Dwarfing the Cold

If Snow White grew up and had a baby of her own, she’d know whom to ask if her baby came down with a cold.

“Hey, Doc,” she’d say, “my baby is all sneezy. What medicine can I give him?”

“Medicine?” Doc might reply. “Cold remedies make children dopey and are a no-no, dear Snow.”

“But he can’t breathe and it’s making him grumpy! And he can’t rest so I’m getting very sleepy.”

“Be happy, Snow,” Doc would say. “There are other ways to help your baby with his stuffy nose.”

Snow White must have known (even back then) that Health Canada recommends against using cold medicines for children under six. Which might leave you wondering how to help your kids (and yourselves) cope.

While there is no cure for the common cold, we have a few old tricks and some very savvy new tricks up our sleeve (and it’s not the one you wipe your nose with).

Huggable Humidity
If your child isn’t sleeping well because their throat is scratchy or nose is plugged, humidity will help. Picking a cool mist humidifier over a warm mist model. Both create equal amounts of humidity, but warm mist humidifiers actually produce hot steam and may pose a scalding risk if kids come too close to the unit. Any humidifier will do, but we fell in l-o-v-e with these adorable animal models from Crane. They come in ducks, cows, elephants, frogs and many other cute critter shapes. And, if the humidity doesn’t help, at least your child will have a new buddy in their bedroom. ($57.99, available at www.babiesrus.ca)

A Wetter Wipe
We had one of those elusive “a-ha” moments when we found Boogie Wipes on the shelf for the first time. Imagine trying to change a dirty diaper with a dry wipe. The efficiencies brought to the change table by wipes have arrived at the end of your child’s plugged nose with the invention of Boogie Wipes. Made with soothing saline, these wipes get rid of the dry crusties so gently, our kids now ask for them by name. (www.boogiewipes.com for retailers across Canada.)

Spray Plan
The biggest frustration with really young kids and colds is their inability to blow. It takes little children a few years to master the art of blowing their noses effectively. That’s where the spray plan comes in. If a wipe isn’t enough to clear out those clogged passages, grab some Little Noses. This saline spray is so gentle that the dosage is the same for both infants and adults. Combined with a nasal aspirator, it provides the 1–2 punch needed to knock out stubborn stuffiness. ($5.29, available at www.well.ca)

So don’t be bashful when fighting your kids’ colds. These simple solutions will help everyone in your family live happily ever after.

Good to Know: Heath Canada suggests that if your child’s cold symptoms do not improve within 6 to 10 days, worsen, or are accompanied by a fever higher than 38ºC or by thick mucus (phlegm), you should consult your doc.

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