Sleep with the Sniffles

The schools are back. The nurseries are back. The germs are back. Hello Autumn Winter 2020. 

A very well-known and much feared enemy of sleep is the common cold or sniffles. If you’re anything like me, your heart skips a beat when your child coughs or sneezes as the thought of seemingly endless, snot covered & miserable nights race through my head.

I have tried everything to help my baby sleep with the. Sniffles. Literally EVERYTHING. I have even tried the old wives’ tale about putting an onion under the cot but, sadly, this just made my baby’s room smell like an Italian kitchen. Mama Mia! After years of searching for the best way to beat snot-related wakings, I have narrowed it down to a couple of things that definitely do help So, without further ado, here they are:

DAYTIME:

Fluids: Get as much fluids into your child as humanly possible whether that be milk or water, it will help keep that sticky mucus loose and clear the cold and/or cough out quicker.

Relax the routine: it is likely that your little one (especially if they are teeny tiny) may need a bit more R&R while they are feeling poorly so let them sleep when they need to. It will only be for a few days, so try not to stress about schedules and let them rest up. You can re-set their routine when they are feeling a bit more themselves.

BEFORE BED:

Bedtime bubbles: Offer a lovely warm bath. Warming your child up before bedtime can alleviate chills and help clear your child’s chest. If they are particularly snotty or have a chesty cough, run a hot shower before the bath to fill the bathroom up with steam before your child has their dip.

 Massage: Baby massage can really help move mucus around and off key areas such as the chest. Try using some snuffle baby on their chest and feet and, if they have a cough, rub some on their back. NCT has some good tips on baby massage on their website: 

 https://www.nct.org.uk/baby-toddler/everyday-care/baby-massage-tips-and-benefits

BEDTIME:

Get. a. Humidifier. 

They are life savers. Cool mist (with a few drops of baby olbus oil) whilst baby sleeps can really help ease any breathing difficulties caused by congestion. 

Ultimately, what our children need when they are poorly is a good healthy portion of cuddles, patience and love so, it goes without saying, go big on all of these too! That, with a few of the above thrown in for good measure, should ease the discomfort of sniffly nights and help keep you and your families sleep on track! 

It goes without saying that, if your child’s symptoms ever develop and you feel concerned about them, call 111 straight away for medical advice.

Picture credit: Madeformums