There are some things every new mom has to deal with and that includes protecting your baby from illnesses and ailments.
I’m sure you must have been berated by your elders, if you feed mashed banana to your growing child, if he/she is suffering from cold. This is because it has been seen that bananas may thicken the mucus, which in turn, prolongs the cough. So yes, elders may have a point there, you see.
What Aggravates Common Cold In Babies?
A cold is probably the most common ailment in babies; in fact, research shows that in its first year, a baby can catch an average of 6 different cold viruses, despite all your efforts. This is because their tiny immune systems need to be exposed to the many viruses floating around, so that the necessary antibodies can be produced in their bodies to fight the infections.
What A Parent Can Do When Her Baby Falls Sick?
The best thing to do is to make sure that nothing aggravates the cold.
Besides keeping your baby warm and taking other precautions, you first need to scrutinize your baby’s diet, and eliminate any food that could add to your child’s discomfort.
If your baby is exclusively breastfed, its best to give frequent shorter feeds, as congestion may not allow your baby to feed for long.
For older babies, make sure you aren’t giving them anything that may be aggravating the problem.
Give as much of liquids as possible, and make sure your baby is well hydrated.
Foods to Avoid
Dairy Products
Milk and milk products are a strict no-no, as they restrict the movement of phlegm due to the lactose content in them. They also have protein molecule casein, which secretes mucus and can be very hard to digest. So that means avoiding all dairy products including cottage cheese, yoghurt, plain milk, butter, cheese, cream, kheer, porridge, etc.
Citrus Fruits
Fruits containing acids such as oranges and sweet lime can aggravate a sore throat. So it is best to avoid these.
