This post is all about How breastfeeding can help your little one combat cold and flu.
With winters comes long-dreaded cough, flu, and congestion. It is a struggling time for mothers and babies. Your little one might refuse to feed, get cranky and cry frequently.
Parents have to bear with their baby’s irritability and crankiness during cold because children cannot express their discomfort and pain. The only way to communicate for them is by crying.
You must navigate your child’s needs and cater to them accordingly. The best thing to soothe your little one is breastfeeding.
Breast milk is a nourishing liquid with healing properties that can help your child combat cold and flu.
In this article, we will be discussing symptoms of cold and ways to fight it with breast milk.
Symptoms of cold in babies
The first signs of the common cold in babies are:
- A congested or runny nose
- Nasal discharge
As soon as you notice these symptoms in your child, it is good to take action. If the baby is older than 1-year, you can feed him warm liquids like soups, broths, and honey.
For infants, avoid any home remedy and consult the doctor as soon as possible.
If the flue gets worst, your child might also experience:
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Sneezing
- Fever
- refusal to nurse or drink from a bottle
It is a tricky time for the parents and, you must keep an eye on your baby’s diapers. If you notice he is not wetting them frequently, contact your doctor as it can be a sign of dehydration.
How does breast milk help?
Breast milk helps your child build immunity against the common cold and flu. Your baby will have difficulty in feeding due to nasal congestion. He might need to nurse in small sessions and take a few breaths.
You should follow his lead and feed whenever he demands it.
During cold and flu, breast milk changes its composition to provide vitamins, antibodies, and essential nutrients to the child. The immunity-building cells called leukocytes also increase in the breast milk to strengthen immunity.
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How to soothe your little one?
Cuddles are powerful
Your baby will get clingy and frequently ask for feeding because he needs to build up his immunity. Physical contact with the mother also helps babies cope with the cold and feel better.
You can also try some skin-to-skin interaction with your little one. When you hold your little one closer, you and your baby release a happy hormone called oxytocin that helps him feel better.
Some other tips
There are a few things to keep in mind while nursing your child during cold:
- Try different nursing positions and see what comforts him the most.
- Always keep your baby upright while feeding as it helps him breathe in a better way.
- Try saline drops and a nasal aspirator to clear his nose before each feeding session.
- Use a humidifier to keep the room moist.
- Turn your bathroom into a steam room by turning the hot shower on for 5-10 minutes and the door closed. Keep your little one there for 15 minutes to help congestion.
What to do If your baby refuses to feed
If your baby refuses to nurse, you can express your milk and feed him with a syringe, cup, or dropper to keep him well-hydrated.
Breast milk will also help him get healthy by providing essential nutrients and antibodies.
How to maintain your feed while the child is sick
Breastfeeding works on a demand and supply basis. The more your child feeds, the better your supply will get.
Your child might stop feeding and, that would affect your milk supply.
In that case, you should express your milk until your baby is healthy again. When you pump breast milk, it signals the body to make more milk.
It is good to follow a strict expressing schedule for your body to produce an adequate amount of milk.
How to keep yourself germ-free
During sickness, the babies are vulnerable and weak. It is a time when they can catch on to different bugs resulting in more health issues.
- Keep your hands clean before and after feeding your little one.
- Always use clean utensils to prepare food for your sick child.
- Use child-safe sanitizers and soaps.
- Clean your nipple area with warm water before nursing to soften the nipples and help the baby suck in a better way.
Final thoughts
There is nothing that breast milk cannot fix. Feeding your child during cold and flu can help him get healthier quickly.
You can also maintain physical contact with your child and cuddle him frequently to make him feel better.
