any ideas to help a little guy with a big cold:( I wish they still had infant cold meds

Sarah - posted on 10/06/2009

Thanks everybody. We seem to be recovering:) Now I am getting it... I love the garlic comment.

Sinead - posted on 10/06/2009

My dad used to swear by rubbing garlic on the soles of my feet when I was a baby. I've not tried it with mine, and I suspect I just deliberately recovered quicker to stop him doing it!

Carla - posted on 10/06/2009

try putting saline drops, or even better a couple of drops of breastmilk up babies nose a few minutes before using the nasal aspirator.

Karin - posted on 10/06/2009

Cut up an ognion and put the pieces in a light cloth which you hang on his cot.
Yes it stinks but it really helps loosening up the stuffed nose.
Thyme creams on the chest are also very good.
Elevate the headpart of the bed so he doesn't lie all flat.
Hope he will feel better soon

Karin

Ana Priscila - posted on 10/06/2009

My baby daughter got a cold when she was 2 and a half months old. No medicine for her, but I kept nursing her. My husband and I got the cold about a week after her, and I swear she had the mildest case and symptoms. I took her temperature every 3-4 hours because what her doctor told me was to not worry about it unless she got a temperature of 101. So happens that my daughter's temp never got above 99 at the highest.

Her nose was really stuffy for a week, and to relieve that when it was really bad I turned on the hot water in the shower and waited until the whole bathroom was steamy then I went in holding her and I sat on the toilet. I think that helped to moisturize her and open up her airways. We just sat in the steamy bathroom. It wasn't hot, or sauna like. Well it was, but really quite mild. Also I really think it helped to give her more frequent baths. Moisture, frequent nursings, I just wanted to keep her moisturized and breathing easy. I tried to think of things that helped me when I had a cold. Minus the medicine.

The doctor told us to give her tylenol if her temp got high and to call him right away. It never came to that, but yes, I would say call your doctor. He/she will give you simple instructions over the phone, you don't have to go in for a consult or pay for a visit.

BethAnn - posted on 10/05/2009

johnson and johnson's baby vapor bath...tear free and hypoallergenic...helps my daughter breath better and relax her enough to sleep

Julie - posted on 10/05/2009

Sarah we used Eucalyptus rub from Whole Foods with Hannah. With Mikaela it was still ok to use cold meds. Also with Hannah she has been in the upper percentage for height and weight most of her life so we've been able to use Benadryl pretty early on.

Elizabeth - posted on 10/05/2009

My son used to get colds regularly when he first started daycare and I started him on a probiotic supplement which helped him fight off the virus and he has not had more than the occasional runny nose ever since. I would highly recommend going this route it has worked very well for us and we have not had to medicate him which I love.

Aniesha - posted on 10/05/2009

Firstly, don't use baby vicks, it has mineral oil in it, which is actually bad for babies breathing! Anything with mineral oil is a huge no no, & has been linked to SIDS, which made me really cranky when I heard, because it's in so many of the baby products (baby oil included......use olive oil instead).

My bub has a cold now too, his 3rd one. We burn eucalyptus oil in the bedroom to help his breathing. There's also a back/chest rub that u can get from certain chemists, called "Euky Bearub". I just rub it on his back, coz it's fairly strong, just so it doesn't make his eyes sting. Or u can put it on his shirt.

I also use homeopathic remedies. I have used Brauer's Teething Relief, but I know they also do make one for "Cold & Flu" and "Pain & Fever". I've also used some Cold & Cough Relief tablets. I think they're called KIDZ minerals.

If it gets really bad, u can always alternate children's panadol & nurofen every 2 hrs. Hope this helps & bub gets better soon. There's nothing worse than a sick baby.

Sara - posted on 10/05/2009

How old? Our MD had my 5month old take zyrtec. It worked. Call your MD and tell them how miserable the baby is. Cold meds aren't being given to little ones, in some cases under the age of 6 years due to too many cases of being OD'ed. Old school MD's may dose your child by weight on common OTC's if he feels necessary. Prayers being sent your way.