Winter cold...what can I do?

beachbum482

Hi all! My 7 week old LO has had a dry cough for a couple days now with some congestion and more sneezing than usual. Sometimes he coughs so hard he gags a little bit which is scary because it sounds like he is choking. But then after he is fine - smiling and happy like it was fun!! He doesn't have a fever and seems to be in relatively good spirits. He's eating (I BF) fine too. Since it just seems like a common cold should I just let it run its' course or is there something I should be doing to help improve his symptoms? Obviously there isn't a medicine that is safe at this age. 

Diver10

Bulb suction frequently. Nasal saline drops before suctioning. Things to watch out for at his age: fever = go to the ER, eating enough for appropriate wet diapers, watch for difficulty breathing nasal flaring, seeing the skin between ribs going in dramatically, head bobbing, etc. You could also try a cool mist humidifier in the room to help loosen congestion. Other tip would be to turn the shower on hot and close the bathroom door. The steam in the room helps loosen congestion. It's really all supportive care.

Tennis Chick

Everything PP said. Our LO was battling a cold for a couple of days then turned into a nasty viral infection (complete with a temp of 103 that landed us in the ER). If you notice he/she starts to struggle to breathe at all or cant/wont eat because they can't breathe take them into your pedi to be screened for rsv. 
Some people do not agree with it and depending on your LO's age, but our pedi suggested using baby vicks on his feet at night to help with congestion. It has surprisingly helped a ton.