4 Month Old with a Cold - Latonia,KY

First, DO NOT GIVE HER HONEY! It is terrible for babies (children are fine) and can cause lifelong problems. I don't mean to yell (with caps :) but it can ebe very dangerous, especially for one so young. I would try to elevate her mattress. My youngest daughter, now 1 year old, was born November of last year and had a cough until April. We tried various things. She got the most sleep and the most restful sleep when her mattress was elevated. I put a blanket under the mattress at one end so that end was higher. It helped things drain for her. Just listen to her breathing and watch that. My daughter's did not start out bad but progressive got worse. I tend to not be a worrier, as she was the 4th, but did listen and noted as it was more labored breathing and sounded wheezier. We finally had to do breathing treatments to get the last to clear up. Happy to report everything is fine now! Good luck!!

1 mom found this helpful

I would suggest the saline nose drops and elevating her mattress.

I am not so sure about being anti-medicine. It has been awhile, but my 7 year old surely went through this sort of thing, and had a cold, and coughed. I imagine I used pediacare or something. I believe I remember about hearing about how these days drs don't recommend for babies or children to have any medicine. I think they ought to be comfortable while getting over an illness. Again, I'm not sure, but i think I would ask an experienced mother who has had a few, and has one at a similar age. Of course, I think you must be extra careful and not give the baby too much. I don't really care if anyone tells me Im a bad mom for being open to the ideas before the past two years...helping my child be comfortable. Any other mom who has had a child before the last 2 years (when all ideas have changed), would agree. We medicated our children, the drs. recommended it then. It wasn't that long ago. It's not like you are medicating a child who doesn't need it. Find something that is gentle and for coughing. Also, ask any and all mothers you know their opinion. Your sweet baby doesn't have to cough her head off. And by no means am I saying medicate her everyday for weeks...but I think you ought to ask a mom that has childREN- and remembers the age WELL....see what she says. I hope your baby gets to feeling better soon....

Oh yeah, help the daycare out by buying a few sanitizers (liquid pumps) and kleenex boxes. Surely they are a clean establishment that does do their best to keep the children for catching eachothers sicknesses. There's only so much one can do, I know- but if they wash and sanitize often, it really can help. watch them when they do a diaper change on a kid. Make sure they are going through standard procedures, and not for show for you.

Good luck.

A.

We carefully used a children's cold med. back in the day. Of course we were careful not to overmedicate. It soounds like you are doing all you can for her. Perhaps you can increase the vit. C she is getting in her diet. It helps fight infection/colds. A warm/hot (not too hot) wet towel on her bare chest for a bit before bedtime may help break up some of her congestion also.

Our sons are now 25 and 27-next week. Cold meds were not taboo for little ones as they are now. I thik they got a bad rap because so many moms felt that if a little helped a little more would help their little one feel even better. Sure enough - they were feeling no pain -or anything else. I'm not sure there are any on the market at all now, especially for someone as young as 4 mo.

My prayers are with you, A..

I just read a few other responses! DO NOT GIVE HER HONEY! Babies under 2 do not have the ability to digest honey and it can lead to health issues for more serious than the cold she has now. I again don't mean to yell at you either, but it is very serious and dangerous for babies! It is great advice for someone older than 2.

I know what you're going through. My boys' Doctor told me that the coughing may sound bad, but it's actually the bodies way of clearing the airway. At that age, I'd probably put baby in my room (if she isn't), and just keep an eye and ear on her. Good LUck!

It sounds like you are doing just about everything that you can. I hope she gets to feeling better

I'm sorry:( There's really nothing you can do. After one year old, they can have honey and you can give a TBS of honey and lemon juice, but even that only helps a bit.
Oh, one thing you can do for nose congestion is express breastmilk in to her nose. It's antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral. It works better than saline!

Put vicks on the bottom of her feet, then cover them up with socks. It will make her feel a whole lot better. Every time me or my girls comes down with a cold, I do that and it helps us alot!. Hope your daughter feels better soon.

Sue

Maybe try a teaspoon of pure honey . This helps my 5yr. old grand daughter with a dry cough from alergies. I don't believe there is anything in honey to worry about giving to a 4 month old..also you can give it as often as needed.

You might try slipping a pillow under one end of her mattress to elevate it. This seemed to help our 14 mo DD a lot last week when she was coughing during the night.

It is hard to listen to them when they are like this but...unfortunately there isn't much more you could do than what you're doing now. The only other thought..find a way to elevate the head of her crib/pack-n-play. Goodluck

try the cool mist instead of steam and see if it helps.

Try some eucalyptus oil in a humidifier, pot of water on stove with the oil in it, breathing it from the bottle, and/or putting drops on either sides of her pillow while she sleeps. AWESOME stuff. Also.....some people swear by putting Vicks Vapo Rub and rubbing it on the feet and putting socks on right before bed time.

I had one of the angled pillow wedges to elevate them a bit. You can put it inder the mattress or you can elevate that end of the crib a bit. You can also use the saline spray/drops and the suction to get anything out of the nose. The cool mist humidifer should help. I know how you feel...I spent many nights up with my first child, rocking him in the glider so he was sitting all the way up and could breath easiest. I also think leting her nurse like crazy whenever she wants helps with the immune system. Good luck!