Help. My son has three teeth strating to pop through and has a cold this weekend. I also seem to have some cold & flu issues. We have given him tylenol and some teething tablets and when he is awake he seems to be doing pretty well. I am still breatfeeding. When trying to feed him he is having some real problems breathing. I have suctioned out his nose and placed a warm wet washcloth on his face. The humidifier in his room broke last week and we just don't have the money to replace it this week. We put a bowl of water in front of a oscilating heater in his room as well as his air purifier. I am hoping this will help with the stuffiness. I hate to see him sufferng like this. It's breaking my heart. He does eat much of what we eat and I have been feeding him chicken soup. However, I know the breast feeding is so important for him especially when he is sick both for the anti bodies and the comfort. I need to find a way to help him breathe easier. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks
Thanks so much fr all your advice. I tried several of these things and it seems my son is much better. I know I will be again soon since he started being able to sleep again.
You can express some breast milk and put it in his nose - it will help break up the mucus. Try to set his bed or crib up at one end so he is not laying flat on his back. If his breathing is really bad, go see the doctor. It could turn into RSV or bronchitis, which you will need a nebulizer and albuteral treatments. We went through this last February with my son. No fun, but we got through it!
The standing in the bathroom with the shower is good... also you can stand over a pot of boiling water with him. When you suction out his nose- make sure you put saline up it first... you can buy it pre made or make it yourself, but it loosens everything up- its amazing how much more you can get out when you let that help it...
Hi J., I agree with the other two posts, both about humidity and the vicks on his feet.. You can leave a pot of boiling water on the stove for continued humidity in your home. Also, if you have them saline nose drops by little noses can help a great deal. Even one drop in each nostril will make a difference.. Feel better soon!!
I'm so sorry to hear you and your baby aren't feeling well!
To help with breathing, turn the shower on hot to build some steam in the bathroom and stand in there with your son to breathe in the moisture.
A less expensive vaporizer ($12.00 at Target, Walmart) is by Vick's. Of course, it's warm steam, as opposed to cool air from the humidifier, so you want to make sure it's placed up high where your baby can't reach it. I think the warm steam feels more comforting, but some believe it keeps germs around longer since the air is warmed. You may need to add a SMALL amount of salt to the water to get the steam going.
Another thing that works really well is to rub BABY vapor rub on your son's feet then put on his socks to sleep. Sounds crazy, but it helps to relieve coughing and to open air passages. This way, it's not on his chest where he can touch it, then get it into his eyes or mouth. It works well on grown-ups, too!
Good luck to you!
Colds are so prevelant this time of year due to being inside with others more.
How old is he?
If he is older, try putting your breast milk in a bottle and putting it in the fridge.
Sounds weird, but at 6 weeks my daughter got really congested, stop feeding and was lethargic. We rushed her into the hospital since she was so young. They put tubes down her sinus passages and suctioned ever bit of goo out but the Dr there told me to give her colder bottles. It helps not have the feeling of thickness, soothed her throat, gums and she gobbled it up. Funny as after that all she would take is cold bottles.
Try Vicks vapor rub for babies too, lather him up on his chest and layer some clothes so he cannot rub it off.
That helps my kids still and opens up their passage ways. If he is older, get the Vick Vapor plug ins, they last all night.
They have Vapor bath stuff too.
My kids seemed like they got a cold when teething a lot all at once, when in fact it was congestion due to excess slobber and all of that. Seemed like it was all the time when they were teething, gunky noses, congested and all that.
It may just be teething.
Motrin worked better to relieve the pain in the gums then Tylenol and lasts longer.
He will have a million more colds through toddlerhood, believe it or not it is helping his immune systems but it always breaks our hearts to see our babies not feel well.
Try the colder bottles, breast milk is fine cold and see if that helps him take it better.
I wouldn't keep a heater on in his room either. The cooler the room like at 68 degrees is actually better for congestion then a warm room.
Take him in the bathroom and run a steamy shower too.
HUGS I hope he is feeling better soon.
