12 years ago
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Calling all Home Remedies...
...or other suggestions to help get my kid breathing better. He is seriously congested. I hate to sound like I don't want to go to the doctor, but I don't. I am personally annoyed by people who take their kids to the doctor for every little runny nose. Sorry if you are one of them. I feel like it is getting worse. The last two nights he has blessed us with a 5:50 a.m. wake up and a 4:45 wake up, where he thinks it is time to play. He can't hardly keep his binky in his mouth, because when your nose is full of snot, then you breathe through your mouth. Well, if you plug up his mouth...you understand! Anyways, I am bulb syringing his nose (which he hates) and green snot if coming out. I bought a humidifier, which by the way was way more money than I wanted to spend. I also bought some baby vicks rub. Any other suggestions, or should I just call the doctors office?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
I am one that doesn't like to call the doctor either. Aubrey was really congested too last week. I just let it run it's course and now she's back to normal.
Okay, I don't know Taft's height and weight and age but, here's my two cents...
I'm with you about going to the doctor all the time. However, I don't hesitate to call if I have a question. If you get worried enough, just touch base with your pedi.
When Gabi was a baby, my pedi gave us a list of common medications and what dosage they could have for their weight. You might asking your doctor for an over the counter medication and how much Taft could have - at least so he could get some sleep.
If he doesn't have a fever, though, I wouldn't think he'd need to see a doctor.
When Gabi was a baby, I used to make sure she had lots of fluids, mostly just water as milk will make fluids thicker. Then, I would use Little Noses Saline Spray (for tiny ones). This was more effective than the bulb because it breaks up the snot before you suction it out.
I would also bath her in Johnsons Vapor Bath and Lotion. It really does help open their noses up.
And, lastly, if it was very bad, I would turn the shower on as hot as it would go. Let the bathroom get really steamy. Then, I'd hold Gabi while I sat nearby on the toilet or something. The steam would help break up all that gunk, cough some of it out, and feel a little better. It's basically a cheap humidifer.
Good luck! I know it's hard to take care of sick ones when they're so little and can't communicate what they need. But, no worries, a little love and TLC goes a long way.
Also, forgot to mention... have Taft sleep on an angle - that will help with his drainage and he might sleep more soundly. You can buy a wedge at baby stores or just pile up blankets under his crib. When they sleep flat, the snot just pools and makes the congestion worse.
I'm with Holli! Great advice.
He may have an ear infection. Lexi just got over one. Symptoms include a green runny nose, sometimes a fever (lexi didn't have a fever though). She had a hard time breathing and sleeping too. I finally took her in and she did have an ear infection and we have her an antibiotic and it worked great. It will get worse if its not treated...I think. Anyway, just an idea.
Also one thing i was told to try is there are some drops called little noses for congestion. i was told after i syringed to put a couple of drops in each nose. good luck!
I talked to Rebecca my sis (she has lots of experience w/ sick kids) and yeah, on time Meredith had an ear infection and rebecca didn't know and just kept giving her bottles and finally after several days/weeks, puss came out of her ears. Not to scare you, but I would get him checked for an ear infection. They DO NOT have to have a fever to have an ear infection...like I said, Lexi didn't and I was hesitant to bring her in, but I'm glad I did b/c she did have an infection and slept soooo much better after being treated.
I dont like taking my kid in either, but at the same time, I end up doing so...in fact when we moved here we were in every 2 weeks for 6 months. I better get a time share out of the docs' vacation home! Anyway, the one thing that has kept contant with these 'colds' are elevate the bed, or child during sleep...so with Kason's bed I just put a flat pillow under his crib mattress, so that he was at an angle. We always used the humidifier. Someone (not a doc) told me to rub the baby's vics on their feet and put socks them. Other than that I really can't think of anything else. I hope he feels better soon!
Does your humidifier use the liquid vicks vapor? I have one that will let me pour liquid vicks vapor into a small part near the top where the steam comes out. Then the steam smells like vicks and in turn has helped us tons with congested kids. I always tried to get mine to sleep in the bouncer if they were congested but it just depends on the kid and how much they like to be able to roll around at night. The saline drops do work really well to it seems to make the sucking of snot more effective. A good way to tell if they have an ear infection is to get them calm and happy and then tug on each ear. Usually my kids will then get fussy if one or both ears are being messed with and they hurt. Sometimes they have had an ear infection and I haven't even known about it until we are at the doctor for something else. Hope he feels better soon.
Ok, here is my two cents...I do take mine to the doc for most things, although our doc is right across the street and it literally takes me 2 1/2 minutes to get there. (Makes a big difference when the trip is zero hassle.) I actually contemplated this question today as I was deciding whether or not to take Kalli to the doc. She has these strange bites on her leg that looked infected but were starting to look better this morning. I decided to take her anyway. Turns out one of them is STAFF!! ahhh!! And, she has a strep throat!! No fever, does not even have a sore throat! Staff is scary stuff. Didn't even cross my mind that is what it might be! Holy cow! What is really strange is that she did not even have symptoms of strep. My other scary "almost" story is a few years ago with Tanner. He had a cough and runny nose. Thought about waiting another couple of days to see if it would run its course but decided to take him in anyway. He was in respiratory distress and was immediately admitted to the hospital with pneumonia!! He stayed in the hospital four days. I have also made the doc trip and been told to just give plenty of fluids! ugh! Moral of the story...you just never know T. Trust that still small voice!
Love you all and hope to see you at Thanksgiving!!
The other "T"
I'm so curious, what did you end up doing?
So Jay started having this problem when he was about the same age as Taft. The thing that saved us was the Vick's Vapor plugs. They really work. And unlike the vapor rub, it doesn't come off. It helps him breath so much better!!! And our Pedi. really recommended them for little children. Maybe give them a try. We are using them for Jay right now since he is a little congested so that it doesn't get any worse. Let me know how if works for you if you try it.
Well, the snot actually turned more of a yellow clear so I haven't taken him to the doctor. He is sleeping better, breathing better, but still congested. I am just using the chest rub and humidifier and sucking out the gunk after giving him a squirt of saline.
Post a Comment