When Baby Gets Sick: Tried and True Methods To Help Your Little One Start Feeling Better

It's the worst thing ever when your baby is sick! They're so little and can't vocalize how they feel and they're just miserable... At least Cocoa Puff almost made it to 9 months before getting sick for the first time. It’s much easier to take care of babies when they’re sick when they’re a little older. You have a few more tools in your arsenal! Here are some of the tools we used for Cocoa Puff. 

Boogie wipes are great! They’re just saline so they’re great for the tiniest congested noses. They’re also awesome for kids of all ages (and husbands too!)

I have a love/hate relationship with saline spray. Note that this is the true saline spray, not the decongestant spray.The spray hitting my nose innards makes me want to puke. Saline spray works very well for my kids. It helps get all sorts of nasty things out. (For adults, a neti pot is amazing!) 

Man, I hate having to use this aspirator thing, but it’s about the only thing that works. I don’t like the bulbs because they’re hard to clean, and I’ve had one GROW MOLD! After using the saline spray, we use this in the boys’ noses (we bought a separate one for each boy just to make it easy when we’re all tired and loopy). Both of them hate it and it’s loud, but it’s effective. It gets the boogers out. Cocoa Puff screamed when we first used it with him, but now it’s been downgraded to a cry. It breaks my heart, but it’s better than leaving that stuff stuck in there! 

We have humidifiers in Froot Loop’s room and our room (Cocoa Puff has his own bed in our room). We put it on high when we’re sick. During the day, we constantly boil a pot of water. The humidity in the air seems to really help. When it gets really bad, I turn the shower on hot, close the doors, and sit in there for awhile. 

Use under your pediatrician’s supervision, but I find that ibuprofen helps relieve symptoms. I take adult ibuprofen when I’m congested because I SWEAR it helps reduce nasal and sinus inflammation. We give Froot Loop the children’s ibuprofen when he needs it. 

When you’re sick, you’ve got to drink tons of extra fluids. If baby is 6 months or older, you can give water, juice, tea, etc. This is one of our favorites. I like the smaller sizes because one of these guys lasts all day usually. Plus, yum!

A thermometer is necessary to make sure no one is running a fever. Get one that gets a reading quickly! 

If your baby is 3 months or older, baby vapo rub can be a miracle worker. Yes it does have eucalyptus and rosemary in it, but it is not in the concentrated essential oil form and there is NO MENTHOL. It is just enough to help with severe congestion. Rub on baby’s feet and/or chest or wherever. I’d watch for a reaction the first time. 

Oh all the tissues! You will need them. Get soft and strong ones… 

Or cloth wipes. Flannel and cotton blends are the softest and the least irritating to little noses. 

We use baby chapstick when little faces get irritated from snot and/or wiping with tissues all the time. Get an all natural, unscented one. Beeswax, coconut oil, and shea butter are all good choices. 

If your baby is old enough, chicken soup is another way to get liquids down. If your little one isn’t quite ready for the bits of noodle, meat, and veggies yet, you can always just use straight chicken broth, or mash up all the food pieces. Cocoa Puff could handle small food chunks at about 8 months, but Froot Loop couldn’t handle this kind of thing until he was over 18 months old. Actually, he still has trouble with soup... 

If you use essential oils, frankincense is a good one for congestion. I just use 1-2 drops in a diffuser around children and babies. 

Lemon is another one that’s good for congestion. Put 3-5 drops in a diffuser or blend with others safe for babies. 

Lavender is the best choice for baby congestion. I use 3 drops lavender, 3 drops lemon, and 1 drop frankincense in my diffuser. I swear it helps. I do it in an open area with good ventilation. 

Here is a diffuser for those essential oils! You can also boil a pot of water and add a few drops of essential oils to it as well. 

Some other things you can do for babies are: 

Extra pillow for elevation. Put it under the crib mattress and only elevate a little bit! Remember not to put pillows in a crib with a baby until they're 12 months old. You can also raise the head of the crib by putting blocks under the feet of the crib. Just make sure it's stable and won't tip. 

Distractions! Even if you don’t regularly allow screen time, now might be a good time to make an exception. PBS Kids is a good choice. No commercials and semi educational programming! 

Lots of rest, love, and cuddles! Remember how icky it feels to be sick. Make sure to give lots and lots of hugs and kisses and cuddles. Try to sneak in a few extra minutes of sleep! Sleep is the best healer! 

Electrolytes are another good liquid for babies, even if they’re not throwing up. Give a few ounces a day or whatever your pediatrician recommends. I wouldn't use Gatorade until your baby is older since there's a lot of salt and sugar and artificial ingredients in it. 

Honey is for BABIES OLDER THAN 12 MONTHS! DO NOT GIVE HONEY TO ANY BABY UNDER 12 MONTHS OLD DUE TO (slight, but still there) RISK OF BOTULISM! For kids with sore throats, honey can be very soothing. 

For kids ages 2 and up, when nothing else is working and you just feel like you need to go the medication route (and THAT IS OKAY!)

A child-safe decongestant might just be what you need to do to get over it. 

Now, finally, I'm going to say right now I recommend the flu shot for babies 6 months and older. If you have decided not to vaccinate, I respect that decision as well, as yes, there's significant medical reasons for not vaccinating. However, the flu shot saves lives. No, "big pharma" does not make money off of it (they spend SO MUCH time and money researching and manufacturing the flu vaccine each year since the flu virus changes constantly). No, vaccines do not cause autism. That study has been proven false over and over, and the scientists even admitted that they falsified data. Here's some articles HERE, HERE, and HERE if you want more info. I am NOT starting a vaccine war here... just saying this is an option for y'all. 

Good luck Mamas and Daddys! 

Remember I am not a doctor or healthcare professional, nor do I play one on TV. Your doctor or pediatrician is the best source of advice for your child(ren). 

How often do you get sick?