Stuffy Baby!

Updated on September 11, 2006
M.W. asks from Overland Park, KS
26 answers

My seven month old had an aweful night! He barely slept because he was so stuffy and congested. Every time he would wake up, he would just cry in frustration. I think we both got about two hours of sleep. I finally put him in his bouncy chair so his head was above his feet -- he got a little relief from that.
What can I do tonight to help him with this congestion? I know it is just a cold but I would love to hear any remedies you might have for his poor nose!

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So What Happened?

Thank you thank you for all of your helpful advice! My boy slept so much better last night! We used the vapo rub on his chest, the humidifier and we elevated his bed. I only had to get up with him once, and even then he went immediately back to sleep. He is up and playing happily right now. My husband was very impressed with this site -- It is so great to get advice from women who are going through the same things! Thanks again, mommas!

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K.Z.

answers from Peoria on

I found a small bean bag to be the best solution when my son was congsted. I could put him in an almost upright position, he was not able to roll & I could keep him right next to my bed.

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A.

answers from St. Louis on

Heya,

Try warm bath right before bed and suction with bulb while he is in warm bathroom. Try menthol baby bath wash in the water. Also get a humidifier.

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G.B.

answers from Tulsa on

I know what you are going through, my youngest is 16 months and we are going through it too. There is baby vicks that you can buy at the store that you can put under his nose. I also put a pillow or blanket under the crib mattress so his head is elevated, you can also buy a vicks vaporizer that will but medicine in to the air, those are the things that I have used. I hope you both have a better night sleep. Sometimes you just have to wait it out.

G.

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J.H.

answers from Tulsa on

My 6 mo. old baby is suffering from the same problem, it has gotten worse just this past week. Last night I used the saline drops, syringe, and gave him 0.4 ml of childrens benedryl and that seemed to help. I put him in bed with me on a pillow and he slept better. I am going to buy the cool mist humidifier and baby vapor rub lotion today, i have the baby vapor bath. I want to get an air purifier for his room eventually. I hope your baby gets better soon!

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S.G.

answers from Kansas City on

Hello,
I understand. I have 2 kids and when they are stuffy and/or cough I use Triaminic's menthol patches. They are wonderful, it isn't medicine so there is no worry about overdose or reaction. The patches are applied to their chest, for small children I cut the patch in half. Make sure to change the patch once a day or they leave some of the sticky backing. My kids are 4 and 6 and I have been using them for about 4 years, when they first came out with them.
Good luck, we have all been there.
Michelle

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K.B.

answers from St. Louis on

Poor baby! When my son got a stuffy nose, doctor recommended me to use Ocean Saline Nasal Spray before you use the suction (the one you got from the hospital). The suction sucked more snot out, thus his nose cleared up little better. Worth to try. Hope your baby and you will sleep better tonight.

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A.M.

answers from Lawrence on

Hello M.,
When babies are sick we don't get much rest. As a mother of 2 adults and a grandmother of a 7 month old. I can relate. My grand daughter had the same problems at a younger age. Take and raise the head of his baby bed. Take a coushin from your couch or a couple of couch pillows. Put them under his mattress. If you have a warm cool mist vaperizer run it as well. It works. They also say to put vicks on the bottoms of the feet.

Good Luck and hope you both get some good rest.
A.

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B.E.

answers from Tulsa on

M., you have received so many good suggestions. Elevating the head really works, and the vapor patches and or humidifer works well.

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T.J.

answers from St. Louis on

Good morning!
I know lots of pedatricians swear by Ocean Spray...it is a spray up the nose (which I am not a huge fan of) but it does work. I remember when my oldest was first born within 3 months I was using this almost daily. I don't know if still is on the market however they used to carry a baby vicks vapor rub.....and I am prettey sure they still have the baby vapor bath....both are awesome as well. The only other suggestion I have is a vapor machine. Walmart has steamless ones for under 20.00. They come with a few of the vapor pads and you can purchase more for I believe under 5.00. This isn't directly on the child so I don't believe there is an age restriction. I have 2 of these; one for each of my girls ..... they are a god send during the winter months! Good luck and hopefully GOOD NIGHT :)

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E.T.

answers from St. Louis on

M.,

Interestingly, I had the same problem last night with my 15 month-old. I usually use a bulb syringe on him but he absolutely hates it so I have to be quick. Last night I rubbed a little Vick's vapor rub on his chest and it worked because he fell asleep shortly after and slept all night, thank goodness. I know they make a baby version of the vapor rub so I would suggest you try that.
Hope this helps and you get a good night's rest!
E. T.

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M.

answers from Wichita on

When my daughter has a cold, I run a warm shower and get in and hold her in the shower, suction her nose with the tool the hospital gave us, spray her nose with saline drops and wait about 5 minutes, and suction again. This routine before bedtime seemed to really help relieve her congestion for a little while. If she has really bad congestion, I tend to have to wake in the middle of the night and spray saline drops and suction it again for her. If sleeping in his bouncy chair is helping and your son is okay with it, I would just allow him to do so until he gets over his cold.

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A.H.

answers from Kansas City on

When my son had a stuffy nose, the doctor told me to give him some Children's Tylenol Cold to help with the congestion, and to also spray some saline solution up there so the the mucus can flow out instead of sit in his head and develop into a sinus infection.
You should also run a humidifier in his room while he's sleeping. The water in the air can also keep the mucus running out instead of sitting.

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D.H.

answers from Wichita on

My son has always had a lot of respiratory issues. One thing we've learned is that a little peroxide in a cool mist humidifier will help to fight the cold and break up the congestion. Use a 5 or 6-1 ratio of water to peroxide.

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A.M.

answers from Lawton on

You can give him saline drops for his nose. They're not medicated. Simply Stuffy makes one you can get at Walmart.

You can also elevate one end of his crib so that the fluid can drain down and not stay in his head/nose. I put my HS yearbook under the end of the mattress where my baby lays her head.

HTH and that he gets better soon!

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T.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Have you tried Johnson and Johnson's Soothing Vapor Rub? It worked wonders when mine was itty bitty and we still use it on her.

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A.C.

answers from St. Louis on

Hi M.

I highly recommend Saline Spray/Drops. When my son was small I picked up a bottle of "Little Noses' by Little Remedies products (www.littleremedies.com). He amazingly didn't seem to mind them until he was almost 2 y.o.
They have no medication and are very safe - no side effects! Simply follow the directions on the back. Decongestant products always kept my son awake especially in the middle of the night!
Good Luck - A.

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S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

My baby is only 9 weeks old but has already had two head colds! He did much better sleeping upright, in a bouncy seat or swing. Also, the cool-mist humidifier did wonders. I tried to suck his nose with that sucker thing, but never had much luck with it. Hope he feels better soon! Good luck!

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D.W.

answers from St. Louis on

You may try saline drops/spray (the brand we have is by little remedies.) Then, after waiting a few minutes, suck his nose out with a bulb syringe (like the one the hospital may have given you.) Also, try sitting in the bathroom with him and running the shower to create steam. You may also try a cool mist humidifier in his room. Any of these may help you out.

Good Luck!!

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C.W.

answers from Tulsa on

Little Noses nasal spray is over the counter at your local pharmacy or store, a bulb syringe (they may have sent you home with the one he had in the hospital)- although they hate it when you're suctioning, it really does help as well. Also, you can get a humidifier to place in his room to help moisten his secretions- plus now that we're getting close to fall and winter you'll eventually need a humidifier anyway- I think we got ours for about $____@____.com he developes fever or is unconsolable, I'd recommend calling your pediatrician for further advice-
hope you get some rest today and he gets to feeling better soon!

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R.C.

answers from Kansas City on

You can also elevate his crib mattress!

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J.L.

answers from Wichita on

try getting Infant Cold medication and calling the dr. for the correct dosage. With my 5 month old they have told me to give her 0.4mL of tylenol. Do you have a humidfier? Try putting a warm washcloth on his chest or VICKS. However, if you do the VICKS make sure to wash it off before you take him outside otherwise it will cause the cold to get worse. Been there with that one. When my oldest had a cold I was having to take the ex-husband to work at 1030 at night and then having to go get him at 630 in the morning cuz he worked 11p-7a.

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B.S.

answers from Rockford on

My grandson had this problem often so I used a cool mist humidifier in his room with the door shut to make the air really moist and an aspirator to keep his nose clear. I also propped up the mattress in his crib by placing a folded blanket under the crib matress at the end where his head is. Also Johnson's soothing vapor baby cream is good to rub into his chest and neck to help open up his sinuses when he breathes IF HE DOES NOT HAVE ASTHMA OR ANY BREATHING DISORDERS. I hope your son is feeling better soon.

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S.K.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I think everyone is going thru this right now!!! I bought my 3-month-old some Vicks BabyRub and some OTC Infant Robitussin for cold/congestion and it has seemed to help some. Also a humidifier would help at night with the stuffiness. I was up with my baby last night for the same reasons and it makes me so sad to watch him suffer like that. Good luck to you and your baby!!

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D.

answers from Oklahoma City on

They make a wedge for cribs. they sell it at toys r us and babys r us it will help elevate him while he sleeps. Put a cool mist humidifier in his room near his crib and vicks him up with some baby vicks.
Good luck

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S.P.

answers from Springfield on

Find out which type of humidifier helps for him. One of my kids benefits from the heat one with Vicks in the water and the other 2 benefit from the cool mist humidifier. Find what is right for your child. We have also used vicks vaporub cream and the pediacare cherry mentol patches (usually I use half). We have also raised the front of the crib with a wedge. I have had great luck using the Hylands Kid's Kit (available at health food stores and online) to give homeopathic remedies defined by the various symptoms. I hope you find something here that helps you in some way. I've been there - whew those are long nights!!!! S.

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S.P.

answers from Phoenix on

Had this problem for years with asthmatic children! A couple of things that have worked well for my kids:

1. Immediately before bed, do a settling down routine (read stories, rock on lap, etc) in the bathroom, door closed, shower on. Steam clears their heads and gives them a head start for the night.

2. Humidifier in the room all night long, preferably a warm moisture type.

3. Pad the whole bed under the sheet with towels or blankets so that the head is higher than the torso. Helps keep drainage going, and doesn't require child to keep head on pillow (my kids were/are all over the bed all night).

Good luck!

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