Help, My 15 Month Old Has a Cold

Everyone else so far... kudos! Great advice. I didn't see anyone mention yet about giving him baths. Not too warm or cold... but it will help clear out his nose. Also, they make a Vicks vaporub for babies that can help with his congestion. You can rub in on his chest AND his FEET. (This can also help with coughing)..
Juice and popsicles are his best friends right now.

He'll eat when he wants, if he says no to food, don't push it. He wont starve. Trust his body. But cut out the milk. Warm tea or gatorade

When my boys were little, I gave them Triaminic to relieve congestion. My three-year-old once described it with a frown: "It looks like pee-pee and it tastes yucky!" There is also a medicinal grape lollipop in the shape of a teddy bear that tastes better. Sorry, I can't remember the name.

P.,
My baby is just getting over a cold too. Her doctor told us to rub Tea Tree Oil and Grape Seed oil on her chest, arms and back. He also suggested we use Eucalyptus oil. We put some in a warm steam vaporizer and it has worked very well. (Only $19.99 at Babies R Us) She sleeps through the night with it on. We also put some Garlic/Mullein oil drops in her ears twice a day. She still has a little cough, but feels much better. And no side effects!

Also, since milk makes mucus thicker, you may want to try Rice Milk. Our baby has been drinking it and likes it. A whole wheat bread, such as Ezekiel bread may also help flush out some of the germs and toxins in his little body. If you have a juicer, try some fresh orange juice too. Hope he feels better soon!

Hi P.,

The ladies have it correct, milk causes more mucus and prolongs the cold and congestion. Sugar does damage as well. The best thing to do is find a substitute for his milk and work on building his immune system. My kids don't get sick anymore and I would love to share with you how I accomplished that feat :) It's really simple and inexpensive and I wish someone had told me when they were as young as yours!

God bless!

M.

Hi,

When my children got sick - I gave them Father John (because of the taste); I also gave them Sprite or Gatorade to help with fluids as well as an over the counter medicine for colds. At night we would rub a small amount of Vicks vapor rub, down their chest, down their back - put them in all over warm pj's and let them sweat it out.

It worked for us, we kept colds down to a minimum. After they got a little older we used Father John and Castor oil, when the weather changed. It sounds bad, but the Father John had the taste that they liked. Even now when the weather changes that's what we still use. You will have to ask the Pharmacist for the Father John - the last I checked it was behind the counter with the pharmacist.

Congratulations on your new addition to the family.

Don't those colds stink? It is very normal for kids to stop eating/playing when they are sick. So just keep offering him healthy foods and he will at when he is ready. Also make sure he has plenty of fluids--not just milk, but juice and water...
Check out this article on what to expect with kids and colds and what you can do for them(I think you'll find it very helpful):
:)
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p...

try introducing soy milk, because the diary is making his congestion worse for sure!!
I put broth from chicken soup in a sippy cup for my baby & it worked like a charm-he loved it! And I felt like he was getting some good nutrition.
good luck
oh, and melom, lots of melon/mangos/tropical fruit. For some reason my son would like the refreshment of that fruit.

CHILDREN TYLENAL AND PEDIALITE, MILK CAUSES FLEM AND COUGHT MORE

REST AND LIQUID A HUMIDIIER ESPECIALLY IF IT STEAMS DON'T TRY TO DRY IT UP. IT WILL GET BLOCKED IN HIS NASAL PASSAGED,GET INFECTED AND hurt SALINE WATER ANY DRUG STORE TO SPRAY UP HIS NOSE IF HE GETS A HIGH FEVER CALL DOC.

Hope everything is well, I'm a mom of a 15yr old and a daughter age 3. They both suffer with colds and congestion all the time. What I do is I rub a little vicks on the chest and their back and put on two shirts and let them sleep and covered up. That will help a little and if he(r_ really bad you need to take your baby to the doctor it could be your baby has raspiratory infection can get asthma(might need to take the neubralizer machine treatment) to get rid of the congestion in he(r) chest. My daughter went through that and I'm a asthmatic patient. I hope that your child feels better soon. Take care....

Hey P.,

This is what works for us, hope it will help you also. When my 18 month old has a cold, we cut out ALL dairy. Dairy contributes to mucus build up and will make congestion worse. We feed him the good old fashion home made chicken soup (not canned as it contains MSG). We also take organic chicken broth, or chicken broth without MSG and while we are cooking it, we poke a hole in the ends of an egg and let the egg drain in the broth and give him egg drop soup. We also go to the health food store and get some extra vitamin c and also some natural cold medicine and he is usually better within 3 days. Hope this helps you, and congratulations on your new baby! My children are 18 months apart and it is a joy!

Bless you,
T.

It is so hard to watch your little one suffer through all of that, isn't it?? Just wanted to throw out there that allowing him to drink milk might not be the best thing because milk causes the mucas to increase. Maybe try to give him pedialite or something. As for medications, all of it is so scary~ I use Baby Vicks Vapor rub on my daughter's chest, a humidifier, and TRY to squeegy her nose. For fevers I alternate Infant Tylenol & Motrin every 4 hours. Oh! Try a relly hot shower too to loosen up the congestion.

P.,
My standard when the kids are sick is "anything goes". If they are getting fluids, I'm happy. I don't worry with food. Popsicles, jello, juice are my kids' favorite.They also like to munch on dry Cheerios a little at a time. I just keep a bowl out. I also use a cool mist vaporizer constanly from the first sign of congestion. Keeping them quiet & comfortable is about all that can be done. Let him watch TV or videos, or have some blocks & cars for play. If he gets worse, or fever, call the Doctor.
C.
WAHM

Will he tolerate pureed chicken soup? It makes my children (husband and I) feel much better. A steamy bath (make sure the water isn't too hot when he gets in) or even a shower may help clear his sinuses.

first of all P. milk causes more congestion just make sure he gets juices ,pedialite we give ours to just for vitimins.he will eat when he feels better just keep him hydrated with juices

Hi P.,

Use a humidifier in his room at night and during naps. I really like the Pediasure Vapor plug ins. They really help with the congestion and let them get some sleep. Also if he his still in his crib, place a rolled up towel under one end of this mattress to elevate his head to help with the drainage. I used the saline nose drops too to help unclog a stuffed up nose, especially after a nap when it gets all dried up. The doctor prescribed a decongestant for my girls, Tanafed, and I use it at night to help them. My girls are not very hungry when they are sick so just make sure he is getting plenty of fluids, like juice and water. Milk actually is not so good for congestion. So don't give him more than you normally do. If he will eat some fruit that will be good. I hate colds but it should pass in about a week. The worse last for about 4-5 days. Lots of comfort is the best medicine. Maybe try to lay down with him to nap so he can get some rest.

Dear P.,
I wouldn't worry that he doesn't want to eat. As long as he's getting fluid, he'll be fine. Maybe get him some electrolyte ice pops.
As far as the congestion, put a humidifier in his room when he sleeps. You can also turn the shower on as hot as it will go, and sit with him in the bathroom with the door shut for 15 minutes. Then take him outside immediately for a shot of cold air. Do this a few times during the day, and it will help with congestion.
Hope he feels better!
L.

I would suggest cutting back on the milk! If hes congested, the milk can make it worse. Increase his other fluids, and try some bland foods. My son likes jelly toast(light on the jelly) when hes sick. Brothy soups, applesauce. Thats what works for my little man! Good luck!

Hi, P.. Sweetie, don't worry that your child has no appetite and is not active during the time that he's sick. That's natural for children or for anyone else. Think about how you feel when you're sick -- you probably don't have the same kind of appetite that you do when you're feeling fine. He probably has a sore throat and can't swallow anything comfortably besides milk. Even that may hurt him if his little glands are swollen. And he's not going to have any energy for playing when he's sick either, just as you do not have any energy when you have a cold.

His milk is fine for now. It's got protein and vitamins, so he will be OK. Try giving him some water as well, maybe some juice that's not too acidic. Maybe grape juice or apple juice. That way, he can get more liquid and less mucus.

I would advise you, though, that if the cold lasts longer than 10 days or so, to please take him to the pediatrician because in winter, colds can develop into something worse.

Peace,
Syl

number one the first thing is that when kids are anybody is congested milk is the worst thing to give them. milk holds the congestion in. it forms a slim in the back of their thoat and holds in the congestion. so stop giving him the milk. offer orange juice, apple juice, cool aides, gatorades, flat 7-up or water down 7-up or even sierra mist.
and give him a little dimatapp (they use to perscribe it for our kids when they were little and you had to get in only through perscription. like maybe 1/4 tsp or 1/2 tsp dimatapp.yes the bottle says not for kids under a certain age but it is ok--like i said they use to perscribe it fot the kids. my youngest is now 18 oldest is 24.

I always try to use natural remedies whenever possible. Both of my babies have colds right now (an 11 month old and a 2 1/2 year old) and yesterday I took a bath with my toddler using Kniepp Eucalyptus bath. It's really quite potent and clears things up, plus it was a good bonding time and she really enjoyed it. I also put some honey and lemon juice on a teaspoon and give it to them for their throats. It's been proven to work as well as cough syrup, which is no longer recommended for babies. Anything you can do to distract him is good, and don't worry too much if he isn't eating right now. Babies are often not hungry when they're sick and as long as it doesn't last too long it's okay. I hope he feels better soon!

Give him several baths, but let the bathroom get nice and steamy with the shower before you put him in the tub, then fill it up and let him play. It will help him get rid of all those booggies and break up the drainage. It is normal for him not to eat. Just make sure he is getting lot of fluids. If he will drink water this will help with the drainage as well. If you don't have a cool mist humidifier, get one. Keep him by it as much as possible. If it covers him in water, thats fine. This will help with the drainage as well. If he has a fever you can give him tylenol. Other than that, the cold will probably last from 5 to 10 days and it always gets a little worst before it gets better. Keep an eye on his breathing to make sure it doesn't settle in his chest. You'll know by his breathing and if he has a cough that isn't productive. If he starts pulling or digging in his ears, he may have an ear infection. Just watch for the tell tell signs. If you have any concerns call your ped. And keep this is mind...his cold is probably bothering you more than it is him. Oh you can also spay saline in his nose then wait a few min and suction it out with a bulb...if he'll let you. Hope he feels better soon, mom!!
God Bless,
R.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck! I am a SAHM as well, I have an 8 year old girl and 4 year old boy and whenever they are congested I put a crockpot with water and Vicks on low in their bedroom. It works really well. I also take lots of books into the shower, sit on the floor and we just sit and read in the steam for about half hour (I bundle them up really well when they come out again). You should give your son lots of other liquids as milk tends to thicken the mucus - so if you can get your son to drink water then that will really help to loosen the mucus.
Good luck
Trini Mom

It looks like you already have gotten some good advice. When I first read your post it caught my attention that you said he did not want to play. Have you taken him to the Dr. just to make sure it has not settled in his ears? It probably is just a cold but it might not hurt to have him checked out. When my son does not want to play, he is usually really sick!

Milk actually produces more mucus, so when they have a cold, it's best to cut way back on that. Try pedialyte. Popcicles. Jell-o. Chicken soup. You can even make some warm water with a little lemon juice and honey.
Soft foods like apple sauce help. cooked veggies.
Saline nose drops and a "boogie sucker" help the nose clear a bit. Try a humidifier in his room. There's some baby vapor rub that can help. Or eucalyptus essential oil and peppermint oil.

A Vaporizer will help. if your son will where a bib put some vicks night rub on the bib for his congestion