Best Medicine for 6 Month Old

There's not much you can do. (Castor Oil will only make her stools runny, which she probably already has with all the mucous in her system). She's too young for any over the counter medication (seriously!). However you should pay particular attention to her cough... If it continues for 3-4 days or starts to sound "deep and wet", take her back in to the pedi and have them re-check her lungs. Infants are particularly vulnerable to bronchiolitis and pneumonia, and you'll need to be vigilant (aka: paranoid!) to make sure her congestion doesn't develop into that.

Besides, continuous congestion for a few days might develop an ear infection also...

Take her off milk and dairy; see if that helps. Milk can increase the production of mucous and congestion.

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My daughter is 3 and for the first two years we dealt with the same thing. You need to let it runs its course. Her immune system will get stronger. This year my daughter has not gotten sick at all. I would not give her castor oil. This will only make her have diarrhea.

L.

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As long as she's not in any danger, it's really important that you let it run its course. Her immune system has to develop, and it just won't if you load it up with those unnatural medicines. Keep her as comfortable as you can (and hydrated...proper nutrition), and let it work itself out. This approach should make her stronger later.

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Humidity. Increased fluids. Vicks rub. Saline drops are fine, but I didn't use them. Cream on nose to avoid irritation. No meds unless needed for sleep or something else. Otherwise, avoid as much as possible.

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a cold is a virus, and unfortnately there is no cure for a virus. it really does have to run it's course. i would not give my 6 mo old benadryl - it is not recommneded for children under 6 yrs! as for castor oil, that sounds like an awful wives tale. use the saline drops several times a day and a few minutes after you put them in, use a bulb syringe (the ones from the hospital are best) to suck out all the mucus that you just loosened up with the drops. use a humidifier in the room that she sleeps in and elevate her head to help her breath better while sleeping. my now 11 month old has also had a few colds (i think just about every baby has) and these things have worked for us to keep him as comfortable as possible while he was sick. good luck, i know it's terrible to see your baby sick!

Don't give her anything. It just has to run it's course. Benadryl is not going to work with her coughing. Just keep her comtorble. A humidifer will help at night. Also try Baby vicks that help with my daughter when she was sick. it help her breath easier at night. keep using the saline drops and use the buger cacther. that helps alot. i hope this help.

Hello W.,

As a mother to 4 (13,11, twins 4)I can safely and assuredly say to let it run its' course. I tried to treat my oldest with every medication that the doctor would prescribe, of which one was Benedryl, and he is the one that has developed asthma. The others are all much healthier than he is. I had to get a new doctor when my 11 year old was 2 and that doctor advocated the minimum approach and to not treat unless it was severe and only then to exhaust all natural remedies first. I have to say it was frustrating at first, but I found that this was much better, less expensive, and they got sick less than their counter parts. Try using more expensive filters for your air conditioners, this helped quite a bit in our house. Vacuum daily and use dye free and scent free detergents to wash clothes in and to control allergies. The saline really does work great if you are vigilant in your use of it. All my kiddos were breast fed until 1 year, and I did notice that if I had dairy products, it would make runny and stuffy noses, so I do believe that milk could play a part in the nose drama. I realized that the runny nose bothered me more than it really bothered them. Hope this helps.

I use Robitussin generic label, on her use 1/4 tsp
Musinex is real good for kids!! Just cut it back for her age and weight

I talked to the doctor's office last night, my daughter is 9months and having the same problem. They said let it run it's course, and DON"T give her Benadryl / tylenol. Especially if she doesn't have a fever, warm towel, heat from running water, salin drops, humidifier, nose sringe
home remedies.

Your baby is only 6 months old, saline drops are good least of all the best at this age. Please do not start giving the child OTC medications at this age. Many OTC medications do more harm than good. The best med is let it run it course.

I am with your pediatrician, let it run its course. Colds happen, and her little body has to get over it and build up immunities.

We have been giving my 9 month old grandson Benedryl every night since he was 3 months old. This was reccommended by his Pedi.

I have a 22 month old, that gets running noses & congestion a lot. Benadryl helps with the runny nose, but the pediatrician told us to only give it to him before bed, so he sleeps easier. We also use a cool mist humidifier at night & it works wonders. The pediatrician said absolutely no Vicks Vapor Rub, it can cause pneumonia in small children. Hope this helps

Would you like to try something natural and safe? I give Xango to my grandkids. My grandkids love it (ages 18 mo and 3 yr) and they have not had to go to the doctor in over a year (that's how long they have been living with us). Xango is a delicious juice made from the mangosteen fruit. Just go to www.pubmed.com and search mangosteen to see all the research that has been done on this one fruit. Among many properties that they have discovered, one is anti-histimine. Xango is the best mangosteen juice on the market and offers a 30 day money back guarantee. It is not available in stores, it is marketed via network marketing. That means that if you like the product and you refer others to try it, you will earn money back. You may visit www.tryxjuice.com for more info or call me at ###-###-####. You may also request a free sample from the website. Blessings!

Hi W.!
I am the mohter of 4. Viruses I have been told over the years basically need to run its course. It could take up to 2 weeks. However what I did was run a hot steamy shower. Let the steam fill the bathroom. Meanwhile get the baby ready so your 6 month old is only coming into the steamed bathroom with just a pamper (since it will be hot in there) Let the baby just breathe in the steam and that helps clear them up as well. You might want to go in with a ponytail, shorts and a tank top. Just sit the baby on your lap or walk around the bathroom for a few so the baby can breathe the steam in.

Good Luck!

I keep a humidifier running in my little one's room 24/7 during the winter months. You can also use the vicks plug in vapors. Its the warm, dry air that lots of times causes them to have runny noses. I also put in saline drops with each diaper change and use the bulb syringe when she wakes and when she goes to bed. If you use it too often it can irritate the inside of their noses but you can also buy a syringe that has a small narrow tip and then widens a bit to prevent you from putting it too far in their nose causing irritation. How I suction her nose: I place her on the changing table and i roll a small wash rag and place it between her neck and shoulder blades causing her head to extend back slightly. That helps keep the saline drops from rolling right out of her nose. I put the saline drops in and then change her diaper, giving the saline time to loosen the stuff in her nose. Then I suction away after ive finished changing her. I usually have to hold her arms down with my elbows at her side and then hold her face with one hand and suction with the other. Its hard to explain but you'll figure something out. Thats all I did with my first one and she NEVER needed anymore than that. Once you start noticing her nose getting a little runny get back to the saline drops. it saved us.

Personally, I'd hate to try something new and have her have an adverse reaction.

From: http://www.consultantlive.com/display/article/10162/11505...

Despite the desires of patients, parents, and physicians, there is currently no effective pharmacological treatment of the common cold in children. Nothing—decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants, expectorants, zinc, or herbal remedies—has been shown to have any beneficial effect in children and many may carry a substantial risk of side effects. Even routine symptomatic therapies such as antipyretics and humidified air may be counterproductive.

The best medicine is education. Parents need to understand the duration and expected symptoms of the common cold, and to know what specific changes in symptoms (eg, rapid or labored breathing) or duration (eg, a cold lasting 10 days or more without improvement) would warrant a re-evaluation by their child's physician. Parents also need to be educated about the lack of proven efficacy and the potential side effects of available cold remedies. Saline nose drops, adequate fluids, and use of antipyretics for bothersome fever may provide limited symptomatic relief—but time is still the only known cure.

Saline, bulb syringe and humidifier are the best things.

I don't quite understand why you would give your child castor oil for a runny nose, all that's going to do is give her a runny behind. Benedryl can safely be given to a six month old. My daughter started taking it around that age. You just need to get your pediatrician to recomend a dose for your childs weight. I also gave my daughter the triaminic cold strips at that age. You just have to do a little math. If they recommend 2 strips for a 4 year old, it would be one strip for a 2 year old. Then half of 2 yrs would be one year and half a strip, then half of one year would we 6 mos. and one quarter of a strip. That's how I did it. I personally would give benedryl sparingly leaving it's uses for allergic reactions. I'm sure if you use that phrase "allergic reations" with the doc they'll give you the proper doseage. But that's what benedryl is really for. Benedryl is a vaso-constrictor (it tightens the veins) so that the histhamines can't travel through the blood stream as freely and it dialates (opens up) lung tissues making it easier to take a breath during allergic reactions. This make's all of the wet tissue dry, which helps stop a runny nose, and why people use it for such. But I say if the doc won't give you the directions for you to help your child, get a new doctor.

Saline and Suction are best. To help even more put a littl baby vapo rub (it doesn't burn as much) on her chest, NOT the nose or face. You can also steam up your bathroom by running the shower and just sit in the steamy bathroom with her. At that age it is very hard to get the dosage correct.

Rub Vicks BABY rub, all natural on her feet at night.. I use it on my whole family and myself..works wonders! Does stain though, so put socks on her.. good luck..also a humidifier is a must for my kids when they are sick.

I would stick with the saline drops.

My daughter is 11 months old and has had her fair share of colds.

HI W.!
I am a mother of three children 5, 4, and 2.... I also have one on the way. It is safe to give your baby Benadryl at 6 months (all medicines have a weight chart for dosing) However, those symptoms are not a benadryl issue. For runny nose and a cough, I would recommend Tylenol Runny nose and cough. Be sure to check you childs weight and under dose a tiny bit the first time to gauge Your Child. Tylenol products are the best but, NEVER overdose!!! And you can always call a Dr. to verify this.

Benadryl is an antihistamine. It's purpose is to counter-act a histamine response from the body. The body produces a histamine response when it is allergic to something, ie., mosquito bites, ant bites, poison ivy, eye irritation from dust or cat dander, skin rash, etc. If her runny nose and cough is not an allergic histamine response then why take an antihistamin? As far as the Castor oil, I don't know.

You can get Echinacea at the health food store in a liquid eye dropper form and give to her a few drops in her water/juice/milk/or straight in the mouth and this will help control the runny nose which is contributing to the cough. This will buy some comfort time until her immune system beats this particular bug. It is an herb and completely safe. My kids have used it their entire lives with no problem. TheyI have never used kids cold medicines, other OTC medicines, or prescription anything including antibiotics. We have beat every cold, flu, and ear infection with herbs. It takes a while to read up on them and get proficient at use but is worth it. Get a book by Balch and Balch called Prescription for Nutritional Healing. It is very well put together reference and information guide on herbs and vitamins. I would start with Echinacea, Golden Seal, and Astralagus. Herbs do not work with a strong reaction like meds do and for some people whom are used to and like the strong fix of meds it is hard to get used to the subtlety of herbs.

God Bless

Benadryl is for allergic reactions. Castor oil causes diarrhea. Do either of these things sound like what you're dealing with? PLEASE don't listen to those moms.

Your pedi is right. Put the saline in, use the bulb syringe to get all the stuff out, and let it run its course. Use a cold mist humidifier to help relieve the congestion as she sleeps. I also like to use some essential oil drops that are blended specifically to help congestion (in fact, the blend is called "Breathe Easier") in the water of the humidifier. You could also take her into the bathroom with the hot shower running to allow that steam to help congestion. Sit in there for about 15 minutes, dressed in a diaper (it will get quite warm!).

Colds must run their course. There is not an antibiotic for them. Cough medicines for little ones have been taken off the market because they are not appropriate nor necessary. THERE IS A REASON they've taken those meds off the market and you can't get a pedi to give you anything! THey aren't appropriate.

Keep the nose as clear as you can - drainage is probably causing the cough. Keep the nose from becoming infected by keeping it clear with saline and bulb syringe. It's awful, I know - I HATE using the bulb syringe on my kids! But it's what you need to do.

Saline and suction are best for babes. Benadryl, just at night to help her sleep if both of you are really suffering from a lack of sleep. Be sure to ask your doctor for the correct dosage.

It's horrible having a sick baby. Hugs and healing thoughts coming your way.

Most everyone that has responded to your request has said NOT to give your baby any medicines. I would listen to that. My pediatrician told me that 6 mos was too young for most medicines and that a virus does have to run it's course so giving her medicine wouldn't get rid of the virus anyways. I used saline drops and elevated her as she slept-2 nights-that's all it took and she was over it. However, my pedi did say to use the bulb syringe sparingly as it actually causes their little noses to swell a little inside and if they are already stopped up -makes it a little harder to breathe. As far as castor oil goes-ask anyone you know if they have drank any in desparate attempts to induce labor (which is not recommended by the way). Based on how it has made them feel - I wouldn't give it to my baby!

All Benadryl is going to do is dry up the runny nose for a bit, which is just going to prolong the cold. That runny nose is the body getting rid of the contagion. Use saline and the bulb, a humidifier in her room at night and maybe a little baby rub (not the adult stuff - it contains camphor which is toxic for infants) and her chest.

I have a 10 month old and I called the nurse when she had cold symptoms. The nurse told me to give her 1/2 tsp of benadryl once a day. i ended up having to take her to the pediatrician and he told me that they no longer want to give babies any cold medicine. Hope that helps.

vicks baby rub works great, johnson's vapor bath, I have found decongestion drops (not just saline) for infants at babies are us. Is she a big baby or small one? My son was over 20lbs by then n I would give him benadryl just at night to help him sleep.

I would definitely not give her Benadryl. It is NOT even recommended for older kids.

May she heal quickly!

Blessings,
M.
Mom to 5 Wonderful Kids
http://www.4MyChildrenSake.com

My 6 year old grandson has a genetic problem, and he gets constipated if he is not on medication from his pedi-gastroenterologist. (About 1/4 inch of the "move along' cilia in his bowels is missing.)

His three year old sister began having constipation problems with potty training. When that happened the bowel became stretched out from her holding it in and created a cycle.--BM gets large and packed in there and she is afraid it will hurt if she goes, so she holds it in. She went on the same medicine as her older brother for a month so her bowel could shrink back to normal size. It made her stools soft, and she no longer held it in for fear of hurting when she went. She is off the medication and doing great with the potty training.