My Daughter Is 3 Months And About To Have A Cold

by Nabil
(Bahrain)

My daughter is 3 months old and she's coughing, having difficulties drinking her milk. Her mom is having a cold. I believe my daughter is also about to have a cold. What shall we do? Shall we give her warm milk? Take her to the doctor?

Thanks

Baby Help Line:

What To Do For 3 Month Old Baby With Cold

Since her mom has a cold and your daughter is now coughing, you are probably right in your assumption that your girl is about to have a cold as well.

As long as she "only" gets a runny, stuffy nose, coughing and maybe a low grade fever, but still drinks her milk (at least almost as usual), you can wait with taking her to a doctor.

But if she gets a high fever, starts vomiting, have a diarrhea or refuses to drink, you should have her examined.

A cough that becomes worse, with for example wheezing or gasping or actually any condition that doesn't start to improve after some five is a reason to visit a doctor, especially since she is so young..

But if she just seems to have a regular cold, try clearing her nose by using saline drops or breast milk. You can also use some kind of rubber bulb syringe made for babies. A warm bath can sometimes also help a stuffy nose.

Some babies find it very hard to nurse or drink from a bottle when they can't breathe through their noses properly, so in such case try clearing it some 10 minutes before feeding her.

Also try to elevate your baby's bed at the head just a little bit to help her breathing. This can be done by books on the floor or towels under the mattress for example.

If your daughter has a fever that you think needs to be taken down, don't use any over-the-counter medicin without consulting a pediatrician (since she is so young.)

You don't have to give her water or warmer milk than usual. Just continue feeding her with her usual milk.

I hope this helps,

Paula