Easing a cough/cold in baby

Violetta_2

Hopefully he is still sleeping soundly but I remember when dd was a baby & all bunged up we were advised to put a towel underneath the head end of her cot mattress just so it was raised slightly it seemed to help. It's horrible when they are tiny & ill & you can't make it better.

nuttywoman

mummyemm wrote: »

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.

i`ve been putting a little Vick on my 5month old grandaughters vest so its not touching her skin and its helped her.

meritaten

If you have seen a doctor and it is just a cold - then vicks is good, so is eucalyptus oil. no, dont put vicks on YOUR chest if you are breastfeeding! but putting a little on a tissue and tucking it in bed with you wont hurt!

Amanda65

Hope you had a better nights sleep last night

mummyemm

Just to update, baby slept soundly until 1am then woke up coughing, got him out for a cuddle, more saline drops and a feed. Could not put him back to bed as coughed/choked everytime I put him in the crib, so again we had cuddles propped up in bed, where he slept and I dozed.
His nose seems a bit better today, it is just his breathing and throat congestion that seems the main problem. He is not struggling to breath but sounds like he is IYKWIM. It sounds a bit wheezy, actually more of a rattlely throat. The GP on Saturday said he doesn't have a wheeze. He occasionally brings up milky phlegm which sometimes helps, but it has got to be a big cough where he chokes on it.
Steamy bathroom hasn't helped today, although it has helped to clear my nose!
Any others tips would be most appreciated.

Amanda65

I think (sadly) you may just have to put up with not much sleep for a couple of days until it clears. I would definitely use the Vicks again tonight and if he's not markedly improved by tomorrow go back to your GP and check it isn't settling on his chest. Babies conditions can change very quickly (for better as well as worse) and I always trusted my gut instinct.

Hope you have a better night tonight and he's soon on the mend.

skintchick

Could you take him into your bed, in a sleeping bag on top of your duvet, and let his head lie on your arm? I do that and it helps the nose drain. You do have to lie on yourr back or side, but you sleep better than you do sitting upright.

DD has a chest infection at the moment and we're doing this and last night she slept 11 till 6.30 without coughing once, whereas in her cot she is coughing all the time until she just can't go back to sleep any more.

If you've no coslept before then remember don;t put them under a duvet, don;t put little ones near a pillow (I used to turn mine 90 degrees so there was a pillow-free gap), don;t drink alcohol, don;t take drugs, and don't smoke. You won;t roll on them and smother them, have no fear, and cosleeping properly is MUCH safer than sleeping with them in a chair or on a sofa.