Pediatrics: Lillian Beard, M.D.

My 4-month-old woke up with his first cold--runny nose, cough, watery eyes. What's the best way to treat a cold?

By Lillian Beard, M.D.

Infant colds last anywhere from three to ten days on average. And although there is no cure for a cold, there are ways to make your baby more comfortable: Use a warm, moist cloth on his eyes to clear the sticky stuff.

To help relieve congestion, apply saline nose drops before feedings, naps, and at bedtime. After a minute or so, the saline should loosen congestion enough so that you can suck it out with an infant nasal aspirator (rubber-bulb syringe). Place one or two telephone books beneath the head of his mattress to elevate his head and chest slightly and help him breathe with greater ease. If his symptoms become more intense, or if fever, increased irritability, or lethargy occurs, seek the advice of your pediatrician immediately.

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