Gals....I have a four year old who up until now has been a pretty good sleeper. He had a pretty nasty cold this week that we have been trying to fight. I know it's hard to sleep when you're congested, but it's not even a cough or congestions that's keeping him up! He just won't sleep - he wants to play!!! I'm very concerned about him - he has dark circles under his eyes and his cold is not getting any better. I called the pediatrician and they told me to give his Delsym for his symptoms and it would help him sleep. I gave it to him at 11:00 this morning (he did not sleep a wink last night) and now it is almost 3:00pm and he still has not slept. I feel like I have tried everything! Has anyone ever had this issue? Any suggestions?
when my almost 4 yr old get sick like that i use lavender bath by jhonson and jhonson with a warm glass of cho milk at nite it help i sure hope your little one get better and you find something that works for you
I he taking any other medication for his cold? Sudafed seems to keep my son up, but not my daughter. It's been hit and miss with Delsym for us. Occasionally amoxicillin will keep my daughter up and give her diaherra, but not her brother. Go figure!
For congestion, have you tried a netipot or saline based nasal rinse? If not- OMG! it's been a lifesaver for us this year! Basically it's flushing your sinuses with a saline based solution, which cleanses the sinus and helps remove the mucus. Here's a youtube link... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8sDIbRAXlg
My twins are 11, but we have been using this since they were about 7 yrs old- which is when I first heard of it. If your 4 yr old is good at blowing his nose, it may help. We got a large medicine syringe with a blunt tip from the drug store pharmacy (4 cc I think it is) instead of the pot- seems to work better for us. I dissolve about 1/2 tsp table salt in an 8 ounce glass of hot tap water. I leave it set for about an hour to come to room temperature. Fill the syringe and have the child lean over the sink, with the nose facing down. Placing the tip of the syringe in one nostril, they then take a deep breath in through the mouth and blow out throught the nose as I squirt the solution into the nostril at a somewhat quick pace. I usually do three syringe fulls in each side, then with their head still down, have them blow their nose into a tissue to remove any left over moisture.
Sounds hard, but it really isn't too bad. I imagine it depends on the kid too - mine aren't afraid to try anything new so it was easy to learn for them. The relief is amazing. When we do this before bedtime, they can usually sleep all night without waking up, and without additional decongestants or antihistamines.
Hey J., I have an almost 2 yr old who too would not sleep during a time of a cold. We gave him chamomile tea in a sippy cup, and that seemed to help. Make it, as you would prepare it for yourself. I too added a little honey to soothe his throat. You can find it at any grocery store. I hope this helps.....
Are you giving him sometype of cold medicine? They tend to make my son hyper and unable to sleep.
Have you tried a pain killer, like Motrin? If his ears feel pressure from fluid when he lies down or his throat hurts, and he isn't able to tell you about it, you're not going to know that.
An epsom salts bath might relax him.
Have you tried a bath with lavender or a calming element (I love California Baby Cold and Flu Calming Bath)? I would give him a long warm bath and then cuddle and read books or watch a movie with the lights dim. Try to limit sugar until he sleeps too.
I have a Two year old as well and I have had some of the same issue's. Give him a teaspoon of Benadryl before you put him to bed.This should work! Run a humidifier.
Warm bath, vicks vapo rub on his chest, low/no lighting, no tv, and a cup of warm sleepy time tea before bed time.
If he's on any kind of cough meds that may be wiring him. My son gets wired off of Robotussin...
Even if he's not sleeping it should be stressed that at night, when the sun goes sleepy eyes, you should be in bed.
Try propping him up while he's laying down to help the gunk drainage flowing down his throat and not triggering a cough. Let him have a cup of water by his bed so if his throat gets sore he can take some sips.
He will not be able to stay awake forever... He will drop and sleep for a while. But until then, You also need your sleep.
Sometimes it helps if I sleep with the kid on the sleeper sofa. That way they feel comforted and I know if they are wiggling or getting up and can tell them to lay still...
J. - When my daughter was 2, she had a nasty cold w/a cough. I went to the pharmacy and the pharmacist suggested a childrens cough/cold medicine. what a nightmare! She was bouncing off the ceilings and walls! I called the pediatrician and he put her on something different. He said it was caused from the red dye in the over the counter stuff. You might want to check into something different.
STRESSFUL! Yikes. One thing is for sure. He will sleep eventually.
Hang in there.
S.
Just wondering how things are working out. I too am a 35 yr old mom with a 4 year old and a 19 month old who lives in SCS.
