what to do when a child sounds so nasal

Michelle - posted on 01/06/2010

Snuffly snot congestion is a problem for Jacob too!! The Dr says its just colds and snuffles and to just treat the congestion as best I can.... he is breast fed except for x1 bottle at nightime.... Luckily it hasnt yet affected his ears badly yet (apparently you need to watch out if they have a temperature, grab their ears or show pain if they lie them flat on their backs) So I just use a few methods people have advised me to help ease the snot each night.... I run the shower on boiling with some olbas oil to create a hot steamy bathroom, I do his nightime bath in the bathroom and his nightly massage too, he is in there for about 30 minutes and the steam helps to clear his nasal congestion... I then put snuffle baby decongestant rub on his chest and use Nasosal saline drops in his nose.... I have raised his cot at the top head end which also helps to drain the mucus... If its a really bad night I pin a breastpad with karvol drops in his cot too.
Usually he sleeps from 7pm till his bottle feed at 10:30pm but he wakes up erratically from 2:30 and I repeat the saline drops and sometimes re-do the steam bathroom with him if needed.... Sometimes he wont go back down at all in his cot from 4am and I end up taking him to sleep downstairs in his buggy sat upright and I put him in the lounge where I crash on the sofa next to him!! He sleeps better and for longer in the buggy at this time in the morning.... and my husband gets a rest too!!! As the Dr advises babies tend to get loads of colds in the first year until they build up a good immunity, I have resigned myself to this routine for a good few months yet... as at least I can get some sleep doing it this way... better to be a bit strange and eccentric for a while than psychotic with sleep depravation I say!!! ..... I tried the suction thing and also the rub on the soles of the feet with socks but he hated both of them!!

Amy - posted on 01/06/2010

My uncles baby just had her adenoids removed yesterday. she is a year old and has has breathing/ upper resp problems since birth. her regular dr just kept telling them she way "okay" & would "grow out of it". just hours after surgery they noticed she was breathing better and even took the bottle good for the first time! So i say if your little guy doesnt "get over it" soon take him for a second opinion or a ear, nose and throat specialist. Good luck! by the way humidifiers help sometimes, we keep ome by our babys crib, keep it on all nite.

Dina - posted on 01/05/2010

a cool mist humidifier helps with the dry air and keeps the mucus soft. I place a drop of saline in my daughters nose and suction it out. You might need to stop a couple fo times during nursing to suction him. Talk to your doctor about allergies...that might play a factor as well.

Tiffany - posted on 01/04/2010

I haven't tried it but a friend told me that with her daughter the doctor had them out a few drops of saline solution in the nose and (awful as it sounds!) hold them upside down for about a minute to let the snot drain from the throat then turn the right side up and it should all just drain out easily!

Shayna - posted on 01/02/2010

Since winter officially started, my little girl has been having the same problems. In our case, the dry air from electric heat is making her nose stuffy, and the drainage in the back of her throat causes a cough. I squirt saline spray (it's cleaner than just water, and has stuff to keep her nose from drying out) and use the suction bulb. You have to let the saline sit in his nose for a few minutes first, to loosen up any dry boogies. Then it takes us a good 15 minutes or more just to suction everything out. My friend recommends using a little Vick's VapoRub on babies' feet, then cover with socks. Helps to clear out their sinuses. Another friend who is more into the natural rememdies says to squeeze a few drops of breastmilk into his nose. I tried it, and I have to say it does work! Just like the saline, but the milk is probably a little more gentle. Hope something here works for you!