It’s the heart of cold and flu season, and your baby's tender immune system is learning the hard way to do battle. The problem is, it can only fight one of the more than the two hundred plus viruses that cause the common cold at a time, making it feel like your baby is always under the weather. It’s no wonder - take their tendency put everything in their mouths and add to that the fact that indoor heating dries out nasal membranes, creating a fertile environment for germs to grow, and voila -- you’ve got a mini petri dish of the common cold on your hands.

So how do you make your baby feel better? There isn’t much you can do to fight the common cold other than give it time, but there are some ways you can help your lil’ one suffer through it more comfortably:

Rest

Add a nap to your baby's’ sleep schedule. Nasal and chest congestion can make it hard for them (or anyone else in your house) to get a good night’s sleep, so try and help baby catch up on some z’s during the day.

Humidify

Loosen chest and nasal congestion by adding moisture to the air in your baby’s room with a humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer.

Liquids

Upping your baby’s liquid intake can help them stay hydrated and fight off the illness. If you happen to be breastfeeding, adding a feeding or two will not only hydrate your baby, immune factors contained in breast milk are proven to boost your baby’s immune system. For babies over 6 months old, juices can provide some much-needed vitamin C. Or, for slightly older kids, make them a nutritious shake with using your Cuisinart SmartPower Classic™ Blender.

Aspirate

Babies always squirm when they see that little blue bulb coming their way, but alas it’s the only way to keep their nasal passages clear. Add a few drops of saline before aspirating to loosen nasal mucus. Try and aspirate your baby a few minutes before each feeding and before bed, so they can breathe easier in the process.

Elevate

Elevating your child’s head just a little bit can help drain sinuses. The best way to go about it is by putting a few towels or a small blanket under the head of the crib mattress. Never use a pillow in a crib!

Meds

Ask your pediatrician which, if any, medications would help your child feel better. The rule of thumb is that babies under 6 months of age usually have to suffer through colds naturally. A good way to help them breathe is by using a baby cream infused with a tiny bit of menthol on their chests, or by adding a few drops of menthol or eucalyptus to their vaporizer or bath water.

Medical Attention

Here are a few guidelines to help you figure out when to contact your pediatrician:

Under 3 months:

When your baby first seems sick, a fever higher than 100.4 degrees F or a cough.

3 - 6 Months:

A temperature of 101 degrees F 

Over 6 Months:

A temperature around 103 degrees F