Any tips on helping a 14 month old with congestion?

Question

my daughter has a slight cough and runny nose.... any advice or homemade remedies out there??

btw... I am asking this question just for friendly suggestions not a substitute for a doctors consultation. So if you have any negative comments please keep them to yourself. thanks

Answer 1

Take her off sugar and dairy and all refined carbs for starters, they all stimulate phlegm production.

Get some garlic into her (fresh, not powdered) any way you can. My kids liked in tossed in with brown rice cooked in broth and butter spray on top. Not real butter of course.

Give her lots of water (even if you have to squeeze lemon into it) and for 'fun' take a warm washcloth wrung out and play 'mask' character games. You can both play with different washcloths. She will breathe through it and it will help her.

Another healthy thing is to get some natural (not the drugstore junk) vapor ointment to put on her chin or the end of her nose.

Good luck :)

Answer 2

There are over the counter medications for cough and runny nose that are perfectly safe to give a 14 month old as long as you follow the dosage instructions. Invest in a humidifier to keep the air moist in her room, that will help. A lot of the time congestion is caused by dry and irritated nasal and throat passages. Nothing can replace a doctor's advice though, and you should always seek that out before trying anything you are not certain of.

Answer 3

You did not say if this was an ongoing problem or has it just started?
Either way...

Have you tried taking her off of dairy products?
Dairy products are the # 1 cause of allergys. There are plenty of good substitute milk products out there and they have as much calcium as regular milk.

Milk causes the mucus to build up and become thick.

Even if she is not allergic to milk, during episodes of respitory problems it is a good idea to limit the milk intake.

We have twins that had constant runny noses and coughs until we removed all the dairy products in their diet. They have not had a problem since.

Answer 4

Humidifier in the room when she sleeps.
Little noses, the one without medication, or saline solution home-made (water and salt) on her nose.
At 14 mos you can give her also a tea spoon of honey to help her clear the cough.
Warm bath.
A double shirt when she sleeps. That worked wonderful with my son.
Just make sure she does not have fever. If she has fever, then you have to go to the doctor, because probably the cold has got to the ears.

Answer 5

A humidifier works well, but you can also turn your shower on hot hot and sit with your baby in the bathroom (not in the shower) and the steam will act like a humidifier. This also works well for croup.
Keep in mind though a runny nose is how our bodies get rid of the infection.

Answer 6

My daughter is 10 months old and shes had an ear infection. I give her her meds but I do things at home here too to help. Try using humidifer @ nighttime and bring her in your bathroom with the shower on hot so the steam opens up her airways. Johnson's baby stuff also hasvapor bubble bath stuff that smells like vicks vapor rub that helps too.

Be sure to give her/him plenty of fluids and raise the head of the bed for better breathing. Sorry to hear that your child is sick, Hope I've helped.

Answer 7

I would run a humidifier in her room, and also prop up the portion of her mattress where her head rests. Infants/toddlers have underdeveloped sinuses, and the nasal drainage can collect in the eyes, making her have puffy gunky eyes (if the drainage is bad, that is). I remember waking up one morning and seeing my son, standing in his crib all smiles, but he could barely open his eyes! He looked like he got into a fight and lost...terribly! I don't even know how he could see me, and he wasn't crying....He had a very runny nose, and he was coughing. I flipped out and called his doctor, who reassured me that he would be fine. These were her suggestions. Hope it helps! Good luck to you.

Answer 8

I use Boogie Busters nasal spray. Recommended by my doc and cherry flavored so she won't hate it like regular saline spray. Make sure that she is getting lots of fluids (100% juice pops are great) and using a baby-safe humidifier in her room as she sleeps. Others said baby vapor cream but use caution with that if baby has sensitive skin!

Answer 9

Have you tried saline drops and a humidifier. There is also a new vapor rub by Johnson and Johnson. Those work well if baby is not too congested.

Answer 10

i don't know of any home remedies but i do use karvol decongestant capsules that you could get from a supermarket. i put the liquid on a tissue and leave it near the child (on a window ledge, chest of draws eg) hope you find this useful.