Imagine being born right in the thick of cold and flu season. That was David’s luck. The now four-year-old had his first cold just weeks after he was born, recalls Maple, Ont., mom Fina Rao, and three more over the next six months. “It was difficult to see such a little thing struggling to breathe,” she says.

Luckily, most babies don’t catch colds as often as older kids, primarily because they still have some immunity from their mother, explains Dr. Fabian Gorodzinsky, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ont., and a spokesperson for the Canadian Paediatric Society. Also, thanks to year-long maternity leaves, babies may not be exposed to germs at daycare until their first birthday. But visitors and siblings do increase the chances of exposure to viruses in the first year.

In David’s case it was a combination of things: “September was when we started spending more time indoors and so naturally his older sibling (who was in school), dad and visitors may have brought in unwanted viruses. He was also one of these babies who loved to put his hands — and whatever else he could grab — into his mouth,” says his mom.

So what kinds of prevention tactics can you use? It’s up to everyone around your baby to help lower his risk. Family and visitors should practise good handwashing hygiene and keep their distance if they are ill — cuddles can wait.

over-the-counter confusion

Of course, if sniffles are fated to come your baby’s way, you’ll naturally want to provide comfort. The challenge is that over-the-counter relief isn’t much of an option for infants and toddlers since many cold meds are crossed off the kid-safe list. “Children’s cold medications aren’t recommended for kids under age six because of side effects that have been reported that, while not common, are very serious and can include altered levels of consciousness and irregular heart rate or rhythm,” explains Philip Emberley, director of pharmacy innovation with the Canadian Pharmacists Association. So how can you soothe your babe’s symptoms?

Stuffy nose: Babies can have a hard time feeding with a plugged nose. Use saline drops or spray to loosen mucus and soothe the delicate lining inside the nasal passages. A nasal aspirator (a rubber bulb syringe) can help gently suck out mucus from the nose. If nasal mucus is coloured (typically greenish) and accompanied by fever, it may be symptomatic of a bacterial infection, and you should consider calling your doctor. A cool-mist humidifier can also help keep nasal passages moist. Vaporizers aren’t recommended because the hot steam can burn a child. Just be sure to clean and disinfect your humidifier regularly, according to product instructions, or you may be exposing your baby to harmful bacteria and mould.

Chest congestion: Experts don’t recommend using vapour rubs on babies or children under four. Dr. Gorodzinsky says the menthol in these products could possibly affect the movement of the cilia (tiny hairs) inside the nose and lungs that help push the bacteria or virus out of the respiratory tract. Simply having your child in an upright position can help reduce congestion or you can elevate his mattress by placing a pillow or rolled towel between the mattress and box spring — never directly in the crib.

Fever: Treat fever and discomfort with ibuprofen (like Motrin or Advil) or acetaminophen (like Tylenol or Tempra). If a child is under six months old, though, any fever can be serious, so call your doctor for advice. Aspirin (or ASA) is no longer recommended for anyone under age 18 because of the increased risk of Reye’s syndrome, which can damage the liver and brain.

cold caution

Check for the following not-so-mild symptoms, which can be signs of a serious illness that may require immediate medical attention.

• Lethargy and sleepiness
• Under three months old and an armpit temperature of 37.3ËšC (99.1ËšF) or a rectal temperature of 38.1ËšC (100.4ËšF) or higher
• Trouble breathing, which can include laboured breathing, flaring of nostrils, skin pulling in between the ribs and rapid breathing
• Loss of appetite or vomiting
• Blue lips
• Symptoms lasting more than a week or continuing to worsen.

For more information on colds, visit the Canadian Paediatric Society website at cps.ca/caringforkids/whensick/colds.htm

Angela Pirisi is a Hamilton, Ont.-based health writer and mom who believes hand-washing hygiene is the best defence against a cold.