How to stop baby getting a cold?

[Sade49]

My son is 6 weeks old and today, a family member has visited with a cold and getting over a cough from last week (I did not know this beforehand). Although they do not feel run down I'm consious the virus is serious for babies.

Is there anything I can do to prevent him getting poorly? Is Calpol a preventative?

Thanks all 😊

No, calpol is not preventative.

I think if you're breastfeeding that is meant to help

Honestly, apart from putting them in a sealed room away from everyone there's nothing you can do to prevent it. It can be distressing when they do get ill, but a cold and cough is not going to be serious for your baby. From my experience most of them get their first cold around the six week mark and it's important for them to build their immune system.

Calpol won't work as a preventative however when my DC had colds as a baby, I found propping the cot up, calpol plug and a humidier really helpful.

Thanks for replying.

My worry is RSV, our midwives and health visitors warned us about the risks and now all I seem to be seeing is the awareness around this season.

I may be overthinking but you can never be too sure!

DO NOT give calpol unless your baby has a high temperature or appears to be in pain. It will prevent nothing. I understand your worry, but just be firm with visitors if they turn up with any cold/flu symptoms and ask them not to enter the house.

Just on a side note about the paracetamol - if baby was to get poorly and have a temperature above 38, they would need to go straight to a+e to be seen to rule out serious infections when they are under 3 months old. By giving paracetamol you are masking any potential temperature, plus it will not prevent them from getting poorly anyway. Under 3 months old they should only be given paracetamol post vaccinations.
There is not a lot you can do to prevent baby from catching a cold, but try and be reassured that plenty of babies have colds and are fine. Get some saline drops which can be helpful to unblock snuffly noses, and if they do get poorly smaller, more frequent feeds help. Try not to worry.

If you're breast feeding that might help.

There's nothing else you can do, babies do need to get ill, there's a link between childhood leukaemia and not being exposed to enough viruses in the first year.