How do you decongest a baby?

Answer 1

depends on how old the baby is...

if he/she has chest congestion and is coughing alot-try running hot water in a shower for several minutes with the door shut to produce steam in the bathroom. then sit in the bathroom for about 10-15 minutes-the steam will help open up the lungs and promote movement of the mucous, eventually allowing the baby to cough it up.

also set up a steam humidifier in your baby's room. the one that uses hot water works best b/c it doesn't disperse minerals from the water into the air and also prevent germs and bacteria from forming in the tank itself. this will help your baby breathe easier at nite...

you can also use pediacare infant decongestant drops if your baby is over 6 months old.

dosing as follows:

6-11 months 0.8ml (1 dropper) every 4-6 hours
12-23 months 1.2ml (1 1/2 droppers) every 4-6 hours
2-3 years 1.6ml (2 droppers) every 4-6 hours
do not exceed more than 4 doses in 24 hours

you can also use a bulb suction like the one they gave you in the hospital when your baby was born to suction his/her nose out-it will help clear out the congestion....

Answer 2

Use saline water in the nose with a bulb to decongest the nose. You can let the baby inhale SMALL amounts of Vicks in boiling water. You can use a cough syrup with an expectorant and cough suppressant. Humidifiers can be good also. If this doesn't help, the baby needs to go to a health care professional.

Answer 3

Don't put Vicks on a baby. Ever. It's bad for a baby's lungs overall, but some people are allergic to it. Vicks breaks me out in a rash and causes an asthma attack.

Turn your shower or bathtub faucet on as hot as it will go and close the door with you and baby inside. Sit near to the tub- on the toilet, if it's close- so that the baby will inhale the steam. Turn the baby onto its tummy on your lap (or on your shoulder, as if you were burping them) and very, very gently pat their back. When you finish, stay in the bathroom and until the temperature of the room goes back to fairly normal (whatever it is for the rest of your house) before leaving.

Answer 4

Steam. Try running the whower at it's hottest temperature and let the baby inhale the steam. DO NOT!!!!!!!!! by any means put the baby in the water, just have them in the room, the steam will help to loosen the congestion and the sweat will help to remove virus and toxins.

Then keep them warm and let them return to normal temperature slowly so asn not to shck the system.

Answer 5

I'm assuming you've taken the baby to a doctor. Additionally, I always keep a hot steam vaporizer in the house. This not only helps loosen phlegm in babies, but in adults, and allows clear breathing and sleep.

Answer 6

saline nasal drops are recomended for decongestion these days.
an anti-histamine like 'piriton' helps in drying up secretions.
warm/moist air also helps.
'decongestants' like pseudafed are effective, but they tend to cause a REBOUND of symptoms when stopped, so they are not encouraged these days.

Answer 7

put vicks vapor rub on your chest and neck and hold your baby.
or if your baby doesnt mind put the vabor rub on his chest.
cool mist humidifier with distilled water works too.
(make sure you sterilize it daily so it doesnt grow mold.)
the hot steam can worsen the symptoms. Dont do that! it is an old wives tale. cold air shrinks the tissues and helps breathing.

avoid cold medicine and cough syrups if possible, they contain all kinds of additives including saccharin which has caused cancer in laboratory animals, and food dyes which cause a multitude of adverse symptoms.

Answer 8

Usually you spread the legs by the anus and just blow real hard. Stand back as the snot flys all over.

Answer 9

If you think the baby has croup, see a doctor or ER.

Moist air may be of help, but PLEASE from a retired cop...seek medical help.

Answer 10

vaporizer works well and a caphorbag