Has anyone's baby had a cold already? And how did you deal with it?

Kelly - posted on 12/16/2009

Thanks :-) , I've done that with both my kids, it worked quite well...the nasal drops is also a good idea , thats the other one we would use, saline drops then a nasal aspirator thingymajig :-)

Sushma - posted on 12/16/2009

Vicks is available here. But we used a very safe nasal drops which works well. But I must say that your vicks idea is prettty good.

Kelly - posted on 12/16/2009

its awful when they have colds at this age....do you have any vapor rub stuff , over here (in NZ) we have Vicks, and I rub that above my breast so that baby breathes it in when hes feeding .
Another thing, if they are quite blocked up , is to sit in the bathroom with the door closed and turn the shower on to the hottest heat , and steam the bathroom up .

Sushma - posted on 12/13/2009

My daughter had a bout of cold and cough too. Breast milk will help her fight it. should be better in a week or 10 days. Give her expressed BM in a bottle if she finds it difficult to suck from breast.

Ashley - posted on 12/13/2009

you just have to ride it out hes getting used to his surroundings i moved from florida to georgia and my little man got an upper respitory infection i didnt know what to do so i took him to the hospital because i didnt have insurane yet and the hospital told me it happens to every baby they always get a cold eventually as long as you constantly suck his buggers out and give him warm bathes he will get better. my son was sick for like 2weeks. oh and tylenol did wonders. also give him water to keep him hydrated!!!!!!!!

Mandy - posted on 12/12/2009

Quoting Cori:

We used "Little Noses Saline Spray". You put a couple drops in each nostril and wait a few minutes. Then you suction it out. It helps break down the snot so it will suction. One night I ended up sleeping on the couch propped up hold him because it helped him breath better to be at an angle. Good luck with everything!

i have to agree with this advice. When Trenton had his first cold, it was the exact same way, but the saline really helps, and get a humidifior- we like the Vicks one... and you can also use baby vicks on their little chest. my baby boy liked the vicks, and we propped him up to sleep, and he slept better... the doc said not to bring him in unless he wouldn't eat, sleep, or got really inactive because of all the other illnesses out right now... hope your little one feels better soon!

Maureen - posted on 12/11/2009

It's a good idea to let them sleep at an angle I read, my little girl just got her 1st cold this week & the 1st nite was just awful, she couldnt figure out how to breathe through her mouth at all :( We slept in the sitting room, her in her bouncy chair & me next to her on the sofa. You can also try the car seat if that works. After the 1st nite I got a humidifier for the bedroom aswell as Little Noses saline spray & aspirator, and I also put 2 cushions underneath the matress which elevated it slightly so that helped her breathing. She slept very well the 2nd nite :) She is still sniffling but has figured out how to breathe through her mouth :)

Kim - posted on 12/11/2009

My little girl had her first cold about a month ago, and I used the vaporizer in her room at night, let her take naps in her pumpkin seat, used the nasal bulb a million times.. I found that sneak-attacking with it worked best, because she hated it too. I used nasal spray and baby Vick's Vaporub on her chest AND on her feet at night, that really does help to clear it up.

Also, I picked up one of the plug-in vaporizers with essential oils like lavender and eucalyptus and that seemed to REALLY help, so I'd recommend that as well. Good luck!

Beth - posted on 12/09/2009

My son will be 6 months old on the 25th and we have been fighting constant colds since he was 2 months old!! The first time he started having a stuffy nose, we tried everything, a humidifier in his room, saline drops, baby vicks, literally everything! His mucus started to turn a little green so I gave in and took him to his ped, she prescribed him some antibiotics. Just a few days ago, he started coughing, had a slight fever and decreased appetite. So, I took him back to his ped. They thought he either had pneumonia or RSV. He had chest x-rays done and his nose swabbed. Thank the Lord both tests were negative but he does have an infection. Other than the decreased appetite, you could hardly tell he was sick. He was happy and very active, just as he normally is. So, although it may seem like a simple cold, please take your baby to see their ped, because it actually could be alot more serious.

Olga - posted on 12/08/2009

Neubuliser with Sodium Chloride!!!!!!! it helped us!!! and i was putting baby vicks on the babys back and chest. and give a lot of liquids. i was giving baby water

Jennifer - posted on 12/08/2009

My two have had colds almost all winter so far. I usually do saline drops in the nose and then suck it out. I prop up their mattress in bed (if you notice they tend to breathe better in a sitting position) to help with stuffiness. i also use a cool mist humidifier in their room and nurse them at an angle when they eat. It is about all I really can do.

Jordan - posted on 12/07/2009

my son is getting over a cold right now. he is 6 months old and his pedi gave him a decongestant. it has helped a lot. i also do the saline solution and suction. the decongestant can't be given to premies or babies under 4 onths old bc it can cause sids. i also gave him baby tylenol the first few days and it seemed like it made him feel better.

Candyce - posted on 12/07/2009

We've had one every month since pretty much. Dx
Tylenol and saline.

Natalie - posted on 12/07/2009

There isn't much you can do. My little girl has had 2 colds already and she was born in June of 2009. I would recommend keeping him hydrated as best as possible, give him warm baths and keep him warm and give him lots of love and cuddles. I've read that if you fill the bathroom with steam have you & him sit in the bathroom for about half an hour it should help clear his sinuses.

Laura - posted on 12/05/2009

Marcy ,

My daughter has been sick on and off sence her four month check up she just turned 6 months and is sick again she is on the neb treatments too and they help but not for long , I have humidifier too and lil nose's anything else u guys can think of??

Toneeshia - posted on 12/05/2009

suck out the snot a millions times and tylenol

Tabitha - posted on 12/05/2009

I caved and went to the doctor, but before we went she was so congested she was barely breathing we turned the shower on hot and sat on the toilet to let the steam break up the snot. It helped, but one can't live in the bathroom. The doctor gave her a steroid to dry things up. Just a few days. I think it is funny they will give a steroid, but not a decongestant. Good luck! I hope he feels better soon.

Stephanie - posted on 12/05/2009

We have tons, Milly has had croup twice, three earinfections and bronchitis. So much for BF babys not getting sick. LOL We just had to wait it out and with the ear infection she got some meds.

Dianne - posted on 12/04/2009

Thank you Samantha, i didn't know about tummy time so tomorrow i will make sure i don't skip it, and my boy fights me too when i try to suction him too. His mucus is clear so thats a relief. I am worried about his fluid intake as he eats his solid food but is not nursing well, I am having to pump so that my supply doesn't go down. His is improving but i guess i have to be patient as its been 4 days and they say the average cold and cough takes 7 days to subside. Thanks ya'all for the advice and encouragement i need it as i am stressed

Marcy - posted on 12/04/2009

My little girl just got over a cold now. Just be watchful. If it gets worse make sure you get her to the dr. My baby needed to have nebulizer treatments :( Thankfully they did the trick and she is all better now.

Samantha - posted on 12/04/2009

Advice I received was to let her ride it out. She did not have an ear infection and it did not go to her chest - it was your basic cold with no infections. Best advice was 'tummy time' - that helps push it out. Also, elevate the crib so it will be easier for them to breath. We just placed a stack of books (or yellow pages) underneath the mattress. One more thing, we had a cold mist humidifier going on at night. I'm going to use the baby saline for her nose to help drain the mucus - my ped said that would be fine as I was concerned about her being too you (she's 5-1/2 months).

Heather - posted on 12/04/2009

My little baby has had a cold, cough and sniffles for the past few days. The first night was the worst. NO SLEEP!!!!! She throws a fit when I try to suction her nose. Plus, she has an ear infection (her second one in as many months). Its horrible to hear her little cough and she's SO CONGESTED!!! My other daughter has a vaporizer in her room since she has the same thing.

Anita - posted on 12/04/2009

My little girl has just got over her first cold. She battled with it for about 5 days. Not much that I could do, the chemist man recommended drops for her nose if she got too blocked up, but I didn't need to use it.. she got over it by herself........

Dianne - posted on 12/03/2009

Thanks guys picked up the humidifier today and put it on plus got the hang of the saline suction routine, he fell asleep 30 mins ago though he threw up some of his milk, he did drink water afterwards so my boobies are on standby for when he wakes up, lol - feel alot more confident today as his energy and playful self is back so with hope and prayers he will turn the corner tomorrow. Wish me luck ( using the vicks cos i don't think they sell karvol in the US but will purchase lots when i go to the UK in february).

Benita - posted on 12/03/2009

Hi Dianne, my little guy had one a little while ago and what really helped for me to get the mucus out was to turn the shower on and sit in the bathroom with him for about 15 or 20 minutes and also helped with his coughing. Hope this helps.

Taruna - posted on 12/03/2009

i had the same kind of cold with Arnav , did n't use vicks or any other thing .
breastfed him a lot and also kept water boiling in the kettle in his room , so that there lots of steam and helped clear his blocked nose.

Louise - posted on 12/03/2009

There really isn't anything medicinal you can give, but i do use something called Karvol capsules that i burst and put on my childrens clothes, it clears the sinuses, also keep them in warm clothes and blankets but keeping the central heating off, as it dries out the air and often makes coughs into chest infections. I tried giving my children water, and as tiny babies that was OK, but now they like juice! So I just give them it warm with a little honey in it, but its not something the doctors recommend for children under one.

Franchesca - posted on 12/03/2009

There honestly isn't much more you can do, my daughter had a cold when she was 3 or 4 months old and i freaked out being a first time mom, I took her to the walk-in clinic and they just told me to do the same as what you are doing, she also was very active while she had her cold but if she got too stuffed up she would get to upset that the only way i could help was to hold her close and walk her around the house, eventually it soothed her to sleep. I hope your little one gets better soon, and hang in there i know it really tough to watch them go threw something even this small

Danielle - posted on 12/03/2009

My daughter has a cold right now too, I THINK she is about over it :) Aside from what others have posted, I have been pumping breast milk once or twice a day. Because the feedings are shorter than usual, I just want to make sure my milk supply keeps up.

Oh and we let her sleep at night in her bouncy chair, the upright angle seemed to help with that a lot! It was the only way we could get her to sleep!

Shannon - posted on 12/03/2009

Trial and error... it's what makes moms so smart!

Dianne - posted on 12/03/2009

Thank you guys for the advice and encouragement, yesterday was the hardest but today he seems a lot better - I am praying the night will go well too and then at least I would have learnt for next time what works best.

Shannon - posted on 12/03/2009

You're doing everything that you're able to Dianne!!! Saline drops, suction, humidifier, and lots of love! Try to prop him up when he sleeps so the fluid doesn't drain into his sinuses... I asked my ped this - when my little girl had a cold, she cleared the use of Children's Benedryl. (1/2 tsp) ... it helped to dry out her sinuses and allowed her to sleep & eat more comfortably. Give them a call and ask if that's an option. It's nothing you would use constantly, but when you notice the symptoms getting worse - it's a great option to have!!! Hope he gets better...

Tracey - posted on 12/02/2009

The saline spray seems to work very well with my little one! Also, use a humidifier in their rooms; pharmacists recommend cold air humidifiers. I'm not sure if they are supposed to be getting juice/water at this age. Talk to your doctor about it. Be patient! He will make it through.

Cori - posted on 12/02/2009

We used "Little Noses Saline Spray". You put a couple drops in each nostril and wait a few minutes. Then you suction it out. It helps break down the snot so it will suction. One night I ended up sleeping on the couch propped up hold him because it helped him breath better to be at an angle. Good luck with everything!

Melissa - posted on 12/02/2009

Not much you can do...it's so sad when they have colds. My little girl had a cold when she was 4 months...I was freaking out because I felt so bad for her. I just did what I could...put a humidifier in her room....snuggled her when she wanted it...tried to give her water but she hated it. She was still pretty active throughout her cold...and I found this helped her get over her cold quicker.