Call a Doctor Immediately You See These 5 Bad Signs of Your Baby's Colds

My baby keeps on sneezing, and I am getting worried. She finds it hard to breathe so I asked my friends what to do when my baby has nasal congestion. They say to try your best in making your baby sneeze and do it the right way. I agree with them since it helps decongest my baby’s nose. But, I am bothered that her condition may be more than a typical congestion.

When is the right time to call a doctor when babies have colds? I want to know the signs, so I am sure that I am not overreacting or becoming negligent of my baby.


Signs That Your Baby Needs Medical Attention

1. He has a high fever. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, the normal body temperature of a baby is between 97 degrees Fahrenheit to 100.3 degrees. Once your child’s temperature goes higher, he has a fever. 

You can call your doctor right away when your baby is three months or younger, and his body temperature is 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and over. For babies 3 to 6 months, they should start at 101 degrees Fahrenheit before you call your doctor. Babies who are six months and older needs medical attention when their temperature starts at 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

How to know if your baby has a fever? Kiss or touch his forehead, armpits and lower abdomen. If he feels hotter than normal in these areas, he is likely to have a fever. You can also check his temperature using a thermometer.

2. Your baby is having trouble breathing. It is not normal for kids to gasp for air. The normal breathing of a person is without any noises and difficulty. Once you see your baby creating strange noises when breathing in, he may already be struggling for air. It is also a sign of concern when he is making loud noises while sleeping or wheezing.

Observe your baby once in a while when he breathes. Call your doctor immediately when you see that he struggles in gasping for air. You can also check his nails. A sign that he lacks oxygen in the body is when his nails turn purple.

3. Colds persist for several days. When your child continues to experience sneezing after a few days, you can visit your doctor for a check-up. It is not normal for a baby to prolong his colds, as it might already be an infection that causes his sickness.

Count the days when his sneezing starts. See if he has a runny nose and has red eyes due to constant sneezing. You can look for natural ways to decongest the nose and see if it cures. Otherwise, have it checked by your doctor.

4. Your baby consistently pulls his ears. Babies become irritated when they feel something wrong in their body. They will pull or tug their ears due to ear pain caused by infection. An ear infection usually follows a cold or a sinus infection. There will be a bad smell from his ears, and it would be difficult to lie down on the sides.

Avoid self-medicating an ear infection. Applying ointments and touching the inside of your baby’s ear without a consent of your doctor can cause serious risks. Once you see the signs of infection, visit your doctor immediately.

5. He has a severe cough. Coughing is one way of clearing the mucus out of the lungs. Some coughs only want to get rid of phlegm or blocks in the airways. But, be mindful of a bad cough. Pediatricians claim that infants who are 4 months and younger do not usually cough a lot. If they do, it is something serious and must be checked immediately.

Observe how your baby is coughing. A red flag is when he vomits whenever he coughs. When babies have colds, it is sometimes accompanied by a dry cough that helps clear out nasal drips. Once there is phlegm or a wet cough, a bacterial infection is forming along his airways.

Extra Tips to Help Your Baby Deal With Colds

•    Have him drink milk. It will keep him hydrated, which is important to fight common colds.
•    Help him decongest his nose. Look for ways on how to clear up his nose to help him breathe better. For instance, turn on the humidifier or apply a nasal aspirator on his nose.
•    Allow him to rest. Maximize his time of sleep especially if he is having difficulty in sleeping at night.
•    Make him comfortable. Your baby will get cranky due to discomfort. Make sure he has the comfort he needs despite the struggle he is going through.


Conclusion

Talking to a doctor should not be a problem for us especially when it comes to our children. Do not be afraid to call your doctor even if you only have a small concern. Even the smallest symptoms can already be a sign of a severe problem.

Treat your doctor as a friend who can help you keep your baby safe and healthy at all times.

How did you feel when your child had his first cold? What did you do? Tell us your story!

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Author Bio:

Mary Ross is a mom of four. She loves using her energy to help other people improve their lives. She started The Impressive Kids to help first-time moms and dads overcome the challenges of being new parents. She’s a foodie, and always finds time to cook for her family.