Hoping you mamas can offer up some advice. I'm a 2nd time mom with a nearly 4-week girl. For the last 2 weeks she has been experiencing night-time congestion. What seems strange is that is happens only a night. She is the noisiest, snortiest little thing and it keeps her awake and frustrated ... especially while feeding (breastfeeding). However, when she does doze off she seems to be breathing just fine. She is also breathing, sleeping and feeding just fine during the day. This only happens at night. Could there be some night-time allergens that pop up? Is that even possible? We do saline during her spurts which doesn't really seem to help much. I'm not sure where to go from here besides calling the doctor but it would be difficult to show her symptoms during 'office hours' because otherwise she is perfectly fine. Ideas? Thoughts? Previous experiences??
Have you tried a cool mist humidifier in her room at night?
Can you prop the legs of her bassinet or crib to a slight incline to ease the congestion?
My son had the same thing emerge at that age and it turned out to be reflux - I had him sleep in a Nap Nanny (a sleeping chair that sort of props him up) and that helped tremendously for his sleeping. I also cut all dairy (milk, butter, cheese and any baked goods with butter) out of my diet and that helped a lot.
My daughter is 2 and still the same way. Always congested at night, no problems during the day and nap time. A humidifier works wonders for us and we got one reasonably priced at Babies R Us. You can also try putting a wedge under her mattress to elevate her a little bit.
Vicks vaporizer works wonders and I always rub my little one down with baby vicks on her chest, back, and feet and put socks on her and under her nose. My little one has always been congestive since a NB and now she is 5 months old and same thing. The doctor said it could be asthma since it runs in my family but now treatment or way of knowing until she gets older. This helps her sleep through the night and breathe. Good luck!
You are wise to seek other reasons for night congestion. This may not be an answer, but it is a safe no risk or cost way of fnding a solution.
Look for a rep that alows use of a purifier for about 5 days. It treats the air
throughout the day. www.yournaturalair.com
There may be something in the air or mattress or even your laundry det. used for bedding. All of these can cause a build up in a less than adequate ventilated room. I have addressed may parents with similar children's issues even nightly nose bleeding.
Until you try a machine, use a fan to improve ventilation of the room, see if there is any improvement,
but don't pass up the chance of TRYING a proven solution for
ridding the air of pathogens and toxins. Millions of people have found relief.
Keep in eye on her stools. R u breastfeeding? She may be allergic to something you are eating? My daughter had the same thing until I eliminated eggs. She was fine after that. Good luck!
