If it's starting to feel as though your baby has had a constant cold ever since winter began - you are not alone.
The average child catches between seven and 10 colds a year. With most concentrated into the winter months, that makes for a lot of sniffles at this time of year.
It's horrid when your tiny baby is snuffling away and there's little you can do about it.
In fact, almost 50% of parents worry so much about their children's health during the winter that they end up suffering from stress themselves.
GP and family health expert Dr Rob Hicks says, 'Parents can take the stress and worry out of winter by learning how to spot the early signs of illness such as a rise in temperature, and how to start treating the signs of illness straight away.'
He recommends using an infrared ear thermometer, an easy, accurate and non-invasive way of taking a young child's temperature even when they are asleep.
Early signs that your child may be sickening for something include restlessness and a raised temperature. You may also find your child is subdued or quieter than usual.
Dr Hicks recommends treating a raised temperature as follows:
1 Cool the room by opening a window, turning down the heating or putting an electric fan in the room.
2 Strip your hot children down to their underwear or vest and nappy.
3 Give children's paracetamol or ibuprofen according to the manufacturer's instructions.
4 Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids.
5 Trust your instincts. Contact your GP if you are worried, if a fever lasts for more than two days or if your child's temperature rises above 40degC.
Research commissioned by Braun reveals that more than a third of worried parents say their children's health is their major concern during the winter.
Some mums and dads spend so much time fretting that they actually make themselves ill.
Dr Hicks says, 'When infants go down with a cough or cold the ensuing sleepless nights, problems with feeding and having to take time off work make it even more stressful for parents.'
- The Braun ThermoScan ear thermometer, priced from £39.99, is available at leading pharmacies and department stores nationwide.
