My DD has a bad cold stuffy nose and cough. I tried putting the humidifier in her room but it seemed to make her cough even worse not help, and it made the rugs all damp. I do not want to deal with mold, so what on earth can I do?
Thank you all for the suggestions. I cannot do a rinse with her because she has tubes in her ears and the Dr. told us not to do that. I have been using saline for the nose, but not really helping with the cough. It is just a cold right now and if not better we will take her to the Dr. The humidifier is up as high and set to low as I can get it, but I think part of the problem is that it is a small room so a little goes a long way. It is one of the ultrasonic cool mist ones which are quiet but they seem to get everything wet.
Have you tried one of those plug-ins? Pedia Care makes them. They are helpful without the dampness. I don't like using a humidifier unless it is really dry in the house. They would loosen the mucus too much and keep me up.
We had a humidifier that got everything really wet and it made the room really cold. It was a vicks one. We did not mind the wetness, because we would put down towels, but since it is now colder at night, I did not want my son to feel like he is in an igloo, so we bought a new one at walmart yesterday. It is a safety first and was found in the baby stuff, not the pharmacy section with the other humidifiers. It worked GREAT! Nothing was soaking in the morning! You might need to get a new one. Ours was only $29, less then the other ones that walmart sells, and it is filterless.
To help with the coughing, I would prop your daughter up. I don't know how old she is, but if she is old enough, give her an extra pillow. If she does not use pillows yet,then place some towels under the mattress to make a slope. My son had such a bad cough with chest congestion when he was 6 months and this was the advice (along with the humidifier). They also ended up prescribing an inhaler and a mask to use at bedtime, and it really helped. Good luck!
I run a cool mist O. in my son's room every time he's congested and I've never noticed a dampness....wonder why that's happening?
If the carpet got damp, it was either not up high enough or on too high. You are right, too much isn't good. I am not sure how old she is but if you can put her in a steamy bathroom for 15+ minutes, it could help loosen some gunk. Saline in the nose is good too - as it will losen the mucus. Lots of water and juice - fluids other than milk (if she's old enough). Also, vicks vapor rup (baby kind) is helpful on the chest and or back. IF she will tolerate a nasal rinse (mine won't) that would help! Some advil at night as it is an anti-inflammatory and will help a bit. If she is old enough (over 1) and not allergic, a teaspoon of honey is very helpful with controlling the cough too. I hope she feels better soon!!!
If this a cool mist or warm mist, humidifier????
And, did you take her to the Doctor, for a diagnosis?
The humidifier is probably helping open up her airways thus the productive coughing. I would make sure it is on low and only put it on when she goes to bed and turn it off when she gets up. I would also use a vapor plug-in by Vicks. Very helpful. Dont' worry about the mold. I think you would have to have it on continuously 24/7 over a long period for that too happen. I hope she feels better.
