Easing a cough/cold in baby

mummyemm

Hi, my 4 month old son has had a cough and cold since last Thursday. Has anyone got any tips on how to ease his symptoms? We have tried saline drops and a nasal aspirator, the aspirator was a waste of money, plus my baby hates it. He has a constant rattle at the back of his throat that he cannot clear, even though he is coughing lots. The cough is really annoying him now.
We have elevated one end of his cot, but secretions still seem to collect and the past 2 nights coughing has woken him, then he decides he is hungry, when I try to put him back in his cot he just keeps coughing, so I have ended up sitting up in bed with him propped up against me having a cuddle. This helps and he will fall straight to sleep, but I only doze so feel awful today and I also now have the cold.
Any tips and advice would be appreciated.

Amanda65

I've heard that rubbing Vicks on the babies feet and putting on socks at bedtime really helps. My friends' Dad swears by it for adults as well. Found this linky on Mumsnet

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/950603-Persistent-cough-and-Vicks-on-feet/AllOnOnePage

conradmum

Oh dear, it's horrible nursing babies through a bad cold. One thing I used to do that really helped was to sprinkle drops of Olbas Oil onto a scrap of cloth and place next to the baby's head. This helps clear the airways. I think you can still buy Olbas Oil in pharmacies.

Another thing you can do is to take them in a warm shower with you before bedtime. This helps a lot but the effects only last a while of course.

gonzo127

all the normal things really

viks
olbus oil
steam

unfortunatly at that age you cant give them any decongestants so its generally a case of having to use some of the vapor treatments and putting up with it

pinkshoes

My DS (3 months) has a rotten cold at the moment, and keeps coughing. I put him in his chair in the bathroom whilst I had a nice hot shower, and the steam seemed to help, as he was also sitting up at the time!

Agutka

Nasal saline spray. Sit in steamy bathroom, just run the shower. Smear vicks or suchlike on yourself and cuddle baby.
Then I would take him to bed with me, so I could make sure he was comfy. Those were the days...

Caroline73_2

If you have central heating put a wet towel on the radiator.

heretolearn_2

Do they still sell Karvol? Made for babies, it's an oil you drop on their clothes and it lets off fumes to clear their heads, like Vics or Olbas oil but specially for babies. Used to help a lot when my son was little.

Steamy bathroom will help his chest. Also if you think he has something on his chest to cough up, laying him face down along your arm and gently rubbing and patting his back will help him.

building_with_lego

My Spanish friend swears by putting half an onion under their bed. Admittedly the room reeks for a while but it sure unblocks the nose!

I do boiling water under the bed and Baby Olbas (which smells wonderful) or eucalyptus. You can also use Vick's in the water, or Karvol plug- ins.

mummyemm

HI
Thanks Amanda for the link. DH bought some Vicks this afternoon, it says not to use on under 2's but I considered that as it was going on his feet then it wouldn't be a problem. I think the smell would be too strong if I put it on his chest, it can be a little eye-watering.
Thank you to everyone else for the advice. Anyway my little baby has had a bath in a steamy bathroom, had a very small amount of Vicks applied to his feet, saline drops up his nose, a dose of calpol and is now fast asleep. His breathing is the quietest it has been for a few days now. Fingers crossed for a better night sleep and a happier baby tomorrow. I think I may even apply some Vicks to my feet, I don't want to put it on my chest incase he wants a feed in the night.
Thanks again for your help.

Counting_Pennies_2

Caroline73 wrote: »

If you have central heating put a wet towel on the radiator.

I second this, it really works.

Put the washing cycle on to a low spin so you get most of the water on the towel still.

Just before going to bed yourself, put a newly wet towel on the radiator so as you turn the heating off as you go to bed, the warm radiator will work through the towel for at least another hour.

hth