How to Help Your Little Get Sleep When They Have a Cold
Whether you’re in the middle of cold and flu season or your little is getting colds every couple weeks from daycare or preschool, you may have noticed your little sniffling more than usual. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, infants can get seven colds in their first year alone! Most of the time, it’ll manifest itself as a head cold, sore throat, ear infection, coughing, and/or nasal congestions. I remember being so worried the first time my little got sick.
And even if your child is a star snoozer, a cold could result in disrupted sleep, more nighttime wakings, and an extra amount of clinginess around bedtime.
It’s not fun for them, and it’s not fun for us as parents. I know, first-hand, the heartbreak of wanting your little to get some restful sleep when you know they’re not feeling well.
So, how do you help your sniffling baby get their sleep back on track?
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Comfort is Key
Here’s some bad news. You can’t really control your little’s sleep when they have a cold, flu, or other illness. That might mean a handful of sleepless nights again. And for most, you can expect to throw sleep schedules and bedtime routines out the window as the cold runs its course.
In the meantime, try your best to keep your little hydrated and well-nourished and cancel any unnecessary outings or events for a week or so, until they start feeling better.
When they’re dealing with a cold, your little is going to be uncomfortable. Your job in this situation is going to help them find comfort. So, while I’d normally suggest just supporting your baby back to sleep when they have a midnight-waking, this is definitely the time for an exception. When your little isn’t feeling well, and they wake up crying, it’s totally okay to “run” to their bedside, pick them up, and comfort them back to sleep. Don’t worry about them un-learning the healthy sleep habits you’ve been putting into place – all bets are off here.
How You Can Help
A big problem when it comes to colds is that babies are ‘obligate nasal breathers,’ meaning they typically breathe through their noses. So whenever your little one develops a cold, that can lead to nasal congestion and trouble breathing – which then leads to them spending the night tossing, turning, screaming, and crying just trying to get comfortable enough to sleep.
There are some practical things you can do to give them that comfort and help them get as restful sleep as possible during a cold.
First, keep up with any pain and fever-reducing medication as prescribed by your pediatrician. Giving this 30 minutes before a sleep period is sure to help.
Use a nasal aspirator (if your little will comply) - this can help stuffy noses breathe better at night; you know the one where you suck their little boogies out.
A humidifier can ensure the air in their bedroom stays moist, which helps with congestion. Even running a hot shower and sitting in the steamy bathroom can also help alleviate congestion.
Hydrate! Give your little one any and all liquids necessary to keep them hydrated. From pediatlyte to popsicles and really whatever it takes to keep them hydrated.
Please know that some recommend a cool bath to help reduce fever. This is counter-intuitive. Cold baths are NOT comfortable. They also induce shivering, which can paradoxically increase the body temperature. Remember, your goal is not to fixate on bringing down your little one’s temperature but to keep them comfortable.
Also know that, in general, it’s not recommended to wake a calm comfortable sleeping baby simply to check for a fever, unless they are < 3 months old or have underlying medical conditions that make knowing whether or not there is a fever crucial.
Note: Seek medical attention immediately if your little has difficulty breathing or if their general condition deteriorates rapidly.
After a Cold
Once your little is back to their normal, happy, healthy selves, that’s when you can start focusing on sleep schedules, habits, and routines again. Bring back their bedtime routine if it got thrown off and sleep schedules (including naps), as well as any sleep training methods you implemented before your little got sick. But keep in mind, there may be some resistance at first.
Your little will likely remember those times you rushed to them and comforted them through the night when sick, and they may have gotten used to it a bit. So you may have to go through some new steps, so they can can get back to sleeping through the night again.
Don’t worry about it too much though. If your infant slept through the night before they caught a cold, they will be able to do so once things get back to normal.
However, if it’s been a few weeks since your little was sick, and they’re still struggling to stick to a sleep schedule, you can always give us a call! We’ll be able to help you figure out what’s keeping your little up (or waking them up) and get things back on track. You can schedule a call here.