What should babies not eat when they have a cold?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on May 15, 2025
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When a baby has a cold, symptoms can include fever, coughing, a runny nose, and sneezing. Some may also experience vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Thus, a cold can lead to a decrease in digestive function and loss of appetite. Regarding diet, it is important to provide light, easily digestible foods. If the baby is breastfed, the mother should also consume light and easily digestible foods; if the baby is formula-fed, the formula should be diluted. It's appropriate to add some supplementary foods such as vegetables and fruits. Meanwhile, spicy, stimulating, greasy, and hard-to-digest foods should be temporarily avoided during this period.

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Written by Wu Ben Rong
Pediatrics
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How many days does a child's stomach flu self-heal?

Gastroenteritis in children is usually caused by viral infections, which are self-limiting diseases. The course of the disease generally lasts about 5-7 days, so most children can gradually recover within this period. Gastroenteritis is relatively common in pediatrics. Its symptoms are somewhat similar to those of upper respiratory tract infections, including mild coughing, fever, as well as vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Most children with gastroenteritis will experience gastrointestinal symptoms for about two to three days, which then gradually alleviate. In the later stages of the disease, recurring low-grade fevers often occur, and mild coughing symptoms may also appear. After the course of the disease, the aforementioned symptoms can improve, so parents need not worry too much. If the child's diarrhea is severe, it is important to ensure hydration to avoid dehydration.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to physically reduce fever when having a cold?

There are many methods of physical cooling in clinical practice. The most commonly used is to choose warm water, or to wipe areas such as the palms, soles, neck, and chest with alcohol. It should be noted that infants should not use alcohol. You can also drink more ginger sugar water or scallion water, or use cool towels, ice packs, etc., to apply cold compresses to the forehead. These can achieve the effect of physically reducing fever. Be sure to drink plenty of water and measure the temperature again two hours later. If the fever does not ease, it is necessary to use medication in a timely manner.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What should I do if I have a cold and a runny nose?

Symptoms of a cold with a runny nose do not need to be overly worried about. Clinically, symptomatic treatment is mainly adopted, such as the local use of Ephedrine Nasal Drops, which can relieve the swelling of the nasal mucosa, causing the capillaries to constrict and control the symptoms of a runny nose. You can also choose Chinese patent medicines that open the orifices, such as Huodan Pills, Qianbai Biyan Tablets, Nose Comfort Tablets, etc., or take medicines that inhibit gland secretion, such as Chlorpheniramine Maleate Tablets, Cimetidine Tablets, etc. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to reduce fever from a cold?

Fever symptoms caused by a heat cold, the first choice of antipyretic method is to take physical antipyretic measures, such as using a cool towel, ice cap, or ice pack to cold compress the forehead area. One can also choose fever-reducing patches or use alcohol to wipe areas like the palms and soles of the feet to promote metabolism. If the effect is not apparent, one can take antipyretic and analgesic medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for fever treatment. Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of a baby's cold

Generally speaking, common cold symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, some may have a cough, and others may have a fever. Generally, after most babies catch a cold, the symptoms are mainly respiratory. A small part may show symptoms of the digestive system, such as vomiting and diarrhea. There are also headaches, mental fatigue, lethargy, sleepiness, etc., so there are many symptoms of a cold.