A baby’s sore throat is usually relieved with the use of medicines prescribed by the pediatrician, such as ibuprofen, which can already be had at home, but whose dose needs to be correctly calculated, in consultation with the pediatrician, for the baby’s weight and age. child at the moment.
Furthermore, consultation with the pediatrician is also very important to assess the cause of the sore throat, such as flu, colds or allergies, and whether there is any type of infection that needs to be treated with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, which can only be used under doctor’s guidance.
However, parents can also speed up treatment with some simple home measures such as washing the nose with saline solution, giving plenty of water and offering soft foods during meals.
9 ways to cure a sore throat in your baby
Some ways to relieve a sore throat in your baby are:
1. Take a warm bath
Giving the baby a warm bath and closing the bathroom door and window ensures that the baby breathes in some water vapor, which thins secretions and helps clear the throat.
2. Rinse the baby’s nose with saline solution
Washing the baby’s nose, applying 3 to 5 mL of saline solution in each nostril with a syringe without a needle, 2 to 3 times a day, helps to fluidize the secretions in the nostrils and throat, making them easier for the baby to eliminate. naturally.
To wash your baby’s nose, you must wrap him in a blanket or towel, so that he is safer. Then place the baby in a sitting position, with the torso slightly tilted forward.
The baby’s head should also be tilted slightly towards the side of the nostril where the saline solution will be instilled.
Then, the saline solution must be instilled slowly into one nostril, observing the saline exit through the other nostril. And then repeat in the other nostril.
It is important not to put pressure on the syringe to let the serum out.
Another option is to use a nasal solution designed to remove nasal secretions from babies, which can be purchased at the pharmacy.
3. Use a humidifier
Humidifying the environment, placing a basin or bucket with warm water, away from the baby’s reach, in the rooms of the house where the baby spends the most time is an excellent way to relieve a sore throat.
This is because when breathing water particles from the environment, the airways become more hydrated and less irritated, facilitating the elimination of phlegm and relieving the discomfort of a sore throat or blocked nose.
This tip is especially useful at night to make it easier to sleep and avoid waking up with a stuffy nose, for example.
Another option to humidify the environment is to use a cold mist humidifier device, which must be cleaned daily to prevent the formation of fungi or bacteria, which can harm the baby’s health. Check out other simple ways to humidify the environment.
4. Aspirate secretions with a bulb syringe
Suctioning the baby’s nasal secretions from 3 months to 1 year old with a bulb syringe helps to unclog the nose and relieve a sore throat.
The bulb syringe is similar to a small, pear-shaped air pump that can be purchased at the pharmacy.
To use, you must squeeze the body (balloon) of the pump and then insert the tip into the beginning of the baby’s nostril. Then, the pump is released and the secretions are gently aspirated.
5. Bundle the baby
Not letting your child walk barefoot and wrapping them up when you have to leave the house is important to help relieve a sore throat, as a sudden difference in temperature can worsen pain or discomfort in the throat.
6. Staying with the baby at home
In the case of a fever, you should keep the baby at home, which means not taking the baby to daycare or school until the fever goes away. See what to do to lower your baby’s fever.
7. Offer breast milk
Breastfeeding the baby, offering breast milk or formula, helps keep the baby hydrated, in addition to being easy to digest and providing antibodies that protect the baby and strengthen the baby’s immune system, which helps to relieve a sore throat. See all the benefits of breastfeeding for your baby.
For babies over 6 months old who have already started to introduce food, you can offer water, soup, warm broths, fruit puree, yogurt or well-diluted teas, without sugar and at room temperature, such as chamomile tea, for example. .
8. Give prescribed medicine
Remedies for sore throats should only be used under the advice of a pediatrician, as diseases caused by viruses do not always require medication.
However, your pediatrician may prescribe:
- Analgesicssuch as paracetamol in syrup form;
- Anti-inflammatoriessuch as ibuprofen in syrup form;
- Nasal decongestantlike Neosoro infantile or Sorine infantile, in the form of a gotas.
Antibiotics are not recommended if the infection is not caused by bacteria. Cough medicines or antihistamines are also not recommended as they are not effective in young children and have side effects.
The flu vaccine is particularly recommended for babies aged 6 months and over, to protect against different types of the Influenza virus, including H3N2, which are responsible for the development of flu.
9. Adjust your diet
In addition to the previous precautions, parents can also take some precautions with food to try to reduce discomfort, such as:
- Avoid giving very hot or cold foods to the baby as they can worsen the sore throat;
- Give your baby orange juiceas it is rich in vitamin C, which increases the body’s defenses;
- Give honey to baby over 2 years old, as it helps to hydrate the throat, relieving discomfort.
Sore throats generally disappear within a week, but if the baby has been taking the medicine prescribed by the pediatrician and these home measures are adopted, he or she may feel better in about 3 to 4 days.
How to identify a sore throat in your baby
A sore throat in a baby can be identified through some signs, such as:
- Refusal to eat;
- Crying easily or when being fed;
- Seems to have pain when swallowing;
- Stuffy or runny nose;
- Difficulty breathing;
- Cough;
- Agitation or restlessness;
- Vomiting or diarrhea;
- Fever;
- Lumps in the neck.
In addition, you can observe the baby’s throat, which may be red, swollen or with little white dots of pus.
It is always important to consult your pediatrician when your baby shows signs of a sore throat, as this way the doctor can identify the cause and recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Make an appointment with a pediatrician in the nearest region:
When to go back to the pediatrician
It is advisable to return to the pediatrician in the following situations:
- Symptoms worsen or symptoms do not improve within 3 to 5 days;
- Wheezing in the chest when breathing;
- Constant sneezing;
- High fever;
- Frequent tiredness and drowsiness;
- Cat in the throat
- Intense or persistent cough;
- Blisters in the mouth, hand, foot, torso or buttocks.
In addition, you should go to the emergency room immediately if your baby has difficulty breathing, such as very rapid breathing, bluish color or paleness, or difficulty swallowing or is drooling more than normal.
