Dealing With A Cold And An Infant At The Same Time

Nobody likes having a cold, or the flu.  The sniffling, the sneezing, the fever, feeling miserable.  It's even worse when you're dealing with an infant.  Infants need and want feeding every 4-6 hours, so your sleep habits get shot to heck, the baby is either crying or sleeping, and post partum depression can kick in for the mother…and it's no surprise that in these stressful conditions, your immune system gets battered down, leaving you vulnerable to a virus.

Which only makes things worse. It's hard enough dealing with a colicky baby crying constantly.  It's even worse when your sinuses are dripping galloping rivers of snot, on top of sleep deprivation. There are some things to keep in mind in this situation.

First, get some help. Raising children has been a communal activity since the dawn of the species. Find other family members, or other new parents to bond with. Most grandparents, aunts and uncles will be quite happy to watch the wee one for an evening while you get a solid 8 hours of sleep to let your body fight off a viral infection.

Second, watch what you take to medicate your cold.  Some cold meds can make you dizzy or groggy, and antihistamines can be transmitted through breast milk to your baby, and can trigger dehydration. So, check what you put into your body, because you can give it to your kid.

Third, wash your hands and face (and if breast feeding, your breasts) before handling your child – this simple precaution can be the difference between you being sick, and your baby getting sick.  As fevers in infants under 6 months should result in a hospital stay, often with a spinal tap and catheterization, as miserable as a cold is for you, it's infinitely worse for your baby.

Finally, one of the best ways to avoid this mess is to get outside and get some exercise.  Work with your spouse to arrange a gap in the schedule where you can walk around for 30 minutes and get some fresh air, do some jogging, and do the other things for yourself that you've been neglecting, because the baby always comes first.  While your baby should be your top priority, it doesn't mean the baby's your only priority.  Make time for you in this process. 

© 2007 Tracey Rock. All Rights Reserved