When Baby Gets a Cold

It is pretty certain that your baby will catch a cold at some point within his first year of life. While this is not part of the greatest baby moments, it's actually not a bad thing. It's good for the baby's immune system to get a little sick because it helps to build it up.
When you notice symptoms such as:

• Runny nose
• Irritability
• Itchy eyes
• Sneezing
• Reduced appetite

then your baby most likely has a cold.
The most concerning thing when baby has a cold is his ability to breathe when sleeping. Since most young babies are nose brethers it's cruicial that their nose passages are clear so he can breathe properly. For this reason, parents should monitor their little ones at night to make sure he is able to breathe right.
When the baby is stuffed up and can't nose breathe then it's time to clear the passages. There are several ways to do this, such as using a rubber bulb to suck out the mucus or using a baby-safe decongestant. The rubber bulb is pretty effective, so try that first and do it often. Some babies don't like this and will wiggle a lot and even cry, so enlist the help of someone else so they can hold the baby still while you use the bulb.
For longer relief a decongestant may be needed. Ask the baby's doctor for any advice on which one she recommends and how to administer it. From personal experience, Little Noses decongestant has been very effective on our baby, so ask the pediatrician if she thinks that would be ok to use on your baby. Every baby is different so be sure to check with the baby's pediatrician for what she thinks is best and what she recommends.