Stuffy 4 Month Old

I see the date is far gone now, but when either of my children had this problem (which was often) I would hold them while I slept in the recliner chair. It really helped keeping them in a more upright possition. So hopefully, the next time you have this, this info will be helpful.

I put my son in the shower, with me, and that really helps. For a 4 month old, I wouldn't try to hold him in shower. They are very slippery! Maybe use a bath time mini tub or something like that.

Hello,
When my youngest was that age she was congested too, they make Vicks for babies. I put in on her back and chest at night w/ a humidifier and the hot shower, it really helped! Hope he feels better soon! M.

So many things have changed since my day with babies, I am a grandmother now. My daughter had croup (spelling?) What I did wa sit in the bathroom with the bathwater as hot as i can get leave it running steaming up the bathroom. I then rubbed vicks on her back and chest and sat with her for atleast 20 minutes. I did this a couple times a day and helped relive the bad cough and congestion. Like I said been a long time and sometimes old school works just as well or better than the new stuff thats out. Vaporizors are good but the bathroom holds the steam better than a vaporizor in a large room. God bless and I hope ur baby gets well soon

I agree with your doctor. Nose drops (saline-Little Noses work) also using the bulb syringe to remove *stuff* as needed. Definetely the humidifier and putting them in infant seat while you shower, to get the steam.

another thing she can do to help is simple put her car seat in his crib and let him sleep in that his head elevated will alliviate some of the congetstion or she can raise the head of the crib so its higher, otherwise she's doing whats been proven it hard when pur babies get sick the first time, cuddle them close and weather it is the only way altho we feel like crying cause there isn't a thing we can do to help :(

I had chronic asthma as a child and a humidifier made it worse. I'd suggest being very careful with that. My pediatrician used to tell my parents to use a humidifier and/or dehumidifier depending on my symptoms. Both made everything worse. What always worked, as others have said, was sitting in a steamy bathroom, whether I was in the hot tub or someone was taking a hot shower and I sat in the room.

Much luck. My 2-yr-old is sick now and I was told there is nothing that she can take as well. How frustrating to not be able to make her feel better instantly :(

what has helped us is a warm mist humidifier, vicks vapor rub and the menthol plug-ins. I have a 3yr and 7 mo old and everytime my 3 yo would catch a cold it would turn into an ear infection, once I started using these three together the last two colds have gone away without needing to run the the Dr. For the baby we also use the saline nose spray to help clean out the sinuses, and lots of suctioning. I can't over stress the importance of the warm mist humidfier though, the cool mist ones did not do anything. Another option would be to turn on a hot shower and shut the door and sit in the bathroom with the baby and let the steam accumulate. hope he feels better soon!

my little girl when she was about 5 months went through it. it was very hard because we could not give her any med. and it was hard seen her breath the way she was. the best advice i got that worked for my little one was ... turn the shower on "hot" what the mommie can do is, lower the toilet seat and sit there for about 15 to 20 min. She'll swet crazy but the babys nose will be relieved and the little one can breath. She needs to keep the house worm and the baby bundled up. if the baby swets, thats a good sine the little one needs a lot of milk (fluids in his body). this did it for me for about 2 days and she was back to her happy self. Also don't leave your baby without socks!!! from waste down they need to be very worm that's how they get sick the fastest through their feet (believe it or not). the wormth doesnt get them sick the cold does. since that one time, now my baby hasn't gotten sick and she's 9months. Hope this helps, and hope the baby gets better soon!!!

My son has congestion issues also, he is now 11 months - we use saline drops (little noses is great) and a COOL mist humidifier and it works great!! At only 4 months she should NOT use any type of Vick's rubs on the baby (just read the label) and I'm not so sure about the plug ins that let out any type of vapor either, please check with your doc again before using any of those methods. Tilting the head of the crib is also a good idea, they have wedges that you can buy that are made specifically for that purpose (we used a pillow though). And about the ear infections -you will want to watch for any signs of discomfort in the ears (most of the time they tug at the infected ear) because the longer the congestion is there the higher the chances that it can drain to the ears and cause an infection. Keep an eye out for sinus infections too.

Best wishes!

Is she breast feeding? A couple drops of breast milk up the nose and a bulb sucker(I apologize, the actual name escapes me at the moment) would work wonders.

If she's not, I believe it's safe to give the little ones saline drops up the nose, too, and then use the bulb sucker again.

Poor little guy, I hope he feels better soon!

We've had luck with the Pedia Care Gentle Vapors. Also the VICKS warm mist humidifier ($12.99) at Wal-Mart. That and some good old chicken soup.....

i use a warm mist humidifier and the pedia-care plug ins. i also have used the vicks rub in her chest. i also put a rolled up towel under one end of her crib matress to elevate her head when she sleeps. this seems to help too. using the saline drops and a bulb suringe help a lot especially right before they eat or go to bed. i also do it once or twice a night. my doctor prscribes a decongestant called "tanafed" i use it at night and it seems to help too. i'm not sure if 4 months is too young for it. the best medicine is lots of love and extra understanding. he should be felling better in a few days.

there is a plug in that pedi care has - it is a night light and then has little pads of something like vicks (not medicine though???) that fills the air. the night light heats the pad - pretty cool. there are 5 little pads in the box. read the instructions - it can only burn for like 12 or 16 hours then needs to be unplugged. its not an all day thing - and doesnt need to be - it is pretty strong. my son slept late the first night i used it

Good morning Ms. B.,

If your little one has chest congestion you can also use Vicks Baby vapor rub (for 3 months and older). My doctor's also recommend the saline drops and a humidifier as well. Hope your bundle of joy feels better.

Take care

When my son would get colds at this age he was also get an ear infection b/c of the fluid draining. My Dr. told me to give him Baby/Children's Benadryl (which some people are wary about b/c it will either make the child drowsy or give them a huge energy boost), prop him up on like a Boppy pillow to sleep to help avoid ear infections, use a suction bulb to keep the mucus from settling in his chest, and nose drops to help loosen the mucus. I also used a humidifier to help him at night. I know it sounds like a lot, but it really works and it helped my son get over his colds much quicker. And the suctioning helps keep the mucus out of his chest. Hope this helps!

Our 4 month old has been stuffy lately too with the changes in weather and such. The doctor said the same thing with the humidifier. He also suggested we keep him inclined, so we have him on one of the incline sleepers. We've also put him in the bathroom with us while he is in his bouncy chair and we are taking showers. The steam seems to help. The doctor also suggested that if we can't see the boogers and they are not affecting his sleep or eating, that we should let them be, that he is okay and it is normal.