How To Help Your Little One Sleep When They Have A Cold

Before you become a parent, people try to prepare you for things like not getting enough sleep or having to deal with dirty diapers and baby barf, but what they don’t prepare you for is how heartbreaking it is to see your little baby suffer from a cold. And the worst thing is that there is little that can be done externally, you just have to wait it out while they deal with it. Luckily, today we are going to talk about the things that you can actually do to help your little one through these rough patches. As always, give us a shout out on social media or in the comments below if you have your own stories or remedies about dealing with a baby’s cold. We can’t wait to hear from you. 

Keep Their Head Elevated 

As you are putting your little one to bed while they have a cold, it can be important to keep their head elevated so as to allow the mucus to drain properly and safely instead of pooling in the back of the throat. To keep their head elevated, you can stuff some blankets or small towels under the mattress of their crib near their pillow to help keep them a few degrees elevated. It is important that you don’t put anything actually in the crib on top of the mattress, just place them under the mattress where the baby can’t get tangled in them while they sleep. Now, this all should be done only under the advisement of your primary pediatrician, so if you think that your baby needs something like this, then please discuss it with your pediatrician before moving forward. In the meantime, if you plan on having the baby sleep in your arms for a stretch of time, then it is ok if you hold the baby at a more upright angle to help with nasal drainage.

Crank That Humidifier

As with any cold, your baby’s throat and nasal passages are going to be dry or irritated. If you have a humidifier, we recommend placing it in their room for about 30 minutes before trying to put them down to sleep for a nap or for the night to get the room nice and humid. Then, keep it running while they sleep. That should help soothe their throat in a gentle manner and can reduce coughing. 

Keep Their Nose Clear (As Possible)

Their nose is going to be the main source of congestion while they have a cold. You can help them sleep better and breathe more easily if you clear their nose out just before putting them down. You can use the tried and true little blue bulb, you can use a saline spray, one of the many different snotsuckers you can find, or anything else that you think will help clear their nose out long enough to catch a few Z’s. 

Hydrate Them

Pushing fluids as much as possible will help them to stay hydrated and will give them what they need to fight this sickness. Interestingly enough, studies have shown that a well-hydrated baby actually produces less mucus buildup than a baby that is less hydrated. Extra feedings and/or extra water if they are old enough will help!

Before You Go

We hope you enjoyed learning about tips for putting your baby to sleep if they have a cold. If you would like to know more about this, our sleep learning, consulting or training programs or any of our excellent newborn care services, we are happy to help. Just contact us and we can go over your options and help you find the best path for your little one. 

We hope these tips have helped you along your journey. If you have any questions about helping your baby to sleep better, or about your baby in general, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby and sleep and would love to help!

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The content contained in this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice or to replace the advice of any medical professional. It is based on our opinions and experience working with newborns and their families. Other’s opinions may vary. It does not represent the views of any affiliated organizations. The reader understands that the term “Babynurse” is often a word used to describe a newborn caregiver. However, unless otherwise disclosed, we are not licensed nurses in any state. By reading and/or utilizing any information or suggestions contained in this blog, the reader acknowledges that we are not medical professionals and agrees to and waives any claim, known or unknown, past, present or future. This blog may contain affiliate links.

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