Help! My 16Mo Old Has an Extremely Bad Cold (She Almost Chokes When She Coughs)

Updated on April 17, 2008
M.B. asks from Chicago, IL
6 answers

Dear Moms,
I hope there is somebody out there to help me through the night. My 16 mo old daugher has a cold (started daycare where she got it) and it got very bad just now. She sleeps now but she coughs so much that she almost chokes. She has a lot of mucus and a runny nose. I cannot go out to the pharmacy because my husband is not home and both kids are asleep. so please if anybody knows something that's not a medicine please let me know.
So far I have elevated her crib on one side and I just red to put vapo rub on her feet and put on socks (a doctors advice) that should help with the cough. Also, I hang an open sliced onion above her crib to keep her nasal passage open (my mom did this and seems to help).
Please let me know if you have any other ideas to help us with less cough and waking through the night
Thanks moms!
M.

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So What Happened?

Everytime I ask a question I am pleasantly surprised but your responses.
I followed your advice and put some baby vicks rub on her forhead and under her nose (i am used to only rubbing on chest and back) and put the humidifier in her room. She did wake a few times this night coughing badly but when I went in she slept through it. I didn't get much shut eye but at least she did.
Thanks moms!
M.

More Answers

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C.S.

answers from Chicago on

Have you ever checked out the Dr Sears website, he has a list of all childhood illnesses and ways to treat them. Medically and naturally. If you have one in the house, I recomend a cool mist humidifier.

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T081000.asp

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M.W.

answers from Chicago on

I would definitely take her to the pediatrician. It could be Bronchitis. If it is she will mostly be put on an antibotic and given cough medicine. You should not put Vicks vapor rub under their nose. It is harmful if it get it in their nasal passages. Ask your Peds about this. I know our moms used to do it but they do not recommend it anymore!

Good Luck

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A.K.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M.,

I know you've already received responses and I'm sure your daughter is feeling much better by now. But I wanted to give some advice if this happens again down the road. If it gets really bad you could always put her in a nice warm bath. This helps to get the mucus flowing. And it will really relax her. I know it's a pain when you are doing this at night, but when your poor child is having difficulty breathing, you will do just about anything to help them out. My daughter would enjoy the warm bath. I would also turn the shower on as hot as it could go. Shut all the doors and sit in the bathroom. This will also help clear the passages and stop the coughing. This came in handy quite a few times when my kids were sick with coughing colds.

I know it's nerve recking when you are in the moment and trying to deal with it. I hope everything went well and your daughter is feeling much better!

Apri

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J.K.

answers from Chicago on

Hi M.--It is so hard to have a sick little one. I know you are looking for something to help right now, and I do have some ideas. There are so many things that we don't realize have an impact on our children's immune system. We try to make our homes safe and clean, but many times we do more harm than good. I do have info. that is all about creating a healthier home and have helped many make some simple changes and gotten great results.
If you would like some info. on the above, just email ____@____.com or call ###-###-####. If it makes sense to you we can take it from there.

I'd really like to help:)~J.

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A.

answers from Chicago on

Hi,

Hope you are hanging in there. Its tough when they are so little and so sick. I think you are doing some great stuff. Here is something else you can do - clean out her nose completely with a bulb syringe. It will help her a lot. And do this every few hours or whenever she wakes up. In addition to putting Vaporub on her feet, rub some on her chest, back, throat and just a bit on the nose (nostrils) and forehead. It will help her breathe a lot better. I always do that with my kids when they have a cold/cough. If you have a humidifier, use that in her room. If she has a fever, I suppose you could give her some infants tylenol unless your doctor has advised you against it. That may help her sleep a bit better. My daughter had a very very bad cold and cough a couple of months ago when she was 20 months and she screamed all night and we couldn't figure out what was bothering her so much. I took her to the doctor the next day and in addition to antibiotics, my doctor gave her some motrin because she said her throat hurts and the motrin will help with the pain. It was like magic! Check with your doctor though.

Good luck and hope you all get some rest.
Aarti.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.G.

answers from Chicago on

Hi

I know yu have got responses and you are set. I would recommentd a home remedy. The great Olive oil and massage her well at night especially feet, back chest and head. Also remember to put in a drop of oil in her belly button. After the massage remember to put the socks on. Have a humidifier in her room and head elevated. The cold is relived in a day or two.

Take Crae

V.

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