Congested 6 Month Old

The only other thing I can suggest is Vicks on his feet. That helped my daughter out a ton, but she was a little older.

When you use the saline drops, hold him on his back a bit upside down, it helps to have another adult help out with this, squirt some saline into one nostril, use more than just a couple of drops, and then use a bulb syringe (some call it a snot sucker!) to suck all of the saline and mucus out. have a basin to squit the yucky stuff into between sucking more out. Then do the same to the other nostril. He will hate this and cry but it works really well. I have also used Little Noses Decongestant Drops, they contain a medicine that vasoconstricts the little blood vessels in the nose, which allows the mucus to drain down the throat. If you use them you should just use 2-3 drops per nostril and NOT suck it back out. Good luck, I know it is so hard to have a sick little one!

Hi Andrea,

I'm sorry you (and your little boy) have to go through this! When our 7 year old was an infant, she got a terrible cold and was very congested and we had a hard time with her sleeping as well. And a lot like you, hubby was a truck driver and needed his sleep. Here's what I wished I'd had and will be getting for SURE for this current pregnancy that we've been blessed with. A bouncy chair with vibration in it that works!!

When our daughter was sick I spent three endless nights laying on the floor next to her in her bouncy chair that the vibration didn't work on it (it was a hand me down from my cousin). If I kept my hand on it and bounced it, she was content OR asleep. But if I dozed off for too long and forgot in all my sleepiness to lightly bounce her, she'd cry that poor little cry and I'd feel so terrible. I also did the vaporizer, vicks vaporub, in the hot shower room, all the same stuff. Nothing ever really worked. The cold had to run it's course. Eventually the doc gave us something for her congestion, I think...

Good luck honey! You can do it. Being a mommy is hard, being a wife is hard. But that is what we're made of!!

I could probably learn some from you as well. You have the same age spread for your children as I'll have. Any suggestions for when I bring our #2 daughter home with #1 daughter? Was your #1 in for delivery of #2?

V.

PS try applying the vicks vapo rub to the bottom of your baby's feet. That works for me!!

My only other suggestion, besides what you are doing, is to raise the head of his crib mattress a bit by putting a pillow under the mattress at the top. That can help the drainage. Eventually it will get better! Keep up with the humidifier and also try Vicks Vaporub. One other option is to get some euphorbium (a homeopathic) nasal spray drops, and spray those up his nose.

Good luck! And you can up your B vitamin intake to help you cope with the lack of sleep.

I haven't read the other responses, but here's my solutions. I use natural remedies. If you go to Vitamin cottage or whole foods they will have a vapo-rub for children. Also, a homeopathic medicine called Alpha CF is fantastic. I've used both with my now 8 month old and it worked great. Also, that nose aspirator that is electric works great. You can get it at Babies R Us.
Hope this helps!!
J.

Hi, I experienced this with my kids. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. My only other suggestion that seemed to work for me was having my kids sleep in their carriers, slightly titled upward with a pillow or rolled towel behind the back. That way they were able to breath easier and after a few days they were back to normal. I'm sure other mothers might not agree but it did work for me. Good luck

Hi Andrea,

Have you tried having the baby sleep with an incline? Try putting a few phone books under the mattress at the end where his head is to raise the head of the mattress. Or if he will sleep in his car seat or swing or bounce chair. This should help. I hope you find a solution.

A.

I'd definitely get him checked for environmental allergies.

My son suddenly started waking very early every morning crying & sniffling. It was awful... we were all losing sleep. The allergist put him on a daily nose spray and the problem *literally* went away overnight.

You might also have them check food allergies as well. I have a friend whose nursing baby was always congested 'til she stopped eating the foods he's allergic to. The docs thought he had asthma and put him on breathing treatments & everything. Within a week or two he was off all of the breathing meds & doing great!

We've been really happy with our doc. www.coloradoallergy.com is his group.

Best of luck!

Andrea,

Run over to Vitamin Cottage and pick up Dr. Singha's mustard oil. This is the only place I have found it. It is in the bath area.

When we are congested I rub a little bit on the sinus area, and then also I rub it on our chest. The mustard helps to draw out the infection. It does not sting or burn.

J.

My second child had asthma and was congested and wheezing all night. After several months of one of us sleeping in the recliner with him laying on our chest, we discovered putting a car seat in his crib and putting him to sleep in it. It was a win win. the congestion moved down his throat by gravity, he could breathe and we could sleep. Give it a try.
E.

Get a NoseFrida!! Buy it on Amazon, a swedish nasal clearer. It's safe and doesn't hurt, natura and works like none other. Trust me!!!!

Call your Dr and see if you can use Vicks Vapor plug ins, those are life savers. They fill the room with that smell and last up to 8 hours. Also I slather my kids with kids vicks vapor rub on their chest. See if you can do that too.

My son had on and off congestion until I got his adnoids removed at the age of 2, sometimes it isn't allergies or colds but over grown adnoids. The plug ins help when my kids have colds a bunch. Make sure if you use the rub on his chest you layer him so he cannot rub it off or touch it, like put a onsie on then feety jammies over top. The baby vapor rub I think says 6 mos and up.

Also, try putting your breast milk in a bottle and put it in the fridge. May sound bizzare but at 6 weeks my daughter had a nasty cold and lot's of mucus and wasn't feeding well, we had to take her to the ER at Childrens, the Dr there said a cooler or cold bottle helps thin the mucus and allows them to drink it down better. Funny as once I started doing this she insisted on cold bottles after that. If he has never taken a bottle even try cooler breast milk in a sippy cup.
Babies have an excess of mucus too especially during teething so see if he is teething.

If you feel it is allergies, talk to your Dr as you may have to change your diet if he is strictly breast fed. Like eliminating dairy.

Both of my kids have oversized adnoids and we didn't discover it until going to an ENT and talking to him. My daughter had to have her tonsils and adnoids out, both over sized and my son had to have his adnoids out, both at the age of two! It was scary but they slept so much better afterwards.

Hang in there, it is so hard to see them struggle.

Have you tried raising his crib on one end? This may help w/ drainage and I think it helps my little 11 month old. It's that time of year and she has had a cold for weeks. Someone on here just a week or so ago suggeted putting menthol rub on the feet at night and then putting socks on over. Also keep the room a little cooler but dress him warm at night which helps w/ the breathing. Stay w/ the humidifier for the time being. Good luck and stay sane.

My daughter went through a bit of the same thing as she was cutting her first couple of teeth. Which is perfectly normal. You may try some homeopathic teething tablets to make him more comfortable. Just as they start to drool, there little noses can become congested. Loss of interest in food is another sign. Just keep his nose clear and make him comfortable. We also kept things she could gnaw on in her crib along with her lovie. Good Luck.

ps. raising one end of the bed is a great ideas as well.

Three weeks seems like a long time to be congested. If his mucus is green I would have him checked for a sinus infection. I don't understand how that is normal. The allergy thing has been mentioned. You might try an air purifier in his room at night if that is the case. I hope you find an answer soon! Good Luck!

I don't think it would be a good idea to let your baby cry either. Have you tried different humidifiers? Some work better then others. We have to make sure the door is closed or the humidifier doesn't work at all. It is just something that you have to endure through. I wish there was more you could do for congestion.

Andrea,
here is the list of suggestions,
and mine there also, about how to help this problem by using,,, GARLIC!

Wishing your little one to see good dreams without distractions!

http://www.mamasource.com/request/18162964779499520001

For you, to have a great skleep as well !! :)

I'm guessing he is teething. Be prepared for changing sleep patterns as this continues on till they all have come through. Usually popping through the bottom then the top. i would imagine it swells the nasal passages causing them to be congested. Sleep with him in a comfy chair in these nights he has trouble sleeping keeping him elevated. Helps him breath better. That helped my baby when he was having breathing issues.

Eva's idea is great too

Hi Andrea,
I am currently going through this with my 8mo old and after going through this with 5 kids, let me tell you its normal! This is most likely because he's teething and won't stop until they come through and will start up again if more teeth decide to come in. He may have seasonal allergies and you could ask your Dr if Benadryl or Claritin are ok for him and what the dosage would be but my experience with those are they just keep the baby up even more. What you're doing with the vaporizer, humidifier, sitting in the bathroom and all are really good ideas and keep doing that! You might also try giving him a pillow or putting a pillow or a blanket under one end of his crib to incline him while he sleeps. That way when his mucus drains it doesn't pool in the back of his throat and he can swallow it. You might also try seeing if he'll sleep on his side that way the mucus might drain into one nostril and keep the other open. Also he isn't nursing because he can't breathe so you need to try to clean out his nose. You can use a Q-tip if he'll hold still and you're very careful but a bulb syrenge works really well. He will most likely hate it and fight you but don't give up, if you get his nose clear you'll both sleep alot better! Go to http://www.babycenter.com/0_eleven-safe-home-remedies-to-... for some tips on how to use the bulb syringe but that's what I use and it works the best.

For your boyfriend, if its ok he doesn't get up with the baby, give him some ear plugs LOL! Good luck! We've all been through this and you will survive!

C. C

I have two nieces that suffered with this kind of problem and I also used to work for a doctor. The doctor I worked for advised patients to elevate the top end of the crib a little bit, or to have the baby sleep in their car seat or swing to keep them upright a little more. It helps to keep the drainage from running up to their heads when they're lying down flat. We did this for both of my nieces with pretty good results, especially if we still were watchful and used saline drops during the day if they needed it. It probably would be a good idea to continue with the humidifier as well. Good luck!

Hi Andrea,

With the humifier you may need to actually close the door for it to work. Also he may sleep better in his car seat due to the incline. Is he teething, if so try tylenol before bed and at the next waking 4+ hours later.

if the congestion does not go away soon, request an consultation with a pediatric Ear Nose and Throat dr. Your son could have reflux, large adniods, allergies, etc. causing the congestion. An inclined sleeping position will help in all those cases plus the humidier on full blast enough that it wets things around it. Vacuum and dust the house often incase he is suffering from allergies, plus make sure your HVAC filter is clean. Maybe move his crib if it is under the heating or right next to a heating vent, that could be stuffing him up.

Goodluck, you'll figure it out, but get some help from an ENT (try and get one who has kids and understands).
oH, and the Online/catalog "one step ahead" has an electronic nasal bulb that is suppose to work really well, it might be worth the money (20+)
R.

It is important that he is sleeping or it will affect his development. (Remember drs are not always right, they are just making educated guesses based on the info you give them)

Allergies are worse at night and first thing in the morning. How often do you wash his sheets? You need to do it 2-3 times a week in HOT water. See if that works, and keep his room dust free. sounds like he has allergies to me. My daughter has them, and we had the same problem for a long time before I figured it out.