First Cold? - Ponte Vedra,FL

Hi K.,
I recommend going to a health food store and buying a Homeopathic reference book, you can get good ones for 12-15 dollars. Reference the syptoms and buy some remedies. Homeopathy is safe for babies and has no side affects. There are even special ones made just for infants and kids. I first tried homeopathy when my children were babies and many of my friends thought it to be 'magic'! My children are teens now and still know to ask mom for remedies when they aren't feeling well. Look into it!

Personally I wouldn't give her cold meds either. I would just give her baby tylenol to keep her comfortable.

Nurse her lots- get a good Bifidus probiotic- and you take lots of it so she;ll get from nursing.
I hope you are nursing, so I hope that it is unnecessay to say NO soy, NO cows milk No sugar for you either.
Ok- do these and this will pass.
K

Get a cool mist humidifier and get some saline spray. Give her one drop of saline spray in each nostril and then sit her upright. If she's really clogged, use a bulb syringe to clear her nose. The humidifier at night is key, but if she's still really stuffy, see if you can elevate her head a bit, even if you have to let her sleep in her car seat. My daughter just got over her first cold, and it's much harder on you than it is on her!

I would NOT blow into her nose. Best thing for stuffy noses, use saline solution - a few squirts in the nose - then suck it out with the nose plunger that they gave you in the hospital at birth. Humidifier can help or sitting in the bathroom with the hot shower running - the steam from the shower helps. I also would NOT give medicine without consulting the doctor. There are too many horror stories out there about moms giving their babies medicine and not realizing they are overdosing them.

If she is stuffy get a humidifier. There are also sudafed things that you can plug in to the wal which will help her breath at night. Also keep suckin the snot out with that nose sucjer thingy....

A friend of mine use to put her mouth over the babies and blow in gently which would blow the snot out of the childs nose. I was always to afraid to doit but I know it works. You have ot be careful though.

T.
Benefits Specialist
www.mybenefitsplus.com/pmoore

Johnson & Johnson Vapor Bath (Green Bottle), Nasaline Drops and nose sucker, along with a vaporizer. For my son it usually takes about 1-1.5 to fully recover.

I had the same experience with my daughter. She had 5 colds by the time she was 6 months old and I nursed her totally! Same as you, she caught them from the older brother. I was told to get used to that - sorry.
Anyway, we did go to the doctor because my daughter was only 8 weeks when she got her first. I was told infant tylenol if there is a fever - call them for the dosage because it goes by weight. For stuffy nose, use the saline drops and the aspirator. I was given the suggestion by the doctor to put her in a bouncy or carseat when you use the saline. Then stand behind her and use your hand to cover her mouth and nose while you use the aspirator in the other hand. Sounds awkward at first but it helped to really get the stuff out without having to suction too many times. I also was told to get an aspirator with a shorter end instead of the long one from the hospital - it won't irritate the nose as much. The whole key is making a seal so that the suction really works. They suggested doing this about 30 mins. before feedings to make it easier to eat. Also, you can roll a couple of towels up and place them under the crib mattress to elevate her head 0R let her sleep in a swing, carseat, bouncy, etc. so her head is elevated. I ended up sleeping in the recliner with my daughter on my chest. It was the only way she would really sleep without gagging. A cool mist humidifier is also helpful to keep the air wet - air conditioning dries it out too much. You should be fine as long as you don't see the mucous turn yellow or green - then see the doctor.
Best of luck - my daughter seemed to get through it a lot easier than I thought. It just took longer for her than you would expect - since they are so little.

Just to add a little to everyone's responses...I know they don't recommend cold meds until age 4. The humidifier, saline, and nose sucker are the best. Plus, if she is real stuffy you could put something under her part of the bed or let her sleep in a bouncy chair (or car seat, or swing) so the drainage will run down while she sleeps. This will probably help prevent an ear infection too. Good luck. I know when they are this young it sometimes takes a few weeks to get over.

there arent any over-the-counter medicines that the dr recommed....saline solution will loosin and help move all that outta her nose. Take her in to see the dr if your concerned.

Sleeping in the car seat in the crib and humidifier and baby vicks. Steam rooms in the bathroom followed by the nose sucker! Love and cuddles! It will be a long few days, they always are.

They only recommend saline drops in the nose at this age for congestion. It can be really rough if they can't nurse, and the saline drops may clear up the nasal passages long enough so she can eat. Stick a pillow under her crib mattress (or yours if she's in your bed) to elevate her head. Nurse as much as you can. If she has a fever, you can treat that. If the fever is high, see the dr as she might have an opportunistic ear infection.

Good luck, and I hope she feels better soon!

yes, you can give her a bath/ and or keep her nose suctioned out with a "nasal asperator," (those bulb type things.) i also use to use infant tylenol but your wanting to go drug free, and i dont even know if thats on the market any more. (the bath will help clear her nose, and is best given before bed time so they can breath/sleep better.) good luck!

Hello, and sorry about the cold. I agree with you about holding off on the cold meds. Try a cold-air humidifier in the room to keep her comfortable (keeping passages open without bacteria chance of the warm mister). Then try a Saline nasal spray. Keep an eye on any temperature, and then, once you discuss it with your Dr., Ibuprofen works quickly. Make sure you ask your Pediatrician if it is ok, and then get their suggestion on the dosage. Normally, it is by weight, not age, as the packaging states. Good luck and keep smiling! This too shall pass.

No cold meds for a little one that young, K.. It is most important that you keep in close contact with your pediatrician and don't try anything on your vulnerable infant that comes from an unqualified person (everyone here!). We are better for the little stuff, but keep us posted. Best of luck to you! :)

Sorry to say, they don't make cold meds for infants yet. The only way you can get any med (besides motrin and tyneol) Is through your doc. Best thing to do is use the saline and snot sucker, and get her head elevated. Good luck and I hope she feels better soon.

Unfortantly there arent any medicine available without doctors presciption. Medicines were pulled a couple years ago and now don't say to use til closer to 5yrs. There is some saline sprays for stuffy nose. Ask your local pharmacist.

Infant Tyenol can help abit but mostly you have to just bare with it.