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Message |
    
NFK
Citizen
Username: Nfk
Post Number: 80
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:17 pm: | 
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My 5 month old daughter has her first cold. She is very congested and the pediatrician said the best thing is saline drops in her nose and lots of fluids. Nothing else.
Anyone have any other suggestions on how to help the congestion? She lays flat in her crib although we do have 2 cool mist humidifiers going in her room.
Would love to get her better asap. Hate to see her this way.
Thanks! |
taam
Citizen
Username: Taam
Post Number: 80
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:24 pm: |
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if she's very congested, i always liked doing the steam-bath. - basically, bringing your babe into the bathroom after the shower's been on scalding hot for as long as it takes for it to turn into a steam room. i would stay in there w/ the babe for a good 15-20 minutes. i would bring books in & just have the babe sit on my lap & just get comfy...either on the on the toilet or floor or wherever. - just obviously don't let her touch that boiling water. ...and LOTS of love & tlc (which it sounds like you're already giving her.) good luck! |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 3032
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:25 pm: |
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Elevate the head of the mattress. If your crib is not adjustable, then put a pillow of rolled blanket underneith the head of the crib. You've got the humidifiers going, you can also get the children's strength Sudifed plug ins. Unfortunately, there is not much else you can do for the common cold.
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amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 1006
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 27, 2006 - 10:46 pm: |
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Even better than elevating the head of the mattress (we have a crib wedge but our little guy tends to roll right off of it), have her sleep in her carseat. You can just put it in her crib, it's a comfy cradled position, and it will keep her head elevated all night long. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 537
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 12:56 am: |
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She's 5 months old and this is her first cold?! Congratulations! 
Little Noses makes a good little bulb suction thingy - it has a blunt end that doesn't get inserted like the really pointy bulb one, so you can't hurt her. Don't over do the suctioning - only if the congestion is really bad. I used to put a couple drops of the saline and then after about 1 minute would try to lightly suction some stuff out.
Good luck and remember this cold will only make her stronger! |
BGS
Citizen
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 652
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 9:53 am: |
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If there is a lot of dried "gunk" around her little nostrils, use a very soft thin warm wet washcloth to dab at the gunk...it will be easier for her to breath without that gunk clogging her little nostrils. Warm is the key here though...a cold cloth will not soften the gunk but a warm one will....
Patience...Mom- she will get better!!!
:-)
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doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1129
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 10:40 am: |
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solid suggestions by all.
Here's what I have to add:
Make sure to look at your saline drops (I prefer the mist. actually) to see that they are not preserved with Thimerosal (mercury-containing preservative that has been removed from vaccines) - some brands have it.
This might seem a little out there for some, but infants can be seen by a chiropracter & I found it helpful with severe congestion - that said, I generally handle it on my own, doing massage of head, face & tips of toes (reflexology points).
To make the TLC/being upright easier, maybe try a sling.
I've done the carseat sleeping for mine, but also raised the head end of the crib by placing big books under legs.
And a glass of wine or some ice cream for you!
Good luck. |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 3107
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 12:38 pm: |
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I have always thought you want to use warm mist/vaporizor for congestion, not cold. Maybe I'm mistaken. Anyway, I always use the vaporizor for congested kids, the humidifier for moisture maintenance when no one is sick. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 13
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 28, 2006 - 3:43 pm: |
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If you have any tea tree oil, you can add that to your steam bath or humidifier. I found that helps lessen the duration of the cold. (as does washing the light switches, door knobs and telephone with a tea tree/eucalyptus/lavendar/water spray - or just plain old disinfectant wipes) |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2755
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 8:19 am: |
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Vaseline around the nose and lips. Helps when you wipe to ease the pain and get the gunk off. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 1135
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 9:25 am: |
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along the lines of Elizabeth's suggestion, eucalyptus oil on shower head when steaming...
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BGS
Citizen
Username: Bgs
Post Number: 666
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, March 1, 2006 - 4:12 pm: |
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NFK-how is the bambino? |
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