Having a sick child can be a stressful and upsetting experience. The baby may not be able to feel comfortable and manage the pain, while you may not know if it is appropriate to call the pediatrician. If you have a sick child at home, you can do a lot to improve his comfort and make it through his recovery.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Putting the Sick Child at ease
Step 1. Give him emotional support
A sick child is uncomfortable and may be worried or agitated by the unexplained sensations he experiences. Give him more attention and care to help him. For example, you can:
- Sit next to him;
- Read him a book;
- Sing with him;
- Hold his hand;
- Hold it in your arms.
Step 2. Raise his head
Even a cough can be more serious if the baby is lying on his back. To keep his head elevated, place a book or towel under the crib mattress or under the legs of the headboard.
You can also use a second pillow or wedge pillow to help your baby stay in a semi-sitting position
Step 3. Turn on a humidifier
Dry air can aggravate a cough or sore throat. Try using a humidifier or cold vaporizer to keep the air in her room humid; in this way, cough, congestion and discomfort can be reduced.
- Make sure you change the water of the device often.
- Wash the humidifier according to the manufacturer's instructions to prevent mold from forming.
Step 4. Create a peaceful environment
Try to keep a calm and peaceful atmosphere in the house as much as possible, so that the baby can rest easily. The stimuli from the television and the computer prevent him from sleeping well, while the child needs to rest as much as possible. So consider taking these devices out of his room or restricting access to them.
Step 5. Maintain a comfortable temperature indoors
Depending on the disease that afflicts him, the child may feel hot or cold, so adjust the temperature of the rooms so that he feels better. The ideal is to keep it around 18 - 21 ° C, but change it if the baby is too cold or too hot.
For example, if he complains that he is too cold, raise the temperature a little. If, on the other hand, you see that it is hot, turn on the air conditioner or a fan
Part 2 of 4: Feeding a Sick Child
Step 1. Offer him plenty of clear liquids
Dehydration can aggravate the situation. To keep him well hydrated, make sure he drinks often. Good solutions are:
- Waterfall;
- Icicles;
- Ginger ale;
- Diluted fruit juices;
- Soft drinks enriched with electrolytes.
Step 2. Give them foods that are easy to digest
You need to make sure your food is nutritious, but doesn't cause stomach problems. The choice depends on the symptoms the child is experiencing. Good options are:
- Salty crackers;
- Bananas;
- Grated apples;
- Toasted bread;
- Cooked cereals;
- Mashed potatoes.
Step 3. Make him chicken soup
While not a cure, chicken broth helps relieve cold and flu symptoms by thinning mucus and acting as an anti-inflammatory. There are several recipes for making chicken broth, although commercial ready-made ones are also good.
Part 3 of 4: Treating the Sick Child at Home
Step 1. Get him to rest a lot
Encourage him to sleep for as long as he wants. Read him a story or play an audio book to help him fall asleep. The baby needs to sleep as much as possible.
Step 2. Administer over-the-counter medications with caution
If you decide to treat him with medications, choose a single product, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, rather than alternating several or giving him a combination of different medications. Ask your pediatrician or pharmacist which ones are most appropriate for your child.
- If he is younger than 6 months, you shouldn't give him ibuprofen.
- You shouldn't give him cough or cold medications if he is under the age of 4, and you should avoid them until he is eight years of age. These products have potentially fatal side effects and there is no evidence of their actual effectiveness.
- Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) should not be given to infants, children and adolescents, as it can cause a dangerous, albeit rare, disease known as Reye's syndrome.
Step 3. Invite him to gargle with salt water
Add a pinch of regular table salt to 250ml of warm water. Have him gargle making sure he spits out the solution when finished. This remedy offers relief from sore throat.
If your baby is small or suffers from nasal congestion, you can alternatively use a saline spray or drop solution. You can also make a saline solution yourself or buy it in pharmacies. If you are a newborn, use a bulb syringe to suck up the contents of your nose after you have instilled the drops
Step 4. Eliminate irritants in the house
Avoid smoking near the baby and do not wear particularly strong perfumes. Postpone those activities like painting or cleaning. The vapors of the products can irritate the baby's throat and lungs and aggravate the situation.
Step 5. Air the little patient's room
Periodically open her bedroom windows to let in fresh air. Do this when the baby is in the bathroom so that he doesn't get cold. If necessary, offer him more blankets.
Part 4 of 4: Go to the Pediatrician
Step 1. Determine if the baby has the flu
Symptoms of an infection such as the viral flu need to be taken seriously. It is a potentially dangerous disease that often develops suddenly. Call your pediatrician if you are concerned your child has the flu, especially if they are under the age of two or have other problems such as asthma. The ailments caused by this disease are:
- High fever and / or chills
- Cough;
- Sore throat;
- Rhinorrhea;
- Muscle or generalized aches;
- Headache
- Drowsiness and exhaustion;
- Diarrhea and / or vomiting.
Step 2. Measure his fever
If you don't have a thermometer, check if your child has chills, red skin, sweats, or is very hot to the touch.
Step 3. Ask him if he has any pain
Try to understand how much the pain is in and where the pain is located. It may be necessary to apply gentle pressure to the area indicated by the child to understand how serious the situation is.
Step 4. Watch for signs of serious illness
Be especially alert to signs that your baby should be seen by a pediatrician immediately. These include:
- Fever in children less than three months of age;
- Severe headache or neck stiffness;
- Abnormal breathing rhythm, especially difficulty in breathing;
- Changes in skin color, such as becoming very pale, red or bluish
- The child refuses to drink and stops peeing;
- Cry without tears;
- Severe or continuous vomiting
- Difficulty waking up or apathy to stimuli;
- The child is strangely quiet and inactive;
- Signs of extreme pain or irritability
- Pain or tightness in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden or prolonged dizziness;
- Confusion;
- Flu-like symptoms that get better, but then suddenly get worse.
Step 5. Go to the pharmacy
If you are unsure whether to refer your child to a medical examination, ask your pharmacist for some information. It may help you determine the little patient's symptoms and give you medication recommendations if needed.
