Parents won't be surprised to hear that kids get a cold five to seven times a year.
The annoying thing is that nothing can really be done about it.
According to WebMD, kids are more susceptible to colds because their immune systems haven't fully developed. Also, because kids are kids who touch everything, wash their hands infrequently and sneeze or cough with abandon. Plus, they are around other kids who do the same.
There isn't much parents can do besides treat symptoms. Saline sprays keep noses moisturized. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, administered in small doses, relieve body aches. Sometimes a warm bath does the same. Try petroleum jelly to soothe raw noses.
Perhaps the second most common problem with little ones is gastroenteritis, more commonly known as the stomach bug. As with the cold, the best medicine is rest and fluids to prevent dehydration. Avoid sugary drinks like sports drinks or juice. Once the vomiting and diarrhea pass, introduce easy-to-digest foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.