| When your baby has a fever or cold, your first urge is | | | | sleep. Fever is the body?s way of fighting infection, so, |
| to run right to the pediatrician. But, mild colds and | | | | when possible, it?s best to let it do its job. |
| fevers are common, and often don?t require a visit to | | | | For minor colds, the best treatment is rest. However, |
| the doctor, just some at home management. Here are | | | | your child may be unable to rest comfortably unless |
| some techniques to help manage colds and fever at | | | | you treat the cold symptoms. A vaporizer can do |
| home, and some information to help you know when | | | | wonders to relieve congestion, as can vapor |
| to call the doctor. | | | | treatments in the bath. But, if your child is really |
| First, most doctors don?t consider a fever under 100?F | | | | uncomfortable, using an over the counter cold medicine |
| a fever at all, unless your baby is under two months | | | | is fine. For dosage guidelines, follow your doctor?s |
| old, in which case you should seek medical treatment | | | | recommendations, or those on the bottle, but go by |
| with any fever. Otherwise, as long as the fever | | | | weight, not age. |
| doesn?t go above 102?F, you need not treat it unless it | | | | Colds should resolve themselves in a week or so, but |
| is making your baby uncomfortable or unable to sleep. | | | | if they do not, look for signs of an ear infection. These |
| However, any fever which reaches 105? rectally, or a | | | | can include unexplained crying, especially when lying |
| fever accompanied by signs of dehydration (infrequent | | | | down, tugging the ears, or tossing and turning while |
| urination, sunken fontanel, dry lips), or a feverish baby | | | | trying to sleep. If you notice these symptoms, take |
| who has a stiff neck, is limp or has purple spots on the | | | | your child to the doctor. Ear infections can be very |
| skin, should be treated by a professional immediately. | | | | painful, and are often hard to recognize in young |
| To treat a mild fever, try keeping your baby cool, using | | | | children. |
| compresses or a tepid bath. Dress her loosely ? that | | | | Talk to your pediatrician regarding his |
| old wives tale about keeping them bundled up is just | | | | recommendations for treating colds and fevers, and |
| that- an old wives tale. Feed her lots of fluids, and | | | | when he believes you should call or come in. But, trust |
| keep a watch on her. But, try to avoid the use of over | | | | your instincts, and don?t hesitate to call anytime you |
| the counter medications, unless your baby is unable to | | | | believe there is a real problem. |