my 9 month old has had a cold for over a week now. he's had a runny nose but no temp. it doesn't seem to be getting better at all. i've put a humidifier in his room, but i don't think it's making a difference for him. how long is "normal" for babies to be sick?
thanks for the help! he's finally over it- probably because he passed it to me! it's so nice to have my happy baby back. it's been awhile!
J.,
One possibility is, he could have allergies. The weather has been changing and my doctor said that many people of all ages have developed allergies that they haven't had before, including me. I have had cold symptoms for over a month. My doc said that there is a bug going around, too. My son (16 yrs) has also been sick for going on 3 wks. I would just be patient. Have you taken him to his ped?
Find a good chiropractor that treats babies, you will be suprised at how much it will help! and no antibiotics!!!
Our 5 month old just got over a cold that I felt hung on for a long time. When she woke up, she would be so congested with crust in her nose. Then, we realized that the humidifier filter was dirty. When we took it out, the congestion went away. Humidifiers are so annoying in that they need constant cleaning to work properly (who has time for that!?!). Could your filter be dirty? Just a thought!
Depends on if he/she has any other symptoms but a runny nose. If not, it could be teeth coming in. Mine gets a runny nose just before teeth are coming. I can't necessarily see the teeth yet, but I know they're coming because of the runny nose.
If that's not it, just wait it out, try not to give any medication as they have recently said you shouldn't give to kids under 3.
Is he teething? my daughter always gets a runny nose and other cold symptoms when she gets a new tooth.
With it being cold season its common for them to catch colds right after getting over one. Try saline drops in his nose; the Vick's vapor plug in works excellent for my daughter when shes congested.
Good luck
Hi, J.. My pediatrician said it is normal for a baby to be sick with a cold for 2 weeks, but that if the baby runs a fever after not having one, that is a sign of an infection and the baby should be seen. Also, I always say its always better to get checked out by the doc than to wait too long if you are concerned it might be more than just a regular cold. Hope your little guy is feeling better soon!
Even though it doesn't seem normal to me, my kids get runny noses for 10-14+ days (without any other symptoms). I've been told if it lasts 14 days, to take them into the Pediatrician. Otherwise, when the phlegm is clear and there are no other symptoms I just let it run its course.
My daughter got her first cold at 9 months. I phoned the doctor and they told me that colds last between 10 and 14 days for babies. Hers actually lasted more like 16 days and it was the worst cold I have ever seen anyone suffer from. She has had two colds since then, but none have been near that bad. Just hold off and let it run its course.
If he is not running a temperature, it is possible he might have allergies. You should call your pediatrician's office and talk to the nurse. The nurse will then relay the information to the doctor who will decide if he/she needs to see your son. My chldren have allergies and they take an over the counter medication that is prescibe by our pediatricain and it works wonders. Good Luck.
My son was congested and had a runny nose pretty consistently for several months when he was under 1 y.o. He is now 3 and is rarely congested. Hang in there. As long as he doesn't have a temp and doesn't end up with an ear infection, he'll get through it.
Some longer than others. Remember that they can't blow their little noses so that stuff runs out and some runs down their throats; keeping it in their system longer. Use VICKS in the vaporizer. It'll open his nasal passages and lungs. What does the dr. say? Is baby losing weight? Be careful in how long you wait to call him.
It may take some time. Ten days sometimes a little longer. Make sure that the discharge is not colored. If it is a visit to the Dr. may be necessary. You do not always have temps if there is an infection. If anyone else in the house has it you could just keep passing it around. Could he be teething? Some children have runny noses when they teeth. Give it a few more days to see what happens. Good luck
M.
Any thoughts on whether it might be allergies vs. a cold? Many people try to say that babies can't have allergies and it is not true. You might want to talk to your pediatrician and maybe try benadryl. It may also just be early teething.
Hi J.....I have to agree with what alot of the moms had to say. Around this time my 2 boys had alot of colds, flu's etc. Also they got runny nose's from teething. I used the saline as well and the vapor plug ins. But all children are different, just give your peds dr a call and see what he has to say. Good Luck
colds last 2 weeks and are at there worst between the 7th and 10th day. After that it gets better with just a cough in the am and pm. If not better after 2 weeks call your ped. or if a there is wheezing or fever that starts. it is very normal.
My little one last winter had a runny nose for about a month. She wasn't really disturbed by it except she wasn't fond of my trying to clean her nose. she was pretty healthy, not in day care, breast fed etc but somewhere she caught it and it stayed for quite a long time.
Allergies? It is not uncommon for a child this young to already have allergies. Anything can aggravate the lining in the nose. Pet dander, seasonal allergies, carpet, anything really can cause this reaction. Do you have pets? Carpet? Have you turned on the heater? Sometimes things in the airducts like dust can contribute to the problem too.
Check his mouth for swelling in the gums...sounds like teething, and he's the right age. If not, try Little Noses salene nose spray and aspirate, its about the only thing recommended by dr.'s for infant colds now. Most peds try really hard not to perscribe anything, and its better for baby to use his immune system to get through it. I've noticed that aspirating two-three times/day really helps get the virus to move on.
Hi, is it possible he could be teething? Both my son and daughter would get a runny nose and "cold-like" symptoms right before and during getting a new tooth.
If it is just a runny nose I would just let it run its course. Unless he is having difficulty breathing, you hear it in his chest, persistant coughing or he has a fever that you are not able to bring down etc...I would give it some more time.
My guess would be like the other poster who said teething.My son used to get that way- no clue as to why but it was our indicator that teeth were on the way in. My daughter never did this though! Go figure!
Hope he feels better soon! Blessings to you and yours!
Are you sure the baby doesn't have allergies. It is the season and if the "cold" seems better some days but comes back on it could be allergies. Just a thought.
