Help with DD's congestion??

[megan4777]

DD#2 is 5 months old. She is very, very congested. I have tried saline and then using the bulb syringe to suction. I get everything out of her little nose but her head is filled. Unfortunately, she needs her pacifier to sleep and with her head being congested she falls asleep then gags and spits it out...starts to cry...gets even more congested...etc.

Can anyone offer any advice?

I was going to try a bath but she doesn't like them much and starts to cry and that seems to add to the problem. I also put her matress at an incline but she doesn't like laying there and starts to scream.
I was going to call the pediatrician but when she had this issue a few months ago they basically told me to do everything I already did and couldn't help much.

Thanks for any help

 

[justhat]

My daughter is going through this right now too. Try a humidifier. It helps my daughter a bit. Also, for baths, would she like a bath if you take her in the real tub with you? That's what we've been doing with my daughter since she was newborn (not so much anymore) and she loved baths that way. Hope she feels better soon!

 

[DarkSideMoon]

how about one of those vapor wall plug in thingies, with the medication in them.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Hugs! I remember those days. I would suction out the nose the best I could then hold DD in the glider so she was laying mostly upright in my arms and let her sleep that way. No I didn't get much sleep like that but it let her rest.

Have you called your Pediatrician to see if your daughter can take any type of pediatric cold medicine? I know they really don't like dosing them so young but sounds like the poor thing is just super miserable (and so is Mom!).

 

[Sandcass]

Bring her in the bathroom and get it real steamy with a hot shower. Just let her breathe the steam. It should help

 

[grlpwrd]

My little one is about your dd's age and she was congested a while ago and I did what you all did and I elevated her crib by placing a wedge beneath the head part so it would be easier on her to breath. It helped, but it also helped more when I held her so she could sleep more soundly. Of course, that made me ache being her mattress. lol

If you really think she is not getting better (ie fever?) and she has difficulty breathing and resting then please take her to her dr. because they may suggest an OTC medicine or prescribe something safe for her. Liquids are great to thin the mucus, but little one's may not want to drink as much and there is danger of dehydration and an ear infection (etc.) ...as I am sure you already know.

Hope she feels better and take care of yourself, too!

 

[megan4777]

Thank-you!! I totally forgot about the humidifier we had for DD#1. She used to need the humidifier but we put it away when she didn't need it anymore.
Hopefully this will work!!

I'll try the bath with her tomorrow. I just got her to sleep in her swing and I'm hoping she'll stay asleep. I think I'm staying on the couch in the same room b/c I don't want to risk trying to move her upstairs tonight. Last night she didn't fully go to sleep until 5 am (only 3.5 hrs before DD#1 gets up!!) so I had a rough night!

I wanted to add that she doesn't have a fever and she's still taking her bottle several times a day. She isn't eating cereal but I'm pretty sure it's due to the congestion. I think I may call the ped tomorrow but they probably can't do much.

Thanks again for all the help!!

 

[jfulcer]

We also tilted our DD's matress on occasion. That, making sure they wore warm clothes, and a humidifier were our friends. I'm sure your ped is going to be reluctant to give your DD anything - it sounds like she's eating and drinking and sleeping some. I know you're not a new parent, but I greet stories like this with the phrase "Welcome to parenting".

Sometimes Daddy got to sleep in the rocking chair with them too.

 

[nomie74]

Dimetapp infant drops, which is a decongestant she can take orally and/or Little Noses decongestant drops to put in the nose. You could try both of these and they should help clear her up.

 

[megan4777]

It's funny b/c DD#1 had this problem but it wasn't as bad as DD#2. DD#1 also stopped using the pacifier and sucked her thumb, instead. DD#2 really needs the pacifier at times and doesn't show signs of switching to her thumb.

Trust me, I would LOVE to make DH stay up with her but his sleep apnea is so bad that he's having surgery in the next month or so. He doesn't even wake up when she is screaming bloody murder.
I'm hoping that after the surgery he'll be useful again but I think I have to wait until Feb/March.

In the meantime, coffee and diet cherry pepsi are my best friends!!

 

[justhat]

Just wanted to say I hope your daughter is feeling a bit better today. We were up lots last night with my daughter coughing and vomiting (she vomits when she gets these coughing spells) so I can totally empathize with the lack of sleep. Oh, and my husband wakes up when he hears Madison coughing, but last night said he needed to sleep on the floor so she'd have more room? Not sure his reasoning, all I know is that it left me to deal with the coughing alone, which is one of the saddest things I have to watch Madison go through. Anyway, hope the humidifier helps. Oh, also, we got these Triaminic vapor patches and they seem to help a bit. I think they say for kids over 2yo though, but you can ask your dr about it. We stick them on my daughter's pjs (cause they got very stuck to her skin) and they do seem to help her with coughing a little less at night.

 

[jfulcer]

Trust me, I would LOVE to make DH stay up with her but his sleep apnea is so bad that he's having surgery in the next month or so. He doesn't even wake up when she is screaming bloody murder.
I'm hoping that after the surgery he'll be useful again but I think I have to wait until Feb/March.

Doesn't he have a CPAP machine? If he has a CPAP there's no reason he should not be able to hear. And if he can't that's what a good elbow in the ribs are for. I have the machine and I hear DD's crying before DW does...

 

[Tinijocaro]

My kids all slept in their carseats when they were congested, really helped keep their heads clearer.

Jackie

 

[MELSMICE]

I was going to mention using the swing or the infant seat/car seat for her to sleep in because she would be inclined.

Good luck - I remember those days.

 

[megan4777]

Doesn't he have a CPAP machine? If he has a CPAP there's no reason he should not be able to hear. And if he can't that's what a good elbow in the ribs are for. I have the machine and I hear DD's crying before DW does...

No, he doesn't have the machine, yet. He should be getting it soon b/c he's going to need it before and immediately after his surgery.
I frequently have to hit him just to get him to stop snoring but he doesn't remember anything in the morning. His sleep is so bad that he'll sit up to hold the baby for me and fall back to sleep before I can give her to him...

 

[megan4777]

I took DD#2 to the dr the other day b/c when I called for further help they mentioned a "breathing machine." That confused me and scared me at the same time. She definately is fine breathing unless she's congested.
Anyway, I got her in to see one of the drs (one that I don't particularly care for but I can't be picky) and she gave me stuffy noses decongestant drops. She also said that I can alternate the drops with orange triaminic.

She's definately doing better so thanks for all the help!!!

 

[Glynis]

I also second the motion for the plug in vaporizers by Sudafed. They have been a blessing for my twins.