5 Mo with Cold. What Can I Do for Her?

Hi C.. I agree with Melissa L. I have a 7 month old grandson, that I have custody of right now and since he was about 3 months old, he has been sick off and on. We were in and out of the pediatric office, in which they believe he carries the RSV. The best advice I could give you, since I am still dealing with this same issue off and on, is keep your baby sleeping in a more raise up position, like in a baby swing or carrier. Use the saline a lot throughout the day, it helps so much. The doctor explained to me that the nasal passages have to keep moist to help prevent the coughing and also that the saline helps to break up the mucus. Use a cool mist humidifier that blows the mist in the babies direction. One of the old school doctors at my pediatrics told me that all these humidifiers that are out there that are not actually putting those little beads of moisture on the babies nose...aren't worth a dime. He claims that the babies need that to help them breathe easier and moisten their passages. I trusted in him and went and bought the Vicks cool mist humidifier that blows the mist in whatever direction you choose. What a big difference in my grandson's recovery, compared to the other 3 humidifiers I own. The only thing is, you have to keep them cleaned out often or they will just stop working on you. Also, there is a "Baby Rub" they sell at Babies R Us, that is just like Vicks, except it has more natural ingredients in it...does the job just as good as Vicks does, without harming your babies health. I think it might be made by the same company that makes, little tummies and little noses...I don't remember at the moment. But I Love that stuff...it works so good on my grandson.

Using the "Little Noses" saline drops is very uncomfortable for babies, but it helps tremendously to break up the mucus and bring it out. You can use the "boogie-sucky-thingy" (sorry, forgot what they call it) to clear out her little nose. She will sleep better and breathe better in the end.

From the time my grandson was 3 months old, they would not give me any meds for him. He suffered for months until he was old enough to be prescribed something to help him. In the meantime, this method was all I could do until he was old enough to use the albuterol.

Good Luck and God Bless.

It's awful when they're sick at such a young age. I always run a humidifier in the room when they're sick. Also, Johnson & Johnson makes this special bath stuff -- it's in a lavendar bottle I think and it says something like, "Soothing bath for babies with colds". Anyway, it has that mentholyptus (sp?) scent like Vics that helps to clear them, and if you bathe her in it right before bed, it might help to get as much out before bed as possible. Also, if the mucous in her nose is very thick, you can try to loosen it with some saline drops, then suck it out with the nasal aspirator. Good luck!

Ouch... I feel for you. I have had 2 rounds of mastitis in both breasts, so I feel your pain! As for the baby, keep giving plenty of fluids and use saline drops for her nose before you clean her nose. The vicks helped my son a little, I rubbed it on his chest as well. Also try a humidifier, that helped a lot. They are so helpless when they are sick and you can't do enough for them. My little guy and my husband passed the same cold back and forth to each other for 6 weeks. I was ready to pull my hair out because all my son wanted to do all day and all night was nurse. Hope everything clears up soon! Feel better!!

Poor C.. Ugghhh! What to say other than this is why no mom ever wishes a sick child on anyone. I feel badly b/c of your mastitis...do you have any support from your mother or sister to help you rest? when my kids are sick, i elevate the crib matress with a folded beach towel and I swear by a cool mist humidifier. the room is cool and comfortable plus the sound of the humidifier helps them sleep too, I think. I have those going all night whether they`aer sick or not. Fairly cheap and you can get them at Target. Just keep her cool and comfortable. don't cover her up too warm and make sure she doesn't have a fever. i never used cold med's for my kids...I recently discovered viks; but my boys are much older now. Putting it under her nose might burn a little esp if her tender skin is being rubbed all the time to wipe away mucus. try not using the vicks and switch to the cool mist humidifier. Since this is her first cold, she doesn't know what's happening to her either. and try to think how you feel when you are sick to make her comfy ie are you achey and cranky etc...i have one child that likes to be left alone and the other needs to be held thru entire cold. I feel so bad for you!!! all first time moms are thwarted into reality when they get their first cold but yours is so young and your mastitis on top of it! Just remember a cold is three days coming, three days with you and three days going...at least that's what my Grandmother would say..it helped me get thru times like yours. Hang in there and let us know how she and you are doing.

saline drops in her nose will help her keep things moving - try Little Noses. try to limit the suction because it can actually irritate her mucous membranes and cause even more stuffiness. Try having her sleep in her car seat or stroller - you can even put her car seat in the crib if that makes you sleep easier. A humidifier in the bedroom should also help. Good luck!

Colds are tough at this young of an age. Honestly, children's cold medicine doesn't help so don't get frustrated by your inability to use one. All they do is sedate the child, and it can cuase them liver damage.

My children attend a large daycare and get colds all the time. It sounds like you are taking good steps so far. Here are some more common sense suggestions:

- invest in a COLD air humidifier. This does wonders for my sons' congestion. Steam humidifiers can foster mold and bacteria and can be a burn risk so make sure its a cool mist model.

- Push fluids! Nothings helps kids recover from a cold better than being hydrated.

- Try Little Noses saline nasal mist. It can loosen up the nasal mucus and make your sucking more productive. It also helps wash germs out of the nose, which is where most cols actually begin.

- I know you need your sleep, but your daughter may rest easier if you are nearby. There are safe ways to let your child sleep in bed with you. I don't recommend it become a regular thing, but sometimes just feeling your skin and hearing your heartbeat can help her rest easier when she isn't well.

You'll get through this!!

I agree with the vicks on the feet. That works well for us. I have even used it myself! Also, if you don't want to put it around her nose, you can put some vicks on her pajamas. That will keep it away from her skin and she can still breathe in the vapors.

My pediatrician recommended saline drops and the humidifier for my daughter when she had colds at that age. She is 9 months now and has a cold now as well, the humidifier seems to help and suctioning the mucous. That is really all that can be done. My daughter has had quite a few colds due to her older brother who goes to preschool.

I love Johnson's Vapor Bath ... it's great for kids of all ages and for adults, too. I use it on my daughter about an hour before bed. It helps her drain a lot of mucus before going to bed. Vicks makes a BabyRub that might work better for her as well. Little noses makes saline drops for little ones. You may ask your dr about using that. We used a humidifier at night when our daughter had colds.

make sure you have a vaporizer in her room. when sucking out the mucus, use a little saline, it will thin the secretions and make it easier.

Put some thyme and sage in a bowl in her room and pour hot water over it. This has always stopped the worst coughs for us.

My son was sick very young as well. Really all we could do is try and make them as comforterble as we can. I held him for most of it without any rest. But he is worth it. They have baby vics now, I put a little on his chest and back. And if you don't want to do that I hear on the feet is good with socks on. I also had a humidifier, to help with the cough. (Vicks)Sorry, but this is one you have to wait out. I now how hard it is. Hope the little one gets better soon. I had the flu when both of my kids were sick.

Sorry to hear that your baby is sick with a cold. You didn't mention if she was seen by a doctor or why you can't give her medications? Is she running a fevor?

If you are using vic's under her nose and it's not doing her harm why not rub some on her chest?

hey christine, try saline drops you can also try a humidifier or a vaporizor, if that does not work try taking her to the doctors : ) ..... Much luck!!!

Consider hiring a baby nurse to help you for a few nights so you can get healthy again. Colds stick around and especially with the weather changing every 5 minutes. You need to take care of you - it's like the airplane- put the oxygen mask on your face first, then baby's.

For baby - saline solution drops in her nose, humidifier (I prefer warm air. found the cool air ones gave us both a chill), warm bath before bed, all the other advice people have given you- try them all and see what works for her.

Good luck!

Do you have a humidifier/vaporizer in the babies room?I know that always helps my two girls sleep when they are sick. Also, They make a plug in vaporizer. It has little pads with vicks on them and you plug it in, and it fills the room so you don't need to put it on thechild. I have been using them for a while now, even with the baby. In combo with the hummidifier they really seem to help.You can also put the vicks on their feet and then cover w/socks at bed time. I know that sounds crazy, but for some strange reason it works! Also, you could call your peditrition they might be ableto offer some good suggestions.Mine did when my older daughter (4) had a bad cold. Good luck, hope you bothfeel better soon!

try putting onion juice in her ears (good for ear infections & mucus). put an onion in a cheescloth, pound & use an eye or ear dropper to put the juice in her ears. it's natural & won't hurt her. michi

Saline drops really help! Most times I don't even have to use the bulb syringe to suck anything out. I put the drops in and the mucus comes out. You could use saline drops often so that's a plus. Also, run a humidifier in her room and take her in a steamy bathroom. I used to put my baby in his car seat and keep him in the bathroom while I showered. A warm bath before bedtime also helps.

Good luck!!

Hi C.,
I would let the doctor know she is having trouble breathing at night. Is she eating? Do you notice any change in her breathing pattern? I don't want to alarm you but just warn you. My son had a nasty cold 2 weeks before Christmas and he was 3 months old. He was hosptialized from having RSV which is a very bad cold/virus for babies. Have the ped check her oxygen level just to be sure. This type of virus can go unnoticed and have very bad consquinces. Or it could be just a bad cold but from what I'm reading in your message, my son had trouble sleeping at night and that's how it started. Good luck!

A humidifier worked well for my babies....hope yours is feeling better soon!
-J. D.

Hey C.,
I would start off with the humidifer it really works. I got a big one for my house and I run it all the time. I don't want this to be weird but try considering natural ways. The steam shower is one way to go. I never tried it but it works they say. I always for both my kids gave Annis Seeds. It is a herbal tea you boil and serve. I still to this day drink it. It is safe for babies. I have proof of that with both my babies. You boil the seeds in the water. You then drain the seeds out you have to place a little sugar because this tea is not sweet. Trust me it works. The seeds may be expensive but well worth it. Good Luck!! The doctors always says they have to beat it themselves.... :)

Hi C.,
What has worked for my little one when he is like that, is to use a humidifer and a vaporizer. His room is like a jungle with the humidity, but this is the only thing that has helped him sleep throughout the night. During times when she has mucus, i would suggest eliminating dairy products until she clears up. I would not put the vicks under her nose, for fear that she might rub it with her hand and get it in her eye (if thats possible for her now). Put baby vicks on her chest and back instead.
Good Luck
N.

like the rest of the moms here, i say definitely use a cold mist humidifier during sleeping and saline drops to keep her nasal passages moist. some babies prefer to sleep upright in their carseat to keep their noses clear. otherwise you're doing everything right! it's tough when babies are sick but you're doing great! hope she gets better soon.

do you have a cool mist humidifier? that is best for baby. put the humidifier as close to the crib at night as you can, also keep one going in the main part of your house where your baby is most of the time. have you gone to the ped? might be something more than a cold...my son had the same symptoms a couple months ago and turned out he had RSV which is VERY common in babies. good luck.

I sounds like you are nursing so express a bit of breastmilk and use a medicine dropper to put drops in her nose. Breastmilk thins the mucus and is antibacterial so your antibodies fight the cold on contact. Nurse as much as you can too.

Hi! When my baby was sick I had to have her sleep in her infant car seat. I would strap her in to so there was no worry she would fall out when I wasn't looking. She had a terrible head cold and that helped her sleep. Also there is a product out that is saline water (I think it is called Little Noses or something like it) that you put in their nose. It did help with the stuffyness and made it come out. Keep up with sucking out the "stuff". Also a humidifier in the room she is sleeping, playing, etc. in will help keep her sinusis moist and the stuff running rather than clogging up and make it easier for her. As for the rest if you can call in backup!!! My mom was mine! Do you have a dear friend, grandparent or someone that can come and just help. With the Mastitis (had it 3 times) you need to take care of yourself too and a helper (even a trustworthy teen) to be a second set of hands will be a huge help!! Hope you all feel better soon!!! Hang in there this too shall pass! A.

I use a cool mist humidifier, and if you can't try a fan. Cool the room down. I also bathe my now almost 6 year old in the vapor bathe, that seems to help.

Aww... I remember those days..
Well, once my son had the worst cough ever.. and nothing would help him, when I took him to the er, a doctor told me that the best thing I can do for him was to sit in the bathroom with him.. So ever since, I try this first before any medicice when they have a bad cough.

So this is what you do... Let the hot/warm shower run for about 10 mins. .

You cansit in the bathroom (close the toilet top, and place a towel, etc, and sit there), or get a chair, whatever works for you. You will be a bit hot and unconfortable, but this will help clear out any mucus in the chest, and it will soother baby right to sleep. Sing to her, humming sounds and you'll see she'll fall right asleep. Holding her is best while doing this. If anything you can bring the carseat, and let her breathe in the steam while you take a shower. This helps her and you at the same time.. the warm water will help your disconfort too.

So anyhow, before you do this, Get a few things ready before you go in the shower: Make sure you have some towels, and blankets for the way out, and if you want a bathrobe for yourself. Everything you need in the bathroom. You cannot just open the door, this is not good.

When you are done (10-15 mins, you can stay longer if you want... the more the better.. )make sure to cover her up really good, like a blanket over her head, etc. So that she doesn't feel cold as you walk out. hold her like this for about 3 mins.. untill her body slowly adjust to the room temperature. Slowly take the blanket off, and just hold her a bit longer. You will see that she will be coughing a lot while in the shower... this is good. This means she is letting all the mucus out, and brign comfort. This will help. You might even want to give her a bath before you walk out of the bathroom, I'm sure that all the time you can give her with this steam will soother her chest, and let loose lots of what is bothering her.

Oh, another thing that helps is giving baby tea. I come from a spanish decent, so teas are very common as a natural remedy.. specially for babies, we use chamomile which is a very soft and comforting tea. It is safe for babies.. and since milk is not so great for them at this time with all the congestion. My mother, and also I, gave our babies chamomille to soother them to sleep.
chamomille aside form having a soothing affect on the stomach, it is also known to soother you to sleep. So, this is totally safe. Just boil some water, and make the tea like you would for yourself with a bit of sugar.... adn then, place it on the bottle and put about 1/3 of cold water so that it warms up. I hope you try it. This was the best thing when they were sick. I would offcourse alternate with milk, and pedialite if needed. But the chamomile tea is still my daughter's favorite when she is sick.

Also, keep a humidifier in baby's room.. and one way to get some sleep is have baby sleep on top of your chest while reclyning on a reclyner chair, if you have one, or place support for yourself. You can use those carriers that one uses to carry baby in front of you, or you can just be creative and make sure she is snuggled there.
When baby sleeps head down will sleep better... plus think of how you feel when you are sick.. which way do we feel better sleeping... plus hearing your heart will keep her calm too.. and you will be able to feel anything unusual.

Ok. well good luck. And hope you get some sleep.

God bless you and baby,

C.

C.,
been there done that and it is no fun at all!!! vicks makes an infant chest rub that is wonderful!!! i have used it with all 5 of my children and it is the best thing in the world. i rub it on the kids chest, alittle under their nose and believe it or not on the bottom of their feet with socks or footed pj's on at night, i am not sure why this works but i have had pediatric nurses and dr. tell me this. also put a warm mist humidifier in their bedroom at night, as works wonders and has been recommended by numerous doctors.

best of luck to you and i hope your little one is feeling better.

E.

You can get these vicks plugs, they are called Sudacare. It has a little thing that plugs right into an outlet and comes with these discs that have vicks in them and it kinda eminates the smell thru-out the room. They are way safer for babies. Infants should not use the vicks rub where they have a chance of getting it into their mouths. Funny as it is, I got a tip from one of my patients at work and I know it sounds crazy but if you rub vicks over there feet and put socks on them before bedtime it REALLY helps. I know it sounds insane but I gave it a shot with my daughter and it works! Also a cool mist humidifier as well, keeps the nasal passages moist. But I definitely recommend the Sudacare plug which you can get at your local pharmacy and the vicks on the feet and the humidifier. Good luck!

Did you ever consider homeopathic or natural remedies from the health food store. I'm not sure how old a baby has to be but they make cough syrups and other things for colds that are chemical free. It also never hurts to take them in the bathroom with you while you take a hot shower, the steam is good. I have also seen baby wash with menthol and what not in them to help clear them up, theres nothing like a good bath to make you feel better! My daughter has a cold too, she is also 5 months, its no fun!

You may want to give her some Infants Tylenol or Infants Motrin (ask your pediatrician first, of course)...that will help with some of the uncomfortableness. Has she been checked to see if she has an ear infection? Also, a cool mist humidifier can help also.

Other than that, LOTS of fluids, especially water to flush her out.

They have Baby Vicks - it's great smeared on their chests...I think they have to be over 3 months, but check the label.

HTH, J.

We used the plug-in Vicks & Sudafed when our little one had a bad cold. It seemed to work very well for him, especially because his room is pretty small.

Definitely get a humidifier. It does help keep the passages open. They sell Baby Vicks which is a little gentler on the little ones than the one for adults. The steam bath is crucial before bed time. We even did it in the middle of the night when my son woke up and could not go back to sleep. We did not turn the lights on or anything but just stood in the room with the steam for about 10 minutes. It gets all the stuff running out of the nose.

I hope you both are feeling better soon.

Hi. She will hate this too, but my 5 mo daughter has gotten more used to it and it seems to pay off...do you use a nasal spray, specifically Simply Saline Baby? non medicinal, it loosens things up for the sucking, and keeps it moist. The sprayer is quicker and mistier than regular baby nose drops. Sorry you're both going through a hard time.

Hi,
When my baby had his first cold, he was 3 1/2 mos. old. My pediatrician said to use saline drops before sucking out his nose. (We used Little Noses Saline Drops.) We did that before every feeding to make sure he could eat. They also suggested sitting in a steamy bathroom with him. And to use a humidifier while he slept. I hope her cold clears soon and both of you can get the sleep you need!
Best,
T.

You are getting some great advice from everyone! I use a vicks vaporizer. I bought one in Wal-Mart very cheap. Something like $12.00. I know that it works great for us. My husband and I have problems sleeping at night because as soon as we lay down our heads plug right up. It also helps us to sleep better and longer. My daughter (3 months)thankfully hasn't gotten sick yet but when it does happen that is what we will be using. We also have a humidifier too. It puts moisture in the air to help with the clogged nose and dryness. Good luck!