Need Suggestions on How Else I Can Help My Sick Baby...

Updated on March 19, 2010
J.W. asks from Aurora, IL
30 answers

Hi moms! You haven't failed me yet, so I'm hoping you can help me. My almost 6 month daughter has a terrible cold. She is so congested and has a yucky cough, but no fever. Her doctor said not to worry unless she is wheezing. We are currently using saline and bulbing out her nose, but it doesn't seem to be helping at all--she's still stuffed up. We are using a cool mist humidifier in her room while she sleeps, rubbing "baby rub" on her chest at night before she goes to sleep, and we have elevated one side of her crib so she can sleep slightly upright. Is there anything else we can do? This has been going on for 5 days now, and I just feel so helpless. Thank you for any suggestions you might have.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks moms! If anybody has anything to add, please keep the comments coming! :)

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.F.

answers from Chicago on

Although it's not what you want to hear...you have to wait it out. My daughter is the same age with the same symptoms. I took her to the ped and was told that baby colds last longer than adult colds since they can't blow their noses or cough as effectively as adults can. She said to expect about 2 weeks. I was told to also do the saline drops, bulb, and cool mist. I leave the cool mist running in her room 24/7.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Chicago on

I agree with the steam in the bathroom several times a day...also the old fashioned Vicks rubbed on her chest helps and if you can put some also in a vaporizer should help...

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.F.

answers from Chicago on

Try a steam bath. Close the bathroom door with shower running all hot water. The steam from the shower should help clear her up a little.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.F.

answers from Chicago on

Sounds like her body is giving her immune system a trial run. I would recommend getting her on a pro-biotic. Renew Life (whole foods, or natural food store), makes a baby flora that is a powder. You can just measure out the amt. dip your finger in and put it right into her mouth.
Also, keeping you diet (are you breastfeeding?) as alkaline as possible will be super helpful to help her body heal itself. This means lots of organic veggies, especially the greens. You want to try and steer clear of sweets, especially processed junk as well. The more alkaline your diet, the easier it is on the digestion leaving more energy for the body to work on fighting the sickness.
I'm not sure about the humidifier. My son has asthma and my understanding is that they can just add to the problem.
Also, you might want to get some apple cider vinegar (Whole Foods and/or natural food stores). ACV is a natural antibotic. You can make a natural drink with it (I use Braggs ACV and the receipe is on the bottle), 2 tsp of ACV, 2 tsp of honey, agave or a few drops of stevia and 8 oz of water. You can also fill up the baby tub and put 1/2 c. or so in there. All of this will help keep her alkaline and give her body the help it needs to fight.
I hope that helps!
blessings,
J.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.Q.

answers from Chicago on

Is this her first big cold? I will never forget my daughter's first cold when she was 9 months (she is now 2.5 yrs). It was BY FAR the worst yet and was just terrible. I remember the pediatrician told me it would last 10-14 days and sure enough, it lasted a full 14. You are doing everything right Mommy, so keep it up! It is hard to see them go through this, but all you can do is keep an eye on it and ease it as much as possible... I think one other trick we tried was letting her sleep in her swing for the night on a slow swing level so she was propped up more.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.B.

answers from Chicago on

try rubbing the rub on her feet. For some reason that seems to work really great. Also, if you don't already give her water during the day, start doing that. Breastfeeing, formula, & milk(older kids & adults) make babies develop more mucus when they are sick. Giving them water thins out the mucus, so that they can breathe easier.

Good luck... nothing worse than a sick baby.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.G.

answers from Chicago on

I know I was in the same boat of feeling helpess when my daughter was younger. You have done everything that I did so the only suggestion I can offer that helped was a steam shower. Turn on the hot water in the shower and sink and close the bathroom door. Undress your daughter and and sit in the steamy bathroom as long as you guys can take it. Use the "baby rub" and continue bulbing. Good luck and I hope she get well soon.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.J.

answers from Chicago on

take the baby in a hot shower with you. the steam from the shower will loosen things up!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.P.

answers from Chicago on

Try bringing her to a pediatric chiropractor. My daughter had to go when she was just born, and now we go every time she gets a cold that lingers. My baby had a stuffy nose and a cough for a month and the dr had nothing to offer so I took her to the chiropractor. She was better in two days. This has happened twice. We go to Flow Chiroractic in Oak Park. It's $45 a visit. The dr specializes in pediatrics.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.C.

answers from Chicago on

That stinks. My 22 month old has been sick several times, including 2 weeks after he was born, because his 4 yo brother started preschool and brings home every germ in the world. I give him a bath with the vicks vapor bath. You pour it in and it helps them to breath. Check what age its for, but i think you can use it after 6 months. Good luck. It will get better.

1 mom found this helpful

S.A.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J.,

We just went through that with my 6 month old son. We were up at night with him for almost a week. He would wake himself up coughing and wouldn't go back to bed. We had him sleep in his bouncy seat while I or my husband slept on the couch. I took him to the doctor after 5 days, and was told it was a cold virus. His lungs were clear and his ears were fine. A week later. He still had the cough and had started back up with the runny/stuffy nose again. I had to take him for his 6 month check-up on Friday, and the timing was good because when the doctor looked in his ears, he found they were infected. He never had a fever the whole time, and wasn't pulling on his ear so I was shocked. My older two would spike high fevers and act somewhat sluggish, I couldn't believe he had one. I have heard of so many kids with ear infections in the last couple of weeks, so that might be it. It's pretty rare for them to not get a fever, but it happened to my son. If your daughter doesn't seem better in a few more days, I would take her in.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.M.

answers from Austin on

Have you tried sitting in the bathroom with the hot shower going? The steam always seemed to help the boys.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

A warm bath to loosen things up. Prop her mattress up, if possible, or sleep with her in a recliner.
M.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Houston on

I would avoid the baby rub on her chest...it can aggravate rather than help some children at that age. If she is coughing, rubbing some on the soles of her feet with socks may help.

Also, humidify your home during the day and avoid overheating the room. It is better to dress a little warmer and keep the room a little cooler and moister. I know it is hotly debated, but I find a heat vaporizer to be much more effective and hygeinic than a humidifier.

I did the shower steam trick a couple of times a day when we suffered through colds like this. Also, I warm the saline up just a bit to body temp. It makes it more comfortable and, I believe, more soothing.

Keep your baby as hydrated as possible. Small amounts of warm tea can do wonders--a little bit of honey if you're comfortable adding a bit at this age. Chamomile tea can be soothing (but beware can also loosen stools).

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.W.

answers from Chicago on

My baby had something similar, only he did start wheezing. For that, they give you a nebulizer and a light steroid mist to open the lung passageways help loosen up the mucus inside. It sounds like your baby's cold hasn't progressed to that level - and hopefully it won't! - but maybe you can ask your pediatrician about that. It helped tremendously with my little guy but he was sick for almost 2 weeks :( It just takes their little immune systems longer to get rid of those bugs - and I'm exclusively breastfeeding my son and it still took a while! Don't worry, you're doing all the right things though!! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.K.

answers from Chicago on

Try a warm mist humidifier (we have Germ Guardian, and we set it at 20% humidity). You might also turn on the shower and fill the bathroom with steam, then sit with her for 5-10 minutes in the steamy bathroom. Good luck -- those colds can be tough!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It truly IS the worst feeling in the world to watch your little O. be sick. Sounds like you are doing everything right. I would suggest adding fluids as it will help thin out the mucous in her nose. If the crib could be elevated more, I have heard to put a pillow under the top of the mattress. I never tried that, just always used phone books under the legs at the top.
Does she like a bath? A warm, steamy bathroom seems to open the nose as well. Might help clear her out before bedtime...good luck. Hope she's better soon!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from Boston on

Different doctors feel differently, but you can call your pediatrician and see if it's okay to give your daughter a small dose of benadryl. It works wonders drying out my son's stuffy nose so he can sleep better and then the sleep helps him actually get better. If your doc does give the ok, you might want to try some in the daytime because, while it makes a lot of kids sleepy, it does make some hyper. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.G.

answers from Omaha on

Just continue to use lots of saline. It doesn't hurt. Our pediatrician also reccomends turning on the hot shower and sitting in the bathroom with them to loosen up the mucus. I know its frustrating, seems like it takes forever to go away.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.O.

answers from Chicago on

I second the recommendation for the NoseFrida. It works like no bulb syringe can!!! If she has lots of dried boogers in her nose, I found that putting a few drops of saline in each nostril one at a time, gently holding the nostril closed and softly rubbing it will loosen the sticky boogers out. Also "Boogie Wipes" are saline wipes that are good for cleaning up the runny/crusty mucus that gets on the face.

I like the warm mist humidifiers myself but I think both work.

NoseFrida is available at Whole Foods and Boogie Wipes at Walgreens, Sam's, Babies R Us.

Good luck, hope the little one is better soon!!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi J..
My 10 month old was sick a few weeks ago. We used the saline drops, humidifier and sat in the steamed up bathroom. If your child is squirmy (mine is), we brought the high chair in the bathroom with some toys. My girlfriend gave me the idea. He sat in there for 20 minutes. There is no way he would have sat on my lap for 20 minutes. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.S.

answers from Chicago on

Try getting the vicks waterless vaporizer to put in her room. It is only around $10 at Wal-Mart. It plugs in and is small with a little light and has a tab that you put in it that makes the whole room smell like Vicks. We have done that for our daughter everytime she gets a bad cold and gets congested like that. We do that along with the humidifier and it really seems to help her. It comes with 5 tabs and you can buy refills, I believe the tabs last 8-10 hours. Good luck & hope this helps!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.T.

answers from Chicago on

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. One thing my doctor recommended was to stand in the shower with your baby and let the steam really help thin the congestion. She said to do this a couple of times a day. (my baby was afraid at first so I didn't even get her wet I just stood and let her put her hands in it while I stood holding her - after a few times she relaxed and would let the water hit her back). Our doctor also recommended against the baby rub - it can trigger asthma or breathing problems I think she said - you may want to check with your ped. Good luck - colds are really a bummer. When you baby gets older (over 1), check into Elderberry. We give it to our kids and it seems to help prevent and shorten the duration of colds. Our doctor recommended Sambucus Elderberry for kids.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.P.

answers from Chicago on

I used "Little Noses" to clear out both my kid's noses when they were younger than 6 months. 1 drop is all you need. I've also learned that giving them a little Dimatapp worked wonders for the congestion too. In fact, if they had a cold and didn't get the Diamatapp, they would end up with ear infections. All doctors have different opinions, I was just lucky enough to find one that believed in releaving the symptoms and luckily for me, I avoided having to put tubes in their ears.

My sister's baby was only 2 months old and called me crying because she said his cold was so bad. I suggested the "Little noses" and she ran out and got it (CVS) and she said within 15 seconds, he was able to breathe thru his nose (and only with one drop per side).

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.S.

answers from Rockford on

Unfortunately, colds really do just have to run their course. Sounds like you're doing everything right. Is she drinking water? A little might help flush the phlegm out. I know there is some controversy over giving infants water, but that's mostly because too much can interfere with their kidney function. A couple of ounces daily would help rinse her system without damaging her kidneys.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.O.

answers from Chicago on

F you are nursing, try squirting breast milk right up her nose. It has germ killing properties.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.E.

answers from Chicago on

We went through the same thing with my 1 yr old 2 weeks ago, she was so congested she couldn't sleep sitting up on me even. Did she see the doctor or just call? My daughter had a cough for 2 days, then a runny nose and overnight it got severe. I brought her in the following morning and it had turned into strep, ear infection and beginning of croup.

You may want to schedule a doctor visit. Nothing helped the congestion until she'd had antibiotics for 2-3 days.

AE

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.A.

answers from Chicago on

I bought a Nose Frida ($16.00)and LOVE it..you can order online or go to a whole foods store. Google it...it looks gross but works way better than a bulb when the snot is way up there. Use the saline drops/spray before using to help loosen things up.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.R.

answers from Austin on

You may already be using this kind but we use Simply Saline because it sprays into the nose. We have found it works better than little noses or any if the others that are really just drops.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.O.

answers from Chicago on

I read the other posts and don't have anything else to add except to stay away from milk products if you can. I realize she may be on formula or nursing...if nursing you should cut back on dairy. It can congest her more.

I agree with the steamy shower tho.

You can also try pedialyte. I've heard kids sometimes stay better hydrated on it if they're resisting formula/nursing. They even gave us some when our 4 mo old was hospitalized last month. Do anything to hydrate.

Also, as you already know, do anything and everything to keep her safe from more germs. We have become MAJOR germabphobes this year. Wash wash wash and change clothes as soon as you or dh gets home from work. We have been extremely limited in our outings and who we have over since our LO just can't fight the germs as well yet.

1 mom found this helpful
For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions