for guidance on the best ways to care for your little one.  Additionally, monitoring the baby’s symptoms and seeking medical attention if things don’t get better, or with any unusual symptoms, is crucial.

OVER TO YOU: Parenthood is a journey of shared wisdom, and together, we can get through the autumn ailments that come our way. So, as we celebrate this small victory, I’d like to invite you to share your experiences and tips for comforting a little one through a cold in the comments below. What surprising remedy have you discovered and now swear by? 💬