Wheezing

I agree with all of these responses. You should take him to the doctor asap. He could have asthma or allergies causing asthma. My son who is 9yro has had symptoms including wheezing since he was 3 months old. Like was said below it could turn into an attack that could be fatal. Also it can turn into bronchitis and then pneumonia very quickly because he's and infant. I guess there's a chance he doesn't have either of these, but anyone I've ever talked to about their child wheezing finds out they have allergies/asthma.

Does he have a cough now at night? Wheezing can be caused by croup, but along with the wheezing, he would also have a cough throughout the night that sounds like a seal barking. If that's what it is, put him in a warm blanket with his face showing, and take him outside in the cold. Croup is an inflammation of the voice box, and can be treated by cold air. Also, filling a bathroom up with steam can help.

Anytime a child is wheezing, I would call the nurse if you're not sure what's causing it. It could just be a cold, but I'd call just to be sure.

Hi J.,
My oldest son had terrible wheezing when he was little. Around the same age as your little one. I kept taking him to the Dr and they dismissed it at first. Then he started struggling to breathe. I got scared because he was my first, and I had no idea what to do! I took him back in and told them that I needed them to do something to help him becuase he is getting worse. They sent us home for an inebulzier and some abutarol. WE put this little mask on him 4 times a day for about 10 minutes and he would breathe it. After a few weeks the wheezing was gone. hope this helps!

I would get him into the doctor ASAP. RSV and Pnuemonia are possibilities.

Is he breastfed or formula fed? If formula it could be a milk allergy causing congestion.

My 5 month old son just had RSV two weeks ago. It's a respiratory virus that babies get and it causes wheezing. Doctor's usually give babies a breathing treatment with a nebulizer. I don't like giving breathing treatments and my doctor knows this. She felt he needed one at the office but I did not come home and give him one. I treated him with an herbal tea called Breath Deep from Yogi Tea. I think Krogers may still carry it, I bought ours at a natural food store. I would make a cup and put one ounce in a bottle a couple of times a day. At our follow up his lungs were clear and she even asked me for a bag of the tea. I use this tea for all my children almost every time they get a cold. You should still see a doctor right away though in case of pnumonia or something else. My doctor did perform an x-ray and knew that I would not be giving the nebulizer. Hope this helps

Have you had your son checked for asthma? Might be something to look into. Better safe than sorry.
I believe there are medicines (otc) that you can put in little cups on vaporizers but I would check with your doc first. Also, there is a such thing as to much of a good thing. Are you closing his bedroom door with the vaporizer on? Could be a bit to much for him. Just some thoughts. Let us all know how it works out for ya. Good luck! Shannon

Ok I can give you some suggestions on what to try being a mom with chilren with allergies. First is there carpet in room? If so it may need to go. Is there a pet in home? If so put strip at bottom of door to keep hair from getting in room. As for vents for heat and AC try putting a clean white cloth over vent to serve as filter for air blowing into room. Your baby may have a sensativity to carpet or to dander from pets. A couple other things you can try. When you wash his clothes try rinsing them an extra time. Even dreft can have a strong scent if you accidentially get too much in clothes. Which could cause wheezing. Environmental is easiest to start with. If he was full term something is irritating him. Now if he was a preemie a month or more early then you need to watch him extra closely. You did not specify. Ask yourself these questions Has he been like this since birth? Has the doctor given me any suggestions to help? If not get another doctor if he doesnt help and you have discussed with him. All doctors say babies under a year old dont have allergies because of moms antibodies. That is not completely true. They have a sensitivity that can turn into full blown allergy. Another thing you may want to try is to make sure that crib is not in position where vent would blow directly on him. A vent should always blow past the crib. If the wheezing doesnt stop then I would venture to say that your child needs to have some pulmonary function testing. Possibly a sweat test as a last resort. (If all other tests do not show anything is happening.) They will not do any type of allergy testing until a year old. Sometimes that will show sensitivity but that is a limited test. And only requires a blood test. Try things in the home first and see if that helps. Do one thing at a time and keep a wheezing journal. Notice and date and time and what doing is important to write down first. Trust me on this it could help pinpoint sourse of problem. Write down anything different that you did say moved crib from close to vent for example could rule out sensitivity to dust. Do you see what am talking about. It is very important to keep journal. If you have changed things and still nothing talk to your doctor and if he doesnt do test get another doctor. You know your baby best and there is nothing more keen than a mothers intuition. Let me know if anything works for your child. I will try to think of things to try in the meantime. Been through this one with youngest. Good luck and best wishes for success.

I don't want to scare you...but take him to the Doc ASAP. Wheezing is a symptom of reactive airway disease (asthma).
I had this happen w my DS.
I didn't know either - I went to the pharmacy and asked if there was an over-the-counter med I could give him....they said take him to the ER!

Call your doc now. Don't wait. Your baby can't breath.
It can quickly escalate into an attack that could be fatal.

Your doc will administer emergency treatment and then give you what you need to manage it going forward.