Surviving Your Toddler’s Cold

It never fails. Cami picks up every. single. bug. from the church nursery! So what to do when that nose runs like a faucet and sleeping becomes impossible for your little one? Read on for some great tips for dealing with your toddler’s cold!

Tissue, Tissue, Tissue

We have a box stashed in every room of the house. This is essential to keeping that nose from leaking on everything and everyone. Also, keep a plastic bag or small trash can handy to throw away all those germ-infested tissues!

Hand Sanitizer

If you don’t want your other kiddos to catch the same cold (or yourself!), keep a bottle of hand sanitizer in each room as well. A little squirt after wiping your toddler’s runny nose will keep you from spreading germs… hopefully!

Disinfectant Wipes

At the end of each day (or a few times during the day if the cold is super bad), I like to take a lysol wipe to all the door knobs and toys that were used that day. This can be a little time consuming and tedious if you had an active toddler that day, but it really helps to eliminate spreading the cold to others in your house.

Nasal Spray & Bulb Syringe (Aspirator)

Now onto trying to keep your toddler as comfortable as you can. Squirting some nasal spray up his or her nose and then sucking all the snot out with a bulb syringe isn’t very comfortable at the moment, but the process does keep that little nose from dripping constantly.

Humidifier

If you want your toddler to sleep through the night even with a cold, then get a cool mist humidifier. The extra moisture the humidifier puts into the air will help to keep the mucus runny and not build up in your little one’s nose. Yes, he or she will wake up with dried snot all over but the humidifier will make it easier for your toddler to sleep and breathe at night.

Warm Shower

If your toddler will stand in the shower, then taking a warm shower will help to drain his or her nose. Please make sure to test the water before putting your toddler in! If your toddler isn’t used to taking a shower, then turn the shower on hot and pull the curtain closed. Sit outside the shower with your toddler (grab a book or two) and let the steam do it’s job!

Baby Vapor Rub

Another essential item in helping your toddler to breathe easier is a vapor rub. I like to rub some on my girls’ chests and also dab a tad right under their nose before they go to bed. I’m not sure all the brands out there but we like to use Vick’s Baby Vapor Rub.

Elevate Head of Bed

This tip has been a lifesaver for me when my girls get sick! Take a pillow and either place it under the mat of your pack and play or under the mattress of your crib. Make sure you put the pillow at the end where your toddler places his or her head. The pillow elevates your toddler’s head, causing the mucus to drain better, thus making it easier to breathe!

Pain Reliever If Necessary

I know pain reliever medicine such as Tylenol is a pretty controversial subject with parents. Personally, if my toddler has a fever accompanied with her cold and seems to have the aches, I will give her a small amount of store brand Tylenol or Motrin before bed. I try not to rely on it or use it often, but using it when necessary has helped my girls sleep more comfortably at night.

There is a lot you can do to help ease your toddler’s discomfort during a cold. Hopefully my tips will help you and your little one. Please feel free to share what works for you below in the comments section.

*These tips can also be applied to infants. My first two girls were born in November and got colds their first year. That’s how I learned all of the above!