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Tots are prime targets for colds and flu

By Latha Erickson
CNN

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(CNN) -- In the first two years of life, most children will get eight to 10 colds, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

It may sound like an awful lot of sickness that your little one has to endure, but if you think about how the common cold is spread, it's not surprising.

A droplet from a sneeze or cough can travel up to three feet into the air, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to two hours or more on surfaces such as cafeteria tables, doorknobs and desks. (Watch how you can help stop colds and flu viruses' spread. )

Right now, we're in the high season for coughs and runny noses. "Most of the cold and flu viruses that children get happen between October and April," says Dr. Ari Brown, pediatrician and author of "Baby 411." "Every illness lasts about seven to 10 days," she says. "So your child is going to be sick about every other week, and that's normal."

There is no magic cure-all for the cold or flu. The CDC wants parents to understand that in most cases, antibiotics are not recommended. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses, and viruses cause colds and flu.

So what can you do? Brown says the most important thing is to make your child as comfortable as possible by trying a few home remedies.

She recommends a cool-mist humidifier. The cool mist will help your baby breathe better without making your nursery feel like the Bahamas. Also, it's important that your baby gets lots of fluids to prevent dehydration. But Brown is against clearing congestion with that bulb syringe that babies hate so much.

"If your baby has nasal congestion, what I recommend is just using saline -- just pure salt water drops... I would recommend to throw the bulb away and just stick with saline," says Brown.

Talk to your child's pediatrician to find out whether over-the-counter medications might help.

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