First Cold

Tanya-Lynn - posted on 10/28/2010

mine has a cold i think but havent brought her into the doctor and i refuse to give her tylenol considering my daughter has epilepsy and has to take enough drugs i just steam my house and keep her warm and outta the cold weather

REBECCA - posted on 10/28/2010

Don't know if you can get them where you are but calpol do a plug in menthol and lavender it is so good stopped his snuffles while slepping and I even got 8 hours sleep also lots of fresh air x

Jen - posted on 10/27/2010

I took my LO to the Dr and she said to use nasal spray, aspirator (it's automatic too which is awasome) and to use a warm humidifer at night. I put the vicks liquid and a very drops of eucalyptus oil in the water..seems to be doing the trick. also and FYI-- Dr said that HAND,FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE is going around so watch for bumps and spots. seems it can look alot like a common cold.

Darcie - posted on 10/25/2010

My son had a little 24 hour bug and they had me take him in only because he couldn't hold anything down. They also said that if they weren't running a fever of a certain degree then they didn't want to be seen. I would just take my chances and call the doctor to see what they say. It could be just allergies. That is how my son is everyday, but he isn't sick.

Robyn - posted on 10/18/2010

Kelly T- How come you only put the Vicks on the feet at night? Just curious?? My daughter has yet to have a cold at 8 months.. I am just getting ready for when she does! :( Thanks in advance.

Katie - posted on 10/18/2010

Colds can last a long time and the runny blocked nose is the last to go. In general they say colds spend 3 days coming they stay for three days and then spend three days going! She should feel better after 10 days but the runny nose often keeps going. Runny noses can also be related to teething!

Annie - posted on 10/17/2010

Breastfeeding really helps because you body will produce antibodies to help your baby fight it off. Also, they don't suggest you give tylenol to babies with a fever of less than 101 because the fever itself is necessary to help "burn" away whatever your baby has. We used saline mist (you can make your own, or there is a product called Simply Saline that they sell over the counter), spending time in the bathroom with a hot shower running, inclining the head of the crib, and a warm mist humidifier. You will have to just treat the symptoms to keep her as comfortable as possible, and may need to pump while she is having trouble nursing to keep your milk up.

Heather - posted on 10/17/2010

I'm a registered nurse, and what we typically say is If the cold lasts more than 10 days without signs of improvement you should take her into the doctor. Most likely it is bacterial if it lasts that long. Make sure she stays hydrated, even if that means giving her a little water every once in a while (that will help to thin the mucus). And as far as Tylenol goes, it is for high fevers and pain, so unless she seems to be in pain it probably isn't doing a whole lot for her.
I know it isn't easy or fun having a baby with a cold. Hang in there, and if it doesn't get better soon I would take her in to see the doc. Hope this helps! Feel better soon little one!

Arthurine - posted on 10/13/2010

For peace of mind I brought my daughter in whenever a situation occur. I am a new mom and just figured it is expected. I just would prefer the Dr tell me all is well than sit at home as assume. My daughter has had off and on sniffles since her first month. I bought the humidifier, the baby vicks, tylenol, the saline that I can never get her to allow me to use. I have brought her to the Dr just to make sure all is well. She actually picked up a cold with the runny nose, tiny cough and cranky, diffculty breathing at night because her nose is stuffy. Prevention is better than cure my mom always say so if you have to ask take her to see a Dr. The best news is everything will be fine.

Sarah - posted on 10/12/2010

The other thing I've been told is to put full strength vicks on their feet before they go to bed. Don't ask me how, but this does work!

Nichola - posted on 10/12/2010

Olivia has got a cold at the moment. Runny nose and cough. She has a vapor plug in on at night and i rub some snuffle babe onto her chest to try and help her breathing easier.

Sarah - posted on 10/10/2010

Hi Laura,

My wee Lexi just got over her first cold too, and I used all the same methods you described. It took a good week, but she's back to normal today. I had a bit of a problem for a few nights of her not wanting to feed without a dose of Pamol (NZ equivalent of Tylenol), but dropped even that tonight - horray! I didn't take her to the Dr because I knew they'd say its viral and give me another prescription for pamol. Give it another day or two. As long as she is slowly getting better, you're doing fine, but if she isn't, then it might be time for a trip to the doctor.

Leanne - posted on 10/09/2010

I took my little man to the doc a couple weeks ago because he had a fever, and a slight runny nose. I figured it was teething, but I was feeling like crap, so I wanted to make sure. My doc said it was just teething for him, but if his nose got any worse that I could give him Benadryl. He gave me a chart with the meds he could take, and how much to give according to his weight. For 8-17 lbs it's 1/4 tsp, for 18-35 lbs it's 1/2 tsp. Double check with your doctor first though, if you decide to try it. And remember, with Benedryl, it makes most people drowsey, but (mostly in children from what I hear) it can have the opposite effect and make them hyper! Good luck, and hope she feels better soon!

Christina - posted on 10/08/2010

The things you are doing sound good except giving her Tylenol for a temp. of 97.9? That is not a fever. My son went through the same thing so I called his dr.'s office & they told me unless he had a fever (like greater than 100.4) or had a cough that lasted over a week or was getting worse to bring him in. I wouldn't take him in just because of the stuffy nose unless he gets to where he's lethargic, won't eat, etc.

Karen - posted on 10/07/2010

We just got sick for the first time too! It sucks! It seems to be lasting a while as well. Vicks baby rub does wonders for unclogging the nose. I was hesitant about using it on her because she is allergic to aloe, just like me, but the allergy causes a very superficial reaction, only tiny red bumps. One night of serious coughing made me put it on her and I was glad I did. It worked instantly. Do NOT get the regular adult Vicks vapo rub. The Vicks baby rub is made for infants.

Susan - posted on 10/05/2010

My LO just got over a cold that the whole house got :(. I took him to the doctor twice once because it was the only way to get daddy to go for himself because he got the worse of it then the second time because my son was up most of the night crying or fussing because he couldnt breathe. He was fine during the day but once he was laying flat it settled in his chest and was awful. The doctor didnt give any antibodtics but did suggest since he was rolling over on his own and has been for a while to let him sleep in his bobby pillow in his crib so he is elevated. The doctor also said the aspirator they give you at the hosiptal is bad to use because it goes too far into the nasal passage and can actually swell it just to use the saline or pick up an aspirator from babies r us or something that those dont go in far enough to cause swelling. Unless her fever goes over 100 however just keep doing what you are doing and you could also try elevating her during the night. If you dont feel comftable letting her sleep in the boppy stick a rolled up towel under her matress where she puts her head and that will elevate her.

Tammy - posted on 10/05/2010

I brought my daughter to the doctor today.. She has had a runny nose for 3 days, and then last nite and today she started crying/screaming nonstop. I thought she might be teething too along with the cold, but me being a new mommy, I got worried and brought her to the dr's just in case and it turns out she has an ear infection:( Poor baby girl, she has the meds now and will hopefully be feeling better in a day or two! Good luck, trust your gut.. It won't hurt to bring her in if you're not sure!

Trisha - posted on 10/05/2010

id take her just to be safe. my son had no major signs of nething big, no fever just a little cough. we went to the dr. for something else and they tell us he had r.s.v. and pneumonia. he was in the hospital for 11 days. when we came home we had to do all the things u r already doing and also continue with breathing treatments. most of the time it is just a cold and they cant really do anything but id take her just to be sure. better safe than sorry. good luck!!!

Charlotte - posted on 10/05/2010

My LO just got her first cold recently also! I am still unsure if it was actually a cold or her teething, because she also popped up her first two teeth last week! (FINALLY!!) Anyhow, you sound like you're doing great and covering all the basics. My LO didn't seem at all uncomfotable until bedtime because she couldnt breathe out of her nose, and the mucus wasn't draining since she was laying down. I would give her the saline mist before she went to bed and let it drain then do the syringe, rub her chest with BABY Vicks and give her "Tylenol" to help her sleep through night. It seemed to take almost two whole weeks for the symptoms to go away, but they did, and your little ones will too! You're doing great!

Jessyka - posted on 10/04/2010

poor kylie and momma!

my son had his first cold a couple of weeks ago, but luckily it only lasted two days. i've read that using tylenol on such a low grade fever can actually prolong the cold, though -- this is because a low grade fever like that is a sign that the body is working against the infection. i would only use the tylenol if she is really fussy/uncomfortable.

otherwise, try a warm bath with skin to skin momma time. i'm sure she needs lots of cuddles right now. you sound like you're doing a great job! hope this ends soon for both of you!

Kelly - posted on 10/04/2010

My son has unfourtunatly had a couple over his past 8 months and it sounds like you are doing everything right. Something I do to help drain the nose is when in the crib I put his head up on a pillow. (I put a hard pillow under his comforter and tuck in sides) Just an FYI it is possible that she could be teething. A doctor will not do anything for a babies cold, unless there is infection. I bought this contraption from a drugstore its made by hydrasense, is a nasal aspirator and it is used for sucking out the mucus, you suck out the mucus and believe me it works and you never get any of it in your mouth..lol....I also make sure I give my son a bath everynight when he is sick cause the warm water will help with the draining...also putting his formula or cereal a little warmer than usual will also help that....oh and a little vicks vapour rub for babies on chest and back during day...then at night only on the feet...thats all i got for ya as of now, hope your little one gets better

Tina - posted on 10/03/2010

A cold can last for a while. If she is feeling ok you can probably just keep doing what you are doing, it sounds like you are doing just fine, that's what i do for my kids when they have a cold. I usually take my kids to the doc if after a week or so they still are running a fever over 100 degrees and still having the cold symptoms. I do so just to make sure that it is just a cold, not necessarily to get antibiotics for them, also sometimes when a baby has a cold and it lasts for a while it can turn into ear infections or fluid in their ears and that is something that would require antibiotics. A cold causes ear infections from all of the mucus hanging around. When they are babies their ear canals aren't very wide and can get blocked easily so when they have a lot of mucus from a cold it sometimes can make it into the ear canal and when it sits for a while bacteria grows causing an ear infection. An ear infection is usually pretty easy to spot though because they will cry, and pull at their ears and the fever will go over 100 degrees, their appetite usually suffers a little from it as well as balance too.