Baby with a cold: help

11dematosk · February 2014

My son has a cold, with runny nose and itchy eyes but no fever. Should I take him to the doctor? What else with the tell me besides humidifier and plenty of fluids and rest? I just went in there a week ago because his hand was purple and it turns out he was just cold, so I don't want to go if they just will tell me what I already know. Opinions? I'm a FTM and I am not sure what to do.

BelhurstBride · February 2014

No. A cold does not warrant a trip to the doctor's.

You could add some eucalyptus oil to the humidifier, we also add lavender. Baby Vicks might help ease the congestion, too. Sleeping at an incline may help, too. You can stick a couple of tuna cans under one end of the crib or a towel under the mattress. Or just stick him in the swing.

That's about all you can do.

Ffrey1119 · February 2014

Lots of liquids if you are breastfeeding continue to as much as possible sane with ff.
I would get some saline and the suck the boogies out, keep clearing the nose it will help lo breath and get rid if the bacteria filled boogers

11dematosk · February 2014

@BelhurstBride i put him in his swing a half hour ago and he just fell asleep now. Thank you for the crib tip. I'll have to buy a humidifier.
@Ffrey1119 It seems too runny to suck out. It just drips out so Ive been using tissues.

Ffrey1119 · February 2014

Agreed totally, but when I have a runny nose I occasionally blow my nose for relief, the buld syringe may not be as suffient as the nose fredia.

AprilRaine · February 2014

Yep, I wouldn't bother with a dr trip for a cold either. I second the humidifier, saline solution, and I put a little baby Vicks on the feet with sockies on over that so he doesn't suck his toes.
Hope he's feeling better really soon!

Revez · February 2014

Humidifier, baby Vicks on soles of feet with socks over top, saline drops and nose frida, lots of fluids, sleeping on an incline. Tylenol if there's a fever. That's pretty much all you can do.

I actually took LO into the steamy bathroom with me the other day which I think really helped.

11dematosk · February 2014

Why the vicks on his feet?

kwrecks · February 2014

My LO has the same issue....and I brought her in. With the flu going around, I just got really nervous that it was something other than just a cold. Turns out, she has a head and chest cold. The doctor told me to do all of the thing suggested up there....sleep on an incline, bring her in the bathroom with a steamy shower, humidifier, suck the snot out, etc. They said if her cough continues to get worse though, that they would call in a prescription for an inhaler. So I wouldn't bring him in unless its really bad and he's having a hard time breathing.

Revez · February 2014

11dematosk said:

Why the vicks on his feet?

It's supposedly less strong that way, still has the benefits without being over whelming. My doctor recommended it last time LO was sick. If your LO likes to take his socks off and suck on his toes though, I wouldn't suggest it.

Soleil3 · February 2014

I'll be the dissenting opinion, you might want to call and see if your ped wants to see him. Sometimes the doctor likes to have a baseline for the sickness, so if it does continue longer than it should they can know what to do at that point.

mommabmb · February 2014

I was told that any baby under 6mo to call the doc and just let them know he's sick to see if they want to see them. Apparently, they get ear infections easily (increased, I'm told, with the sleeping on the back movement) and babies are too young to tell us they hurt.

I didn't follow this advice last time, and Joel's cold has balooned into a double ear infection. It was so bad, when she went in to look at our last ear check, pus and blood streamed out. I realize that's gross, but I just wanted to share.

If I could do it over again, I'd have taken him in after a few days just to feel more comfortable.

FWIW, the advice our ped gave us for the cold: humidifier, inclined bed to help with drainage, dress warmly for bed, try to keep the feeding schedule normal, and spend some time cuddling so baby learns you're there to help.

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