OT-Toddler with cold

[jms531]

DD (2) has had a cold (her first time sick!) for a couple days now and she's just miserable I know I can't give her any cold medicine but was just wondering if there are any "home" remidies or tricks for when your little one has a cold/cough/runny nose etc.

I think if she sees me running after her with a kleenex one more time she might pack her bags and run away from home

TIA!

 

[TiggerStac]

There is a plug in night lite thing that I use for my DS.

It makes the room smell like vicks. It was about 7-8 for the base and $5 for maybe 6 of the inserts.

 

[Mom2m&k]

Put vicks on her feet with socks when she goes to sleep. It works wonders!

 

[aidtrismommy]

Both my kids are sick right now (ages 3 and 1) They key is making them as comfortable as possible and to wait it out. Before bed put A&D cream on her nose (it will create a barrier from frequent nose wiping and help heal the painful skin) I use vicks on their chest before bed and agree with previous poster about the plug-in kind. I also use a humidifier to keep air moist. (not sure if it does too much) It will get better, my youngest had fevers for three days, I just used tylenol and today he is much better. Just make her comfortable, offer her lots of fluids, and give her many opportunities to rest (not so much it interferes with bedtime, that would be horrible advice)

 

[mamacatnv]

I'm just curious - it has been a long time since mine were that little. Why can't you give them a decongestant to help them sleep? Dimetapp was my friend.

Also, the Vicks on the feet works like a charm, especially with a cough.

 

[Lstar311]

I run the shower before bedtime and let DS breathe in the steam. We also plug a cool mist humidifier in his room and elevate his mattress with blankets. Be careful with the Vicks on their chests, I remember reading something about it for kids under a certain age, but I'm not sure exactly what it was.

 

[Cars2006]

I'm just curious - it has been a long time since mine were that little. Why can't you give them a decongestant to help them sleep? Dimetapp was my friend.

Also, the Vicks on the feet works like a charm, especially with a cough.

You can no longer give children under the age of 5 cold medicine (parents were over medicating the little ones). Everything on the shelve are for five and older. This is the first cold season I went without giving them anything for their coughs and two weeks later they still have it. I have been giving them honey mixed with lemon juice. I really miss cold medicine.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

DD (2) has had a cold (her first time sick!) for a couple days now and she's just miserable I know I can't give her any cold medicine but was just wondering if there are any "home" remidies or tricks for when your little one has a cold/cough/runny nose etc.

I think if she sees me running after her with a kleenex one more time she might pack her bags and run away from home

TIA!

call your peditrician and ask about otc's. We use Zyrtex (for 2 yr olds-OTC), we have also been told to use a decongestent . So, sometimes there are things out there you can use. The shower, vicks, A&D ointment all things I use also. Also love "Boggie WIPES"
they have a saline solution that helps clean a runny nose with out the constant dry rub of tissue and without the rash a diaper wipe will eventually leave. Good luck!

 

[bumbershoot]

Instead of using paper tissues, why not get some soft handkerchiefs instead? Those are much nicer on noses.

The other reason the medications are not supposed to be used on littles anymore is b/c they actually weren't found to help the illness at all. Make them pass out yes, make them any better? Not found in studies.


Other than love and hugs and liquids and such (if you're still nursing, I tell ya, that's the BEST thing to help a toddler through it!), we also use carefully chosen single remedy homeopathics. But I only recommend that if you have a homeopath OR you're not a newbie, b/c it's easy to suppress symptoms that will just cause problems later (and if you are of homeopathic mind, that's yet another reason why to not use the western medications!).

 

[HGD24]

I'm sorry your little one is not feeling well. When our DD has a cold, we use saline drops called Little Noses and a cool mist humidifier. Both seem to really help. Our pedi is really into organics and natural things and recommended the Little Noses. I hope your little one feels better very soon.

 

[DISNEYNV]

Both of my kids have colds right now too! Actually I think thisis the worst " sickness" winter ever! They have gotten everything under the sun... From the stomach bug to strep! I am waiting for my DD to finish preschool so she stops sharing the germs with her little friends then with us and her little brother.

Our pediatrician will not prescribe anything for a cold... just lots of rest, liquids, cool mist humidifier, and tylenol. I would be careful of the vicks. I have heard that the vapors can burn little ones throats! I think it's the one thatyou put in the humidifier or the plug in ones. If their room is small I wouldn't use either. I have heard about the foot thing before and that is said to work. I think they still sell baby vicks rub too. I think their colds do last much longer now. As long as there is not a high fever you just have to ride it out.

 

[jms531]

Thanks for all the suggestions! DD had a humidifier in her room running and I've been trying to give her tylenol but she spits it out violently (she used to love it a couple months ago when she had a fever go figure!) so then she ends up back in the tub because she's covered in grape tylenol. She won't eat but has been drinking all day and we've been watching Disney movies all day long (which isn't all that bad!)
These things just have to run their course-but it's so heartbreaking to see their little noses all chapped!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Saline drops, tylenol, kleenex, and a humidifier! If they're really bad, try to elevate the mattress they sleep on. We would put blankets down and put their fitted sheet over them. Even a little bit of lift will help with the drainage.

 

[anna08]

At bedtime I put a good thick layer of Vaseline or Balmex skin protectant on/under the nose and on the cheeks (they get so chapped too!) and try to elevate their heads with a firm pillow so they hopefully will sleep a bit longer. Saline spray/drops are good for a really stuffy nose. I've somehow never found humidifier to help, but I will also take him into a hot steamy shower before bed to get him to blow his nose well. Tylenol or motrin at bedtime is very helpful too. Sadly, my little guy will often need to be held upright to sleep, and my husband and I will take turns sleeping upright in a chair...oh so tired those nights...I will be glad when cold season is over...Wishing you both some rest!

 

[kpadalik]

Does the Vicks on the feet work for adults too? My DD6 and my DH both have nasty cough/colds. I'll try it with both of them, I think!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Oh, and if Vaseline or Balmex doesn't clear up the chapped nose, try Aquaphor. It's a super-thick moisturizer. My pediatrician swore by it and I use it for lots of chapped spots (knees, hands, cheeks).

 

[pooh4evr]

you can give them something you just have to be careful- people were giving their kids multiple meds with the same medicines in them before- like tylenol cold and tylenol- just read the labels carefully and measure properly (said by my ped last month) personally i like motrin cold if they have a fever- if not triaminic, and dimatap work well too.

 

[pickleo]

My son (16 months old) seems to always have a cold. This time he has a sinus infection and an ear infection. He is on another round of antibiotics...stronger this time. I have to suggest, BOOGIE WIPES...they are found in the medicine section of stores, but they are the best. They are wet clothes (similar to wipes), but they have saline in them to help with little chapped noses. Tylenol also has a new saline out for kids...works great too!

Which all my suggestions made my son more comfortable!!!