- Skin to skin. Just because you're little one isn't a newborn anymore doesn't mean they won't benefit from some skin to skin contact to help regulate their body temperature and help break those fevers fast. When little one is too hot, your body becomes cooler, helping bring down little's fever. Granted, all you Mommy's might get a little sweaty but isn't it worth it if your little one feels better? Skin to skin will come up more throughout the next few topics.
- Breastfeed. Mommy's milk does a baby good and give it in no short supply! Breast milk is the best form of hydration during a sickness for your little one. Pedialyte is not my favorite but it is always the first thing recommended for a sick baby.and really all they need is breast milk. We are on demand feeders, which is the best way to feed your baby, but if you're not used to that whenever you notice your little one getting fussy or giving normal cues of hunger offer the breast first. Now, this will be quite often which is good your little one is getting comfort and your antibodies. As soon as baby comes into contact with Mommy's breast, baby's saliva actually influences the content of the breastmilk. Another one of nature's wonders and why breast is best! If baby is having a hard time nursing from the breast try a dropper, spoon or cup. I found my little one did great with a cup and remember to keep baby upright. Bottles will be just as difficult and also in younger ones you want to avoid nipple confusion.
- Co-sleeping. This can also go along with skin to skin and helps with on demand feeding. Personally, I feel best sleeping shirtless with little one just in a diaper, this all night temperature regulation is great for working through a fever. This also helps both little one and Mommy get better rest for recovery since little one is able to feed before ever becoming fully awake and waking you with a crying unhappy baby. You can also sleep upright with baby sleeping against your chest. I usually end up on the couch or with a massive wall of pillows in bed to help keep us upright through the night.
- Nurse Upright. I found Kelly Mom has a few good photos and descriptions on their page for nursing upright. The ones to pay attention to that I have found most convenient are the holds with mom leaning back, the elevated football hold, and the "down under" position are great for sick ones. Nursing upright helps mucous drain out the nose to help relieve coughing from mucous draining down the back of the throat.
- Babywearing. Babywearing is probably one of my favorite things to do in general and it is the greatest thing for a sick baby. First of all, you know when baby is sick all they want to do is snuggle with Mommy and are inconsolable most of the time you're not in eye sight and so babywearing solves that one. Another great thing, I find it super easy when baby falls asleep to just sit on the couch and take a little cat nap myself. Again you want to use holds that keep baby upright just like with breastfeeding it helps mucous drain. The Baby Wearer has a few good descriptions of some good holds. It also helps skin to skin, it is too easy to put baby in a wrap without a shirt or with a tank top and be comfortable and no need to fret about baby over heating in the wrap because your body again will regulate baby's temperature.
- Other Natural Wonders of Breastmilk. Now these may seem a little strange to some moms but I promise they work because of breastmilk's antimicrobial properties and because I've used them myself! Take this very literally if your little one is very congested and nothing else is working squirt some breastmilk into baby's nose. This helps to loosen up the mucous just like a saline spray and if you want you can use a nasal sucker but steer clear of the ones that require you to insert anything into baby's nose. Another great use for breastmilk is for ear infections. I found a nice little how to at eHow Mom and we used a 3-3-3 method, 3 drops 3 times a day for 3 days, and it worked really well. After each set of drops I put a warm cloth around her ear and it seemed very comforting. I've also used breastmilk topically on rashes and it clears them up quick and even expressed some on a finger and rubbed it over her eyes to get rid of the eye yuckies they develop with colds. She had it so bad one day she could barely open her eyes and breastmilk cleared her eyes up by the end of the day and it didn't return throughout her cold.
- Honey. I always try to first battle a cough with honey and most of the time it helps cut down on the rough night time coughs. I'm not a fan of child/infant cold medicine and most nowadays are not recommended for children under the age of 6 anyway, just in case you didn't know. I do about a teaspoon at a time and since you can't overdose on honey I redose as often as needed. Honey is a natural source of energy as well so make sure you watch out for the hypers but usually it just makes my kids feel good. From Ian Paul, M.D. who did a study on honey in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine; honey's thick syrup coats and soothes the back of the throat, while the sweet taste causes salvation, which thins mucous and reduces the urge to cough. Honey's antioxidants may even help the body fend of nasty cold bugs, thereby alleviating cold symptoms. I have read on a few parenting sites not to give honey to children under 1 because it is a known source of a bacterial spore that can cause the very rare infantile botulism which is caused by the baby ingesting a bacteria that produces toxins in the body. So for those under 1 breastmilk breastmilk breastmilk!
General disclaimer, most of these are considered homeopathic remedies or alternative medicine and aren't "medically" backed. So, like always consult your pediatrician, midwife or doctor. If baby appears to be in severe pain or inconsolable it's always best to have them checked by a medical professional because there may be more going on than you realize.
Brightest Blessings and Speedy Recoveries!
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