Coleman has a cold. I thought it was just teething (he officially has four new teeth that have broken through) but then came a little cough and the runny nose that is has escalated into the “eeew yuck” category. It doesn’t alarm me. No, I do not think he has H1N1. But I am curious, all you parents out there, what are the best solutions for helping little ones get over a cold?
He doesn’t have a fever. He is fairly happy most of the time. He only coughs a couple times a day. He’s eating OK – except that he can’t breath when he takes his bottle so that is a slower process. Mostly it’s just that nose that is causing problems.
So, what do you do? How do you treat the symptoms of a baby’s cold? Maybe nothing can be done. Teach me, friends. This new mom is ready to learn your best tricks and secrets to treating the common cold.
Thanks, in advance!
Go to the pharmacy section at the store and get some saline solution (they have some especially for infants). Lay the big guy down and give the inside of his nose a saline bath and then suck it all out with a bulb syringe. I find it can be kinda hard to do by myself, so recruit someone to help you. Do this a couple of times a day to get all the yucky stuff out. Just prepare yourself because it can get pretty yucky. Use a humidifier around the house and in his room at night to help as well. Good luck!
We call the bulb syringe a snot sucker – I think it’s the best thing too.
We have never been successful with the bulb syringe (though haven’t tried for a while). We just use saline if our 2 year old daughter lets us, and otherwise my best suggestion is to use a cool water humidifier in the nursery while he’s sleeping. That is still our biggest help when my daughter is congested, it helps her breath and that helps her sleep, and that helps her get better! Also, we aren’t too strict about her nap time when she’s feeling icky — if she’s tired early, she gets to sleep; if she’s tired again in the afternoon, she can even take a second nap.
We use the cool water humidifier too. There is also Baby Vicks vapor rub. Other than that, just offering lots of fluids and lots of extra hugs.
I think everyone has covered it.
We use a humidifier in my boy’s room every night this time of year. It truly does help with the runny nose thing. I got one of the electric nose aspirators and they really do work but kiddos this age hate anything up their noses so it’s always tough to do. But I will say it is worth it. Now that mine are a little older we call it the “booger sucker” and they laugh about it. Still hate it but laugh at least. 
Hope he feels better soon! So tough to see your little one sick.
When my kids are really bad I keep the humidifier running 24 hrs a day & just keep the door shut. So when they sleep the room is already nice & moist. And for the cough I’m sure you’ve heard never to give them cough medicines or cold medicines. I’ve heard to try using vicks vapo rub by rubbing it on the bottoms of their feet & then cover with socks. The whole room takes on the vicks smell when you use it with the humidifier. Seems to help relieve the cough at least for Dallin. Haven’t noticed really with Kylee. Other than that, lots of fluids, sucking the nose out, time & cuddles from mommy!
A warm bath helps also to get the drainage out of his nose. Keep him in the bath for as long as you can.
I can’t add anything new. The nasal aspirator is disgusting to use (make sure to wash it AND YOU thoroughly when done) but is probably the most effective solution with little ones. Don’t be surprised if Cole screams through the whole procedure. But it will make him feel better.
Propping up his mattress will help him sleep, too. My daughters put a package of diapers between the spring and the mattress. He’ll probably be at the bottom of the crib in the morning, but it does help. Good Luck.
Mine always got a cold the same week they were teething—-we would ride out colds but we would give them tylenol for a fever.
Try putting vicks rub on his feet and then put his socks on before he goes to sleep. I know it sounds weird, but it does work! Coat his feet well, even the toes. It really works, for adults, kids, anyone!
cool mist humidifer, lots of liquids, tylenol (for you both), prop one end of crib mattress up so his head is higher that his feet – this will help with the drainage, use a soft burp cloth to wipe his nose instead of kleenex, saline or bulb suction works good, and just hang out together and go with the flow. m
I use essential oils – there is one made by Young Living, Thieves. I put one drop on my kids’ feet and then put socks on them. It aways always always helps.
They also have a respiratory blend (RC) made with eucalyptus that I am putting on my kids for this unending cough and it really does help.
I also have an essential oil diffuser that I put on in their rooms for 15 min at night.
Hope that helps. You can google essential oils or email me if I can help. Hope your baby is feeling better!
Yup, yup, yup… the nose plunger!! Use it kind of like a turkey baster. Suck the stuff in, then squeeze it out on to a tissue. Repeat a few times. Yukky, but effective. ;0)
Yep-all of those-but sterilize the bulb at least once a day in boiling water for 3 minutes.
Such good advice. I learned a thing or two from all the above. I’ve heard the vick’s vapor rub w/socks really does work…especially for coughs, but I’ve never tried it. Make sure he’s drinking lots of liquids…he’s drinking apple juice by now, right?
We always put a steamer in the room – especially at night with a bit of vicks in the cup holder of it (where it is supposed to go)
Hate it when their sick
They hate it, but use the nose sucker bulb thing they gave you from the hospital. The store bought ones just don’t have the ‘pull’ that the hospital one has. We call it… suck their will to live… The saline spray loosens it up, then you suck their will to live. The humidifier in the room also. A previous poster also talked about oils on the feet. We do vapor rub on the feet and cover with socks. Hope he feels better soon. CindyML
And a good hot shower with the little one works, too, to get rid of the congestion. When my first son was a baby, he would get so croupy and wheezy. Our doctor recommended the hot showers, and they helped.
Lots of good comment here. Over the counter stuff is a waste of money. In fact, Yahoo had a thing on it just today. This is a good time for holding and cuddling when eating and things take longer. The bulb syring or a warm cloth work best for keeping his nose cleaned out. A bit of A/D are good too to keep the skin tissues from drying out and chapping from all the wiping. Steam from the shower, humidifiers and HYDRATE him. We need more fluids that we even think at this point. Flush out the cold. These days, difficult, are so much easier and less worrysome than the ones that accompany high fevers. When that comes – wiht the congestion – bundle him up and take him out for a look at the moon and stars. I remember many freezing cold Utah nights I sat on the porch freezing my tush so that the cold air would help my son breathe better – via Dr’s RX!
My two favorite things to use when my babies have colds–Baby Vicks and Ocean Mist Saline spray. Try’em out–they’re great!
Kolette,
The only decongestant that works has been pulled behind the pharmacy now – and you would need a dosage from your MD based on Coleman’s weight. The decongestant you can get over the counter has never worked for me.
You’ve gotten lots of good advice above. I swear by eucalyptus in the bath! It really helps clear up their nose. Put a little in at first as some kids’ skin may get irritated.
My boys are 17 and 16 now and still ask for the eucalyptus!
Same as everyone – snot sucker works a treat, steamer and we always put a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil on a hankie or tissue and pop it into their pj pocket!
I make up my own chesty rub for bubbas using natural (non scented organic) mosituriser, a couple of drops of lavendar, eucalyptus oil, rosemary oil and tea tree – smells great and my kids still ask for chesty rub when they are sick and we pop it on feet too!
Hope he gets well soon – nothing worse than a teething, sick bubba!
Jxx
I think my favorite part of reading your comments are all of the names for the nose thing (what is the real name? who knows but it’s not as good as yours!)
Thank you, everyone for your tried and tested ideas. I love hearing from the experts – you’re better than any parenting book, for sure!
Its is called an infant bulb syringe
It is called ‘Infant Bulb Syringe’
-Definitely a cool mist humidifier-but clean the filter every day and bleach out the water holder often.
-Elevate head of crib.
-And the best infant bulb syringes by far are the ones from the hospital. The ones at the store are awful.
Hey there, I learned a couple of things from your post. Could you elaborate more about the last point you made? Btw, honeywell humidifier filters have to be mantained in order to reap the full benefits. Find out how at http://honeywellhumidifierfilters.com