what do i do for a sick baby?

Question

My son is 3 months old. He is a little bit congested and has a cough that sounds horrible. He is not terribly sick, he's still in a pretty good mood, but i was wondering if there was anything that i could give a baby that young for a cough? either medicine or a home remedy that worked for you. thanks

it's not like i was going to do whatever someone online told me to....i was just asking for some suggestions.

Answer 1

Being 3 months old I would take him to the Dr. At this age its better to be safe than sorry. Babies at this age can contract RSV, or croup. Both can become very serious if left untreated.
If you need to get through the night..I would call the ER at the hospital near you and ask about using VICKS VAPOR RUB..and also if you have a humidifier, i would run that in baby's room while sleeping.
As far as cough syrups go, as far as I know there isn't anything over the counter babies that young. Although you may ask a nurse when you call the ER.
If for any reason the baby seems to be " barking " while coughing..sounding like a seal...go to the ER directly.
If it seems he's just coughing up stuff than may be draining from the back of his throat..I would prop him up while he sleeps to help it drain down and not into the lungs.
I would call your Drs. office and explain his symptoms tomorrow and ask if they think he needs brought in..usually they will tell you it sounds serious, or no it doesn't. At least my Drs. office does.
Good luck.

Answer 2

Hi- I agree with everyone that you should at least call your doctor, but as far as making your baby more comfortable goes, you can turn on the shower really hot and keep the bathroom door closed until it's all steamy and then sit in the bathroom somewhere and hold your baby. The warm, moist air will really help clear out any chest congestion. My baby got a cold when he was 4 months old and that really helped. I ended up going to the doctor, though, because of my own worrying, and they prescribed him an inhaler and a little device for babies. He hated it, though!

Answer 3

Take him to the doc. Get him checked, then probably do nothing. Kids get sick, they usually get better. If he gets an okay from the doc and he seems in a good mood, he'll be okay. You would know if he wasn't himself.
Cough medicines aren't proven to work. Humidity can increase mould spores.
See what the doctor says rather than an Internet stranger.

Answer 4

Don't give cold medicine at such a young age, pediatricians advice against it. Put a humidifier in his room...that usually helps. Maybe some vicks vapor rub that may make him a little less congested.

Answer 5

You can give him infant cough medicine--call the doc and ask for the correct dose based on his weight.

If he's having a cough where he sounds like a seal or is whooping between coughs, he needs to go to the doctor. He is not fully immunized against whooping cough (the DPT shot), and needs to be medically supervised.

Answer 6

For chest congestion - take him to the doctor… could be respiratory infections/ problem, or allergic bronchitis…

If it’s a stuffy nose...
Use a warm mist humidifier while he sleeps
fill an eye dropper with breastmilk, lay him down... gently and quickly empty the dropper into his nose... he will sneeze and help get it out..

Answer 7

Don't EVER give an infant or a child under 2 a single damn thing without talking to a doctor first.

So many children die every year because their parents pour OTC crap down their throats.

Please take your boy to the doctor.

If he doesn't have a fever and doesn't seem to be in distress, it may just be residual mucus trying to clear his system...but why risk it?? Take him to the doctor please.

Answer 8

Benylin has an infant cough suppressant, decongestant. Use that at night... it's important that they cough though!!! It gets all the junk out.
Also try a "vapour plug in"... talk to the pharmacist.

Answer 9

Unless you are amish or live in Botswana, take the kid to a doctor!