Suggestions???

Question

My daughter is 4 months and has a really bad cough. I called her doctor and they said there is not much they can do for infants with a cold. Her nose is runny and her eyes are watery. I've been giving her pedialyte, since she doesn't really want to eat. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

How should I treat my baby's cold?
No medicine will make a virus go away faster, but you can help your baby feel better and prevent the infection from getting worse by making sure he gets plenty of rest and liquids. For babies under 4 months, that means breast milk or formula. At 4 months your baby can also have a little water, and at 6 months he can start drinking juices.

Since most children can't master nose blowing until about age 4, here are a few ways to help ease your baby's congestion:

• Tip your baby's head back and squeeze over-the-counter saline (salt water) drops into his nostrils to loosen up the mucus. Then suction out the liquid and mucus a few minutes later with a rubber bulb syringe. If your baby is having trouble nursing with a stuffy nose, try this tactic about 15 minutes before a feeding. He'll then be able to breathe and suck at the same time. Apply petroleum jelly to the outside of your baby's nostrils to reduce irritation. (Don't use nasal sprays on your baby unless his doctor says it's okay. They may work temporarily but can cause a rebound effect in which the congestion gets worse with continued use.)

• Use a humidifier or a cool-mist vaporizer to moisten the air in your baby's room. Or take your baby into the bathroom with you, turn on the hot water, close the door, and sit in the steamy room for about 15 minutes. A warm bath can accomplish the same thing.

• Elevate the head of your baby's mattress by placing a couple of towels between the head of the mattress and the crib springs. Sleeping at a slight incline may help relieve his postnasal drip, but don't overdo it. If your baby is a restless sleeper, he could end up flipping around so his feet are higher than his head, defeating the purpose of the elevation. (Never use pillows to prop up your baby as they could suffocate him. And don't put anything under the legs of the crib because that could make it unstable.) You might even consider letting your baby snooze in his car seat in a semi-upright position.

Answer 2

If she is still eating and having wet diapers, they are correct, the is really nothing anyone can do. But continually watch if she is having wet diapers, if not she can become dehydrated quickly. You can giver her infant medicines for cough and runny nose, to help ease her pain and suffering through a cold. We all know how you feel when you have a cold, we are miserable!

If her cough gets worse, or she looks like she is having a hard time breathing, I would take her back. They can do a test for RSV ( a virus infants under the age 1 can get) and treat her with antibiotics.

But, its that time of the season, and she probably has a common cold.

Answer 3

Actually, I'm quite surprised that your doctor didn't have you bring her in to check out her cough! (It doesn't mention you taking her in, in your question.) Four months is still quite young, and there is a LOT they can do-- rule out RSV and pneumonia, for instance. At least you could rest a little more easily at night when you hear your baby coughing, knowing that it really *isn't* anything serious.

RSV is running rampant this winter, and can be very serious for a young baby. I'm generally a "wait, watch, and see" type of parent, but if I had a young infant with a bad cough this winter, I'd be taking him/her in to rule out the more serious illnesses, just for my peace of mind. And chewing out the doctor who blew me off. It may be true that there's little they can do for a viral cold/cough, but there is MUCH they can do to ensure that that's all it really is. RSV and pneumonia are so much easier to treat and recover from when caught early. I urge you to have your baby seen, and not take any chances.

Good luck, and I hope your daughter is feeling well soon!

Answer 4

Your doctor is right. Over the counter remedies for coughs are rarely effective. You are doing pretty much all you can do--trying to keep her comfortable. You might want to suck out her nose with the bulb-syringe to try to keep her a little more clear. Otherwise, let her sleep if she wants and she'll feel better soon. Hang in there!

Answer 5

put a humidifier in her room and prop up her mattress a little while she sleeps and use saline nose drops and suck her nose out frequently this helps allot do that at least everytime beofre you feed her a bottle if not more you will be suprised how much that natural saline helps and you can use it as often as you want since it is not a medicine
good luck we hate it when our little ones are sick specially that young hope she gets better soon

Answer 6

Well if it's a cold, if she's sleeping in the crib at night elevate the matress,humidifier at night,baby vicks vapor rub,saline nose drops and bulb,steam baths.

Answer 7

you are definetly doing the right thing one more thing to break up the cough is to fill a bathroom with steam and sit in there with her for a few min. it will help her cough good luck!!

Answer 8

mix whiskey, honey, and seven up or any white soda or even water..equal parts and have them drink..it don't take a lot
I took my daughter into the emergency room and thats what the nurse gave her at three a.m..with a bad cough...the whiskey helps break up the congestion...and it won/t hurt for you to have a hot toddy too...they are good with a bit of lemon tooo

Answer 9

Use a vaporizor with liquid vapor steam by vicks! It helps sooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!!!!

Answer 10

A HUMIDIFIER OR VAPORIZER WORKS WONDERS. PUT IT IN HER ROOM WHILE SHE SLEEPS. kEEP IT RUNNING IT THE HOUSE, YOUCAN SOMETIMES USE VICKS OR KAZ WITH THEM, THEY REALLY HELP WITH THE STUFFINESS!! GO TO BABYCENTER.COM FOR MORE TIPS!