Cough, Cold & Flu in Children 2-5 Years

Try these tips to help get your child back normal:

• Keep your child home from daycare, preschool or school — it’s best to have your child rest at home, and will also prevent the spread of germs to other little ones.
• Explain that rest is important in order to get better — so that they don’t feel like they’re being punished.
• Give your child plenty of fluids — especially water.
• Make their favourite soup — hot soup or broth may help ease your child’s congestion. [from http://www.babycenter.ca/baby/health/flu/]
• Use a humidifier in their bedroom — to help them breathe easier.
• Use towels or pillows to elevate the head of your child’s mattress — to help relieve your child’s runny nose. [from http://www.babycenter.ca/baby/health/commoncold/]
• Apply petroleum jelly to the outside of your child’s nostrils — to soothe your child’s nose and prevent irritation when they wipe or blow their nose. [from http://www.babycenter.ca/baby/health/commoncold/]
• Have an at-home “steam sauna” with your child — sit in a steamy bathroom with your child for about 15 minutes. [from http://www.babycenter.ca/baby/health/commoncold/]
• If your child is old enough, try to get them to gargle with warm salt water — to soothe their sore throat.
• Use an over-the-counter (OTC) fever relieving medication that’s specially formulated for children — to relieve your child’s fever from colds and flus, like Children’s TYLENOL^® Fever from Colds or Flu Liquid or MELTAWAYS™.
• Do not give your child products containing acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) — ASA may cause a dangerous medical condition called Reye’s Syndrome.

Despite your best efforts, it’s sometimes necessary to get the help and advice of your child’s doctor to help them get better. Call your doctor if your child has:

• A cold or flu for more than 10 days or one that gets worse
• A cough that lingers, even if there are no other symptoms
• A runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing and/or itchy, watery eyes for more than seven days during summer, as this could mean they’re suffering from allergies
• Has a high fever (>38°C) or one that lasts for more than 3 days
• Sinus or [http://www.babycenter.ca/baby/health/commoncold/ & http://www.babycenter.ca/baby/health/flu/]
• Wheezing
• Thick, yellow/green mucus from their nose
• Swollen glands
• Mucus-producing cough
• Headache
• Or any time you feel unsure about any of your child's symptoms