6 Month Old with a Cold

Updated on October 20, 2009
E.B. asks from Oneida, TN
16 answers

Is there any OTC medicine you can give a six month old for a cold? He is very snotty, coughing, sneezing, fussy and not sleeping good at all. Im taking him to the Dr. Monday but looking for something to get him through the weekend. Any suggestions?

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K.O.

answers from Charlotte on

My 10-month-old has a cold. I use the vicks baby rub on her chest and put some on her feet then put socks on her feet. she sleeps pretty good at night. I also prop her up a little. the little ones saline nasal drops helps too.

Good Luck.

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R.R.

answers from Raleigh on

The Little Noses Nasal Spray just 2 drops on each side and if you can use the bulb syringe to get some of the mucus out. Also prop the head of his bed up and aa humidifier would work wonders and there are some that have a Vick's pad you can put in and that will help clear him up too. Might could try a little of the vapor bath that has worked great for my boys. Hope this helps, and he feels better. Good Luck.

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F.K.

answers from Charlotte on

Unfortunately there are no safe OTC medicines for babies. I recommend Simply Saline Baby (nasal saline mist)or Little Remedies Saline nasal spray. I like Baby Simply Saline better because it's a mist spray so you put it in one nostril, hold the baby over the sink or a towel and spray. Then do the other nostril. No bulb syringe needed. It's like it rinses out the nose.

You can also use Tylenol or Motrin to help keep him comfortable but check with your pediatrician for the recommended dose.

He might also be more comfortable sleeping in a sitting up position so he doesn't get as congested. If he has a swing, a stroller or even a car seat that he's comfortable in, you can try letting him sleep in that. That usually worked when my sons were sick.
Good luck and I hope he gets better soon.

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P.B.

answers from Raleigh on

The Bulb syringe to "suck out" what you can from his sinuses, use the saline spray in the nose to loosen more & a humidifier in the room at night. (in the room, not directly on the baby)

Also you can roll up a towel & place it under the baby's mattress at the head end to elevate his head for better rest & drainage.

OTC meds are not good for one so young.

Hang in there, you both will survive!

P. : )

1 mom found this helpful
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H.M.

answers from Raleigh on

The previous poster had good info. There's not really anything you can give a child for a cold at this age, as far as medicine. You can also take him into a steamy bathroom, and Johnson's makes a vapor bath that can help clear passages. But the saline things works really well.

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K.P.

answers from Memphis on

NO -- don't give him anything. Not only is it not approved for children that young, but most cold medicines have recently become "unapproved" for children under 6 years of age, partially due to the realization that they don't really help, and tend to cause more harm or problems than they cure. I agree with the first advice -- saline drops, etc. He'll probably sleep better if he sleeps snuggled up to you, so that may help. I've heard of something called a "NoseFrida" which many people like -- it's sort of like a nasal aspirator, but better. I don't really recommend nasal aspirators because when I used one on my younger son when he was about your son's age, I ended up giving him a nose-bleed. That's the *last* time I used one!

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R.D.

answers from Jackson on

E.,

Sorry to tell you this, but at 6 months old it will just be a few restless nights. They used to suggest baby vicks vapor rub, but now say that it is too strong to use for babies under a year. When my sons had colds before a ear I would get in the smallest bathroom and turn on the shower so the room would fill with steam and we would sit in there for about 10-15 minutes to help loosen everything up. Hope tbis helps.

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G.W.

answers from Chattanooga on

Sounds like you've gotten some good advice, but wanted to suggest that you stay away from Vicks Vaporub for your little one. There are some fairly recent warnings (I'm a pharmacist, so I get some of the newly released stuff) against giving it (in any capacity--chest, feet, or otherwise) to kids under 2. And, never, ever apply it to anyone of any age under the nostrils (like my mom did to me). Hope your little one is feeling better!

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D.P.

answers from Raleigh on

I always did a humidifier, Vicks on the feet with socks, and infant Tylenol. These three do help to ease the discomfort until then virus can run it's course.

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M.B.

answers from Charlotte on

you can get some little ones saline spray for his nose and also try putting vicks babyrub on his feet, then socks over it, while he sleeps for the cough. good luck!

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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

Saline drops and the nasal aspirator 3-4 times a day is your best bet. When my daughter was 7 mos old she had the same symptoms and that is what our pediatrician told me to do for her, it helped a lot.

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

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V.C.

answers from Wheeling on

Probably someone already told you, but try rubbing Vicks Vapo-rub (or a generic equivalent) onto the bottoms of his feet and put socks on him when he sleeps. Might not help, but couldn't hurt!

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A.M.

answers from Asheville on

yep, the saline drops and nasal aspirator - just remember to squeeze the bubble part of the aspirator BEFORE you put it into your childs nose so that when you release it, it pulls the snot out - if you forget and squeeze it when the aspirator is in your baby's nose, it will just send the snot further into your baby's nose which is not comfy.... Also, the steamy bathroom works very well to help loosen everything up. I had never heard of the vicks rub on the feet with socks idea until I read it on this site about a month or so ago, but apparently it is really supposed to work well to relieve the coughing, so definitely give that a try. But, no OTC cold medicines - they can actually make things worse because they don't allow the snotty mucus to get out of the system which can lead to ear infections. Good luck, It's just terrible when your sweet infant has a cold. My sweet little girl got a cold when she was just 5 weeks old - and babies can't breathe through their mouths at that point - only their noses which she obviously couldn't do very well because of the stuffies - and it just broke my heart, but we used the aspirator and lots of steamy bathroom visits and she did just fine. Feel better, momma.

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C.B.

answers from Charlotte on

Use a bulb to clear the nasal passages. Be sure to keep it clear because newborns are nose breathers!!! Use the saline mist only to keep the nose clear.

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P.G.

answers from Raleigh on

HI E.
The doctor probably won't give you much for a cold as there is not a remedy/cure for it. You can give Tylenol for fevers. Try steaming up a bathroom and sit in there with your LO for a while (like a sauna) that will help with the congestion and loosen the plegm. You can also try a vaporizer in your LO room that will help with the congestion as well. One other thing to try is to elevate one end of the bed (put a few books or something to raise one end) and make this the "head" end - gravity will help drainage. Good luck

P.

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