Baby with Cold Can't Sleep

If she is all stopped up and can't breathe well, try putting her in her car seat to sleep in. It will keep her propped up so that her nasal passages have an easier time of it.

Strange, I know, but put Vicks on her feet and put socks over them. So many people on this site swear by that.

If you have not taken her to the doctor, I think you should. She could end up with a secondary infection, like an ear infection.

Dawn

If she's stuffy, I wouldn't let her lay & cry.
Can you rock her to sleep-upright?
Saline in her nose?
Prop the top legs of the crib on thinker books to aid breathing.
A cool mist humidifier?
Will she sleep sitting upright in a swing? A carseat? (Take a drive & maybe she'll fall asleep?)
I, too, would advise getting her ears checked. Or could it be teething too? Usually a cold doesn't include a fever. And with an ear infection, lying down makes it more painful.)
Hope she feels better soon.

Have you given her ibuprofen? You can give this along with Tylenol (if you already have given that) and we had better luck with that than Tylenol.

Do you have a recliner? We have also slept with her on us (chest to chest) so that she is propped up. Think about when we are all stuffy. It is so uncomfortable to lay flat!

Make sure to offer a drink often, too, because it might soothe her throat.

Poor baby! Poor Mama!

My little guy is almost two and my daughter four and both have been plagued with colds, ear infections and sinus infections. And I know you must be exhausted! I have been there. I don't let him or my daughter when she was that age cry for more than a 5-10minutes since they are sick. What I agree too - is that I will bring htem in my bed if they continue to cry so I can keep a closer eye on them and potentially still get some sleep or at least being laying down. One thing I really found - when they aren't sleeping well and have a cold, have the doc check their ears out because when they are crying that much and with fever - it could be an ear infection which really is a sleep-stopper. Couple of great things that have worked for us... the steamy hot shower going and sit with her on teh toilet in the very steamy room for 10-15 minutes. You can rest while in there too and it usually stops the crying gives you a nice reprieve before they wake up coughing again. THe humidifer being as close as possible to the crib slots near her head. A wedge in the crib or lifting the head of the crib. Nasal saline drops or spray (completely non-medicated) those really help. Since it's not sleep-behaviorial - it's one of those times you kind of have to stay with them and not let them cry it out because they won't stop and tire of it. They are usually in pain. I know its so hard - so do what you have to do - if you need some rest, take it! Ask for help - you can't survive without a good night's rest eventually. Good luck and hang in there!!!

Ohhhh noooo... :-(. don't let her cry if she is sick, poor thing! I can empathize with your own fatigue but she just feels crummy. Just try laying with her momma. She will go to sleep with you by her side. Or you could even lay her on your chest if she is not too heavy yet.

I know you are just worn outand would never want to do this if you were rested, but she will get better and you will get sleep again. Hang in there and lay with that baby while she sleeps and hopefully you get some winks too!

Hi L.,

I knew to take my boys to the doctor when the cold became such that it would interrupt their (and my) sleep. And always always always at that point, they either had an ear infection or sinus infection or bronchitis. Take your baby to a doctor tomorrow so that she can get antibiotics asap if she does have an infection.

For tonight, all the good advice the mamas gave is right on. Tylenol/motrin every 3 hours for fever/pain. Baby vicks. And sleeping as upright as possible.....cradle swing, car seat (like Dawn said), sleep wedge in crib, or having baby lay on you as you sit in a comfortable position to keep her head elevated (like Julie said).

I remember during nights like this, I would call the on-call pedi from our pedi office.....if you can do that, please do.....they know what to do.

Good luck!!!
A.

Hmmm, well if she's sick I would not let her lay and cry long at all. Unless you know she's just exhausted and will wear herself out in a few minutes, I really wouldn't leave her.

Can you prob her crib mattress up so that it is sloped? This will help with congestion. Also, make sure there is a humidifier in her room, warm or cold doesn't matter when they are sick. Make sure she is up on her meds, you can alternate motrin and Tylenol if her fever is high-ish and won't break. Get some nasal saline and spray it in her nose and then use a bulb syringe to suck it out, that might help some of her congestion.

Are you sure it is just a cold and not more? Have you had her checked for an ear infection? Even if her cold is bad, she should not be continually crying for like an hour or more. If she is then I think I would call Ask-a-Nurse or go to the ER.