Colds in babies?

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Thank you daycare, dd now has her first cold. She (and I) didnt sleep at all last night because she can't breathe. It's all in her nose/head, I'm not worried about it in her chest right now. No fever.

So what's proper medical management? Sorry to be posting such a stupid question but I am in a major work crunch time and have to present for 3 hours today (by phone thank goodness!) and she won't let me put her down.

Should I suck her nose with that bulb? And do you give a decongestant? My natural inclination was no...

[scrub-jay]

Nose frida (better than a bulb) & humidifier in her room. Cold medicines & decongestants are generally not recommended for babies.

[ladymoreta]

Yep, Nose Frida is the best, but I can only find them online, so the bulb is probably your best bet for today. Yes to the humidifier. You might also try one of the Vicks plug-ins. I found them in the pharmacy near the humidifiers. I think you're not supposed to do the rubs on babies.

I hope she feels better soon. Don't beat yourself up - my kids get colds, too! I take them places to play, and parents have their sick kids there because they can't take them to day care... Brilliant...

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Yeah, I'm anti-medicine for myself and DH is too but I just wanted to check in case we were forcing her to feel poorly or something. Other than being clingy, she appears totally fine.

I'm not beating anyone up re: daycare. I'm just struggling because I worked until 11 last night and this presentation still isn't in great shape for our 1 PM. AND I'm on MSN right now instead of fixing that...

[alison]

Hugs! Colds stink when you have no work obligations, so you must be toast. Dh and I are pretty quick to give Tylenol if dd is running a fever; of course with little ones you have to be careful with the dosage.

Make sure YOU take some
vitamin C!

[Deebs]

Yuck! Babies with colds are the worst. We don't do meds. Vapo Rub in babies (and kids) is toxic - do not use it! We don't even have it in the house for us, just in case of accidental finding by the kiddos. I always found that I felt like I was doing the most if I could get breastmilk into them whenever possible. I figured they were getting fluids and antibodies. In addition to the humidifier, you can take her into a steamy bathroom and see if that helps a bit. Hang in there - it's going to get better.

[scrub-jay]

I always found that I felt like I was doing the most if I could get breastmilk into them whenever possible. I figured they were getting fluids and antibodies. In addition to the humidifier, you can take her into a steamy bathroom and see if that helps a bit.

Yes to both of these.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Great advice, thank you all!

She barely slept last night because she could hardly breathe (she would pass out for 20 minutes and then snarfle herself awake) so maybe I'll send out my SIL for a humidifier! Thanks ladies!!!

[SoonerTexan]

Another vote for the nosefrida. I've also found taking her in the shower with me helps--the snot comes out much more easily then!

[HouseofWool]

Great advice, thank you all!

She barely slept last night because she could hardly breathe (she would pass out for 20 minutes and then snarfle herself awake) so maybe I'll send out my SIL for a humidifier! Thanks ladies!!!

Also, have her sleep upright, either in a bouncy chair or her carseat. It will allow the snot to drain more easily.

[ladymoreta]

If you can sleep with her in a chair, that also seems to help my kids. It keeps them more upright so the snot can drain better, and you get a little more sleep without getting up every time she wakes. You have to be a pretty light sleeper, so you wake as soon as she does - there's a risk of her falling if you don't. But since you cosleep (right?), you're probably used to that.

Days after sleepless nights are so miserable! I'm thinking of you today. Hugs!

[moonlight]

Great advice, thank you all!

She barely slept last night because she could hardly breathe (she would pass out for 20 minutes and then snarfle herself awake) so maybe I'll send out my SIL for a humidifier! Thanks ladies!!!

Also, run the humidifier during the day in the room she is hanging out in. Then have her take it to the nap room when she (if she can) nap. It won't be super humid in a living room but it does help. Try the baby vapo rub on her chest but check to make sure it doesn't give her a little rash. It have my DD a little rash but nothing bad. You might also try getting the vapo baby bath soap for bath time.

I was told my our pedi that milk isn't great for congestion and that juice is better but I know you still have little baby and she might not be on a lot of water or juice.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

If you can sleep with her in a chair, that also seems to help my kids. It keeps them more upright so the snot can drain better, and you get a little more sleep without getting up every time she wakes. You have to be a pretty light sleeper, so you wake as soon as she does - there's a risk of her falling if you don't. But since you cosleep (right?), you're probably used to that.

Days after sleepless nights are so miserable! I'm thinking of you today. Hugs!

We do cosleep about 75% of the time. Me in her bed. I try to get back to my own bed eventually but obviously was not leaving her last night for one second since she was having trouble breathing. Hmm, we don't have a great chair for upright sleeping and since she won't sleep unless I nurse her down, we may not have any luck in the car seat either. I'll see if I can build a pillow seat for myself in her bed (we use a twin mattress on the floor so I can sleep with her). I don't mind holding her chest to chest to sleep, it's not like I'm getting any sleep anyway!

Poor baby, her first cold! BTW, I know I'm being truly ridiculous. This is like the least serious first illness that's possible for a baby so I'm so lucky it's something so minor. Just bad timing.

[moonlight]

Babies really need sleep, I think colds really suck and I don't think you are being ridiculous at all. I remember DD's first cold. I was pissed at the playgroup moms and didn't go back for weeks.

[scrub-jay]

I remember dd's first cold too, it is really hard as a parent to see your child suffering. Try to remind yourself that a cold now is more antibodies for the future. Hang in there. ((hugs))