We hate it when our little ones aren’t well and it’s even worse when they’re babies and they can’t even tell us what’s wrong.

My bub was only 6 weeks old when she got her first cold and I was devastated. Her cute button nose was all blocked up and her eyes, which were normally an aqua-blue, were red and teary. She was miserable and I felt so helpless.

So I asked my mum friends to share their tried and trusted remedies for when kids are under the weather and they really helped. Try these tips next time your child has a cold or allergies – they’ll bring relief to the whole family.

1. Keep Them Hydrated

I know this is obvious, but it’s so important. When a child is not well, they will often lose their appetite and sometimes will even refuse the breast, bottle or water. When my daughter’s nose is blocked, she finds it very uncomfortable to drink but refusing liquid can, quite quickly, lead to dehydration. So make sure your child does drink, even if it’s small amounts. Start with a teaspoon full or small syringe filled with water and increase the volume from there.

2. Little Eyes Gentle Cleansing Wipes

I first used Little Eyes^® gentle cleansing eye wipes when my little girl had conjunctivitis (pink eye). A mum in my mother’s group swore by them and always kept a few wipes in her handbag.

Little Eyes come in convenient individual sterilised sachets making them a hygenic and easy way to clean the delicate eye area and remove secretions and discharge from around the eyes.

Being alcohol, preservative and fragrance free, Little Eyes are perfect for newborns but I also use the wipes on my older kids as I know they won’t sting or harm their eyes.

They also provide gentle relief if your child has allergies and their eyes become red, swollen or crusty.

3. Warm Relaxing Baths

There’s nothing like a long luxurious bath to make the world seem better. And so it is for little kids too. If your child is feeling miserable, a soothing, warm bath is a great way to alleviate cold symptoms. Warm water tends to open blocked noses and relax achy muscles. Parents are often concerned that they shouldn’t give their kids a bath if they’re sick. But as long as the bath water isn’t cold and you dry them off as soon as they are out of the water, then having a bath gets a big thumbs up from us.

4. Get Enough Sleep

If your child gets enough sleep, then this is already a big help in fighting off germs. But if they’re tired all the time, their immune systems may be too sluggish to fight off bad bugs. In an ideal world, babies should be getting about 18 hours sleep a day, toddlers and preschoolers need at least 12 to 14 hours, and school-aged kids should get about 10 to 11 hours of quality snooze.
If your child isn’t 100%, encourage them to go to bed early as this will help to clear up their cold symptoms quicker.

5. Keep Allergens Away

If your child’s eyes are often red and sore and their nose is stuffy or runny, they could be suffering from allergies rather than a cold. It’s a good idea to get them professionally tested for allergies and once the allergen is identified, it’s crucial to keep their surrounding environment free as possible from the culprits. Common causes of allergies are dust, pollen, mould, and pet hair.

See what MoM Members who’ve been trialling and reviewing Little Eyes® Gentle Cleansing Wipes had to say here.

Or you can find out more about Little Eyes® Gentle Cleansing Wipes here.

This article was commissioned by the team at Little Eyes® Gentle Cleansing Wipes as part of the Little Eyes® Gentle Cleansing Wipes product review campaign. The MoM editorial team compiled this article after working with the team at Little Eyes® Gentle Cleansing Wipes and realising that this product is the perfect (and gentle) solution to clean and refresh your baby’s eyelids and lashes.

[PLEASE NOTE: This article is not intended as medical advice. Some congestion and allergies require medical intervention so please do not hesitate to seek this advice if you feel you or your family are at risk.]