The flu is already an annoying and uncomfortable illness for us adults. Now, imagine what it’s like for our little ones who can’t express what they’re feeling and end up becoming irritable from the discomfort. When we notice our baby has the flu, we get anxious, don’t we? Especially first-time moms, who aren’t quite sure how to react.

What to Do When Your Baby Has the Flu

The best thing to do when you notice your baby has the flu is to stay calm, as the flu or a cold will not cause major complications other than discomfort and difficulty breastfeeding due to a stuffy nose.

It’s natural for a baby with the flu to become clingy, irritable, have a stuffy nose and red eyes, but these symptoms usually disappear within 4 to 7 days1. So, the best thing is to have plenty of patience. One of the biggest worries is appetite, which may be affected, as just like us adults, when we have the flu, babies lose a little bit of their hunger. Therefore, don’t panic if your baby isn’t eating as much as usual.

How to Treat a Baby’s Flu

Mom should be prepared—soon she’ll become an expert on dealing with a baby with the flu, since children get the flu or a cold an average of 3 to 6 times a year and this will continue up until 5 years of age, the period when their immune system becomes stronger. Normally, the flu goes away on its own after a few days, but you can take some measures to relieve your baby’s discomfort, such as:

  • Letting your baby sleep with their head slightly elevated compared to the rest of the body. This helps with breathing and relieves nasal congestion.
  • Keeping your baby’s nose clean using a nasal aspirator and saline solution. You can use either a dropper or spray type.
  • If your baby is over 6 months old and has started eating solids, offer fruits rich in vitamin C, like orange, tangerine, kiwi, strawberry, guava, and papaya. It’s also important to offer water for hydration.

Be careful with bottles, pacifiers, and cups, which should be sterilized after each use. Hand hygiene is also recommended and should always be done before picking up the child. This will help the baby recover quickly, keeping other viruses and bacteria out of reach.

Baby with the Flu and a Cough?

Yes, it’s normal for a baby with the flu to have a cough, because the flu is an infection of the respiratory tract caused by a variety of viruses that are transmitted through saliva droplets expelled when sneezing or coughing that end up being inhaled by people nearby.

Another way it spreads is through hands, which get the virus with every cough and sneeze when covering up, so it’s essential to wash your hands well, especially before picking up a baby or child.

Why Coughing Happens

Since the virus affects the respiratory tract, coughing occurs as a way to fight and eliminate the agents attacking it. You should only worry and consult a pediatrician if the symptoms last for more than 5 days, if the lungs are full of phlegm, or if the fever is above 38 degrees Celsius.

If these symptoms are present, it’s advisable to see a pediatrician and, if necessary, they will recommend a chest X-ray to check the amount of phlegm and check for the possibility of something more serious. If the lungs are filled, extra care will be needed for the baby with the flu, because if not treated properly, it can progress to pneumonia and the situation may worsen2.

Treatment

The ideal treatment for each baby varies and will be prescribed by the pediatrician after the consultation and exams. No medication should be given without medical advice3. For a baby with the flu, the usual treatment is saline solution for nasal hygiene and an antipyretic in case of fever.

Important tip: For breastfeeding moms, it’s recommended to ensure all the nutrients and vitamins are present in breast milk. Therefore, taking vitamins and minerals through a multivitamin is very important. We recommend FamiGesta, which, besides having all the essential vitamins, also contains Methylfolate. You can find FamiGesta here.

See also: How to Reduce Fever in Children?