Hopefully your child has toughened up over the summer, so they’re not too sensitive to temperature swings and damp weather. Still, prolonged exposure to cold can weaken the body’s defenses and let bacteria and viruses take hold. Protect your child from contact with anyone who is coughing or sneezing, because people can carry respiratory infections and spread them to others.
If a family member has a runny nose or a cough, it’s best for them to keep their distance from your child. If contact is unavoidable, they should wear a gauze mask.
But if your child does get sick, how should you care for them?
Keep the living space clean. Use a damp cloth to wipe surfaces, dust thoroughly, and ventilate the room frequently.
Dress your child warmly, but avoid overheating them, because overheating can raise their temperature. If your little one starts to sweat, change them into dry clothes quickly.
Sick children breathe more easily when they’re upright, so hold them in your arms more often. Only give medications as prescribed. If the medicine tastes unpleasant, make it more palatable. Crush the tablet or powder and mix it with a small amount of sweetened water or syrup, then give it with a spoon. Immediately follow it with a generous amount of water or warm tea so the child doesn’t taste the bitterness.
HOW TO ADMINISTER NASAL DROPS
Give medications while the child is sitting up. If they lie down, the medicine may stick to the walls of the esophagus and not work effectively.
If your little one has a stuffy nose, they may struggle to nurse or take a bottle. Before feeding, gently clear their nose with a cotton swab, then apply the prescribed nasal drops. Warm the drops to 30–35 degrees Celsius (86–95 degrees Fahrenheit) and place 1–2 drops in each nostril. When applying drops in the right nostril, tilt the child’s head to the right; for the left nostril, tilt it to the left. This position helps the medication stay in place and keeps the nasal mucosa moist.
Sterilize the dropper and use it only for this child.
HOW TO APPLY MUSTARD PLASTERS
Children often find this procedure uncomfortable and may pull the plasters off before they take effect. To prevent that, take a piece of cotton fabric or gauze, soak it in warmed oil, and place the dry mustard plasters on it. This softens their action and may allow your child to keep them on for 10–15 minutes or longer. Afterward, wrap your little one in a dry blanket or towel and dress them in a warm shirt or sweater.
COUGH COMPRESS
Rub about a teaspoon of honey on the chest (over the area of the bronchi). Cover it with a raw cabbage leaf warmed over steam or in hot water, and pat the leaf down on both sides. Once the leaf is in place, secure it with a warm scarf in a crisscross fashion. Do the compress overnight or for 2–3 hours during a daytime nap.
