Bronchiolitis is a viral infection affecting children younger than two years old that targets the airways in a child’s lungs. Most common during winter, bronchiolitis typically causes wheezing, coughing and a slight fever. Although uncommon, bronchiolitis can cause trouble breathing. In cases of labored breathing, a healthcare provider should be contacted immediately.
While bronchiolitis isn’t usually serious, it can make your child feel miserable. Let’s look at ways to manage their bronchiolitis to help them feel better while sick.
Encourage Your Child to Rest
If bronchiolitis makes your child fussy, getting them to nap or sleep at night may be challenging. A couple of tips to help your child sleep include:
- Play white noise. White noise is a great tool to help your child sleep. Try putting a white noise machine in their room to give their ears something to focus on and limit their attention to other distractions.
- Establish routine. Keeping a bedtime routine with a young child can be difficult, especially when sick. Do your best to establish a routine, and don’t be hard on yourself if the routine falls through occasionally. Bedtime routines may include reading a story, bathing, putting on pajamas or other things that induce sleepiness and comfort.
Plenty of Fluids
Whenever sick, it is essential to ensure your child is getting plenty of fluids. For children under two, fluids will likely include water, breastmilk or formula.
Regular Feeding
Your child may not have much of an appetite with bronchiolitis. When this is the case, breaking up their meals into smaller snacks throughout the day can be an effective option. Making their meals extra fun while they’re sick can also be helpful. Try adding their favorite ice cream from Hello Honey to their daily meals to incentivize them to eat their food while providing the added benefit of sore throat relief.
Humidifier
A humidifier can help loosen mucus and moisturize your child’s throat. By keeping the air in the environment around your child moist, you can reduce their sore throat and lessen the severity of their cough.
For more information about bronchiolitis, contact ENT & Allergy Specialists – Ear Nose and Throat Physicians and Surgeons today to speak to one of our specialists