My Dr. said there is nothing I can give my 15mth. old for congestion. I'm so frustrated. Any suggestions?

Samantha - posted on 04/23/2009

Try saline water and if your little on gets a cough you can give her a teaspoon of honey. Only give honey to childern over 1 year of age.

Sarsoor - posted on 04/23/2009

I ran into the same problem with my four month old... steam baths followed by sitting with him in a room with the cool mist humidifier has helped so much... the trick is to have the cool mist humidifier on in a room with the door closed then going in and closing the door... i hope this helps. Also, bundling him up and taking him for a walk has helped as well. good luck

Lori - posted on 04/23/2009

I was told to give my baby saline nasal spray and not worry about getting it to come back out. So I found that Kid Simply Saline mist works really better for him Good luck

Tonya - posted on 04/23/2009

my son use to get congested all the time. The doctors thought he had asthma. It turned out he just had allergic reaction to milk. So my suggestion would be to watch how much milk, cheese, ice cream dairy products he/she has in a day. That really helped with my son. He is 16 now and still watches how much dairy he has, and he loves milk.

Christina - posted on 04/23/2009

I would consult another Dr. there are meds that they can give these little ones that ARE safe. My boys are now 11 and 4, both with terrible allergies and upper respiratory problems. Untill you can have her seen try saline drops and a humidifier. I also like to use the pedia care plug ins that have menthol in them, my boys hated the vapor rub on them because of the hot-cold feeling of the menthol on the skin. Good luck I hope she gets to feeling better soon

Jenny - posted on 04/23/2009

ok.. go into your bathroom and run hot water till the bathroom gets steamed up.. then take her in for a few minutes i have been told this is enough to clear out the pghlem without them having to be in there too long. Other than that i got suggested a humidifier but i think they are pricey.

User - posted on 04/23/2009

Try baby vicks. Or a Vicks humidifier. In a pinch, I've run Vicks that goes to the humidifier under the bath tub faucet with steaming hot water, and closed the bath drain. Then I have shut myself and my child into the bathroom for about 20 minutes. You just have to be careful that your child doesnt get near the hot water.

Tina - posted on 04/23/2009

Have you tried a humidifier in her room? Or saline drops in her nose?

Kym - posted on 04/23/2009

sit in the bathroom, turn the shower on completely hot water, let the vapors do the work.......

Griselda - posted on 04/23/2009

Saline drops and a suction ball that they give you at the hospital..Thats about it..Medications at that age will only hurt them not help them...

Erin - posted on 04/23/2009

You can try a nasal spray, keep the head fo her bed up & a humidifier. I had the same problems with my daughter (who ended up allergy tested) & it helps a little.

Sarah - posted on 04/23/2009

Try a natural decongestant. My youngest son was congested at about 1 month, and I called my sister-in-law who suggest that I try a natural decongestant...it worked and there were no side effects either.

Kristy-Lynn - posted on 04/23/2009

They have recently pulled alot of cold medications for kids off the shelves because alot of people are overdosing their kids. You can try sitting in the bathroom with baby with the door closed and let the hot water in the shower run so the humidity will loosen up the mucus. Try a warm mist humidifier at night and a crib wedge to angle the crib mattress so baby isn't laying flat. This will help her breathe easier at night. You can roll up a blanket too and put it under one end of the crib to raise the head a little. They also have vicks vapo rub for babies you can put on her chest and back.

Clare - posted on 04/23/2009

I use Hylands Sniffles and Sneezes. Have also used most of the tips below including the castor oil. They all work, but you need to find out what works best for you and your little one!

Beth - posted on 04/23/2009

My daughter is 16 months and has been on medication for a few months now. She too had bad congestion and the throwing up. After 3 different medications we finally took her to see an allergist. She is now on singular once a day and takes breathing treatments twice a day, but WOW what a difference. I also raised her mattress on one end. She now sleeps much better and doesn't have all of the congestion. Good Luck!

Amanda - posted on 04/23/2009

One of the best things to do is to go into the bathroom, close the door and run the shower, it is amazing how much this clears them up, also salin nasil sprays work well. Raise the bed on an angle.

Eileen - posted on 04/23/2009

YOU CAN GIVE HER A NICE WARM BOTTLE OF TEA THATS WHAT I USE TO DO AND IT HELPS ALOT IT LOOSENS THE MUCUS PUT A LITTLE LEMON IN IT SQUEED LEMON......EILEEN

Kim - posted on 04/23/2009

I use Benedryl I have probably spelled it wrong

Heidi - posted on 04/23/2009

little noses saline spray and take her in the bathroom and turn on the shower really hot. it'll loosen everything up and pretty much run out!

Lesley - posted on 04/23/2009

I use little noses drops and a bulb syringe for my 13 month old. Also a good humidifier in his room at night.

Victoria - posted on 04/23/2009

If you have an oil burner you could try putting a couple of drops of Olbas Oil in instead of your usual essential oil - it stinks the house out but is very effective at helping nasal congestion which will help with any cough (the cough is caused by mucus dripping down onto her chest) - unfortunately the only thing to help with her cough is to let her cough as that is the best natural thing for her to clear the mucus from her airways - don't give her anything to supress her cugh as she needs to bring it up naturally.

Aimee - posted on 04/23/2009

I have used the humidifier and those plug in things that smell like vicks. I plug it in like 45 minutes before I put her in bed and then leave it while she's in there for only like 30 minutes. Also put a pillow or something under the side of the mattress she sleeps on to raise her head and the congestion will flow down and not make her cough while she's sleeping.

Leanne - posted on 04/23/2009

have yo tryed honey in the bottle of mik

Sonia - posted on 04/23/2009

Hi, I am from India, and we use a natural way of dealing with chest congestion. Heat up (preferably on a low flamed candle) a little pure coconut oil and dissolve 2 cubes of camphor , then apply all over the chest and back and under baby's feet. Then hold out your hand over the flame not too close though as your palm might get burnt and allow your hand to get a little warmed by the flamed then give the chest a massage with your warm palm do so for feet .. do it before bed time only and keep her warmed up .. Its very effective and the congestion will break. All the best !!! will keep her in my prayers.

Monica - posted on 04/23/2009

Hi, it's really frustating i know, i am a mum of a 9 mth old and have been a full time nanny for 12 years and know how annoying it is when you take a child to the dr and all they say is, there's really nothing you can do, well mummies out there, in Portugal, France, Italy and many other countries there are many things you can give them and that you can do for them, i bought nebulisers for many of the families i have worked for, you can use them with saline water only or in many countries you can buy drops to put in with the saline which yo can only use a few times but believe me it does work and children do't get as stressed from not being able to breath properly or habing their noses being filled with more liquid or contents being sucked out. Hope it helps.

Aileen - posted on 04/23/2009

have you tried KARVOL capsules? sprinkle on a empty pillow case of something similar and hang near where baby sleeps.but make sure baby cant reach it as it could sting the eyes.makes the room smell lovely too.

Rebecca - posted on 04/22/2009

My son would get like this every time he got a cold. They gag on the post nasal drip. Saline, nasal bulb, and I got kids multi symptom cold and flu medication. If it's that bad won't they recommend benadryl or something like that? We use a warm mist humidifier that is anti-bacterial. Yes I know they say cold but it left sludge on our walls so we now have warm ones.

This is going to sound a little weird but if she normally has any reflux symptoms a dose of antacid helps too.

Erin - posted on 04/22/2009

Little Noses (saline solution) and a booger sucker. Childrens Tylenol dosage according to weight and run a vaporizor at night. Elevate her head (make a roll with a small receiving blanket) or let her sleep in her infant carrier car seat if she still fits comfortably.

Vicki - posted on 04/22/2009

I suggest you get a new doctor. I have been a nurse on children's unit for some time and taking same of the well meaning mums advice can land your little one in the hospital. If you want a natural treatment there are Nautropathy doctors your can consult.

Stephanie - posted on 04/22/2009

I am right there with you, my daughter has had a runny nose and coughing for the past week, I kept calling but they told me the same thing. I am taking her to the chiropractor I don't know how you feel about that but it is really helping clear her up. They also usually have some really good home remedy tricks

Marci - posted on 04/22/2009

VICK'S salve!!..in cold medicine isle. I would recommend infant formula for chest and if they have a cough, (it's crazy) but massage a small amount on bottom of feet and then put little socks on. My kids are older now and we use reg strength, but it's great and really does relieve some of their suffering (and yours) good luck

BoogieMom Mindee - posted on 04/22/2009

Boogie Wipes - www.boogiewipes.com - Made with Saline! They help.

Kelly - posted on 04/22/2009

my doctor is the same way the two tricks that have been passed down to me from my sister in law and mom were 1. elevated their mattress on the side they sleep on put a rolled up childrens blanket under to elevate this will help breathing and 2. put some baby vicks rub in a tissue fold it up and put it in their pjs this works so well with my daughter good luck!!

Sandy - posted on 04/22/2009

saline and the humidifer will help alot good luck

Nicole - posted on 04/22/2009

I have the same problem with my 7 months old boy, so if you find the solution pls let me know.

Elizabeth - posted on 04/22/2009

Well I know it seems frustrating but this really is for the best. The things I do for my daughter are pull in humidifier, use johnsons vapor bath (it really does seem to help), if she's congested take her into the bathroom shut the door and turn the water on as hot as you can get it...let her absorb the steam. It will help break up the mucus. Also, there are saline drops you can get for the nose to help. Hope this helps

Brandie - posted on 04/22/2009

No medications really going to help. But, you should request that your doctor prescribe a nebulizer, and some solution for it, my sons have asthma and the breathing treatments work really well. But you may want to see a ears nose and throat doctor too. Another thing that is good. When you take a really hot shower, bring her in the bathroom and shut the door. The humidity sometimes helps.

Diane - posted on 04/22/2009

Vicks has a vapor rub that is for babies 3 months and up, there is not meds in it, it's all natural. I used it on my 5 month old and it worked wonders! Hope she feels better!

Yolanda - posted on 04/22/2009

Use an humidifier every night.....or you can steam up the bathroom, once the room is hot and streamy...stand in the bathroom with the baby....let the baby breath in the stream for a few minutes every day. this will help easy the congestion and release the mucus.

Traci - posted on 04/22/2009

P.S. Some Dr's are clueless............ Mom's intuition is best!! I have worked for quacks. They don't know it all...and some are clueless..no offense.. once in a while you stumble on a good Dr... Maybe you should look into switching. Obviously.. your Dr. isn't too concerned... What i it was their child??

Traci - posted on 04/22/2009

It may be Reflux... see a gastroenterologist... I know that saline nasal spray ( salt and water) makes a huge difference. My daughter is allergic to everything.. It helps. She takes Singulair daily. Also... ?? a nebulizer to make sure her oxygen level is where it should be... also those plug in vaporizers work well... also prop her up with an extra pillow when she sleeps to open up her lungs. Hope that helps a little.

Jacy - posted on 04/22/2009

go and get an alcohol free childrens congestion med and give her 1/4 of the smallest dose. i her nose is runny give her 1/4 tspn of childrens benadryl (my daughters dr okayed me to do his). a cool mist humidafire works great too!

Carmen - posted on 04/22/2009

My Doctor recommended vicks on the bottom of her feet at bedtime, and it worked like a charm. It loosened it up to the point that she vommited, but got it all out and she was soooo much better afterwards.

Twanita - posted on 04/22/2009

I agree with Stacey try using a humidifier. My daughter is three and I was told that there wasn't any medication that I could give her so I purchased a humidifier and it helped tremendously.

Crystal - posted on 04/22/2009

You are absolutely right to not use regular Vick's on a small child, but they do make a version with lavender in it for very young children that you can find in the baby section that works wonders for my little one. He's actually using it right now. I combine that with a humidifier and a Pediacare plug in with menthol vapors and it opens my little one right up. We also use Little Noses Saline Spray/Drops for him if he is really congested. Good Luck!

Siobhan - posted on 04/22/2009

My doc told me to try and steam it out. Bring her into the bathroom with the water running hot and let her play in there.

Jessica - posted on 04/22/2009

My dr gave my 4 month old something called accuhist...it worked GREAT! Also use saline drops and cool mist humidifier!

Rachel - posted on 04/22/2009

When my son was congested my doctor told me to do the saline drops before eating and sleeping. You can suck it out. I also used vapor bath for my son once and let him play it in the tub for awhile and it cleared him up alot.

User - posted on 04/22/2009

has she been checked for reflux? take her out in the cold night air or put her in the shower with you with lots of steam, have her sleep inclined so she can swallow better, lots of nights i slept with my little girl in the recliner, cold medicines really don't help! she may be old enough for nasal baths! thats just saline shot up one nostril and it comes out the other side, lots of snot comes out with it, try vicks on her feet with socks! sounds crazy but i have found that it helps with the cough! good luck!

Golda - posted on 04/22/2009

Pineapple juice helps cut through mucus.