Congestion - San Antonio,TX

I looked through the other responses and didn't see if anyone else suggested a battery-powered nasal aspirator (like the bulb, but SOOO much easier!). Gerber makes a great one. It is rather gross to clean the phlem out of the collection cup, but I have more success with that type than the ones that collect in a disposable "balloon". My daughter has low muscle tone and so doesn't have a strong cough to get rid of the phlem. The saline (we like the spray can kind, like Simply Saline) and the battery operated syringe do the trick. When she was younger, we also propped up the head of her bead (cereal bowls under the feet of the bed) to help the phlem drain out of her sinuses. Hope that helps and good luck!

My 10 mth old has the same problem. Frequent suctioning is about it. She's been on various meds here and there and they don't do a thing. Before feeding and at nighttime, I will use saline prior to changing her diaper. That gives it a minute to sink in and work and then suction away. The suction bulbs they give you at the hospital when they are born really are the only ones that get a good suction and clear the nose out. There are some battery operated ones you can get, but that didn't work very well for us either. The good old green ones from the hospital are the only ones I've had luck with.

Good luck. I know how frustrating it can be.

I pretty much agree with all the advice you've received, but you should also make sure your A/C filter has been changed recently. We have lots of dirt, dust, and dander...I change mine about every other month. Unless you have a newer HVAC system, the super heavy duty filters may be to taxing on your system and not do what it needs to (move air)...so don't buy a $30 allergenic filter unless you know it can handle it.

Hi P.,
I read all the responses and since noone mentioned "Breast Milk" I thought I would share with you this remedy. I have lived in Norway for 20 years where they are very healthy and nature-minded. We moved back to the US 3 years ago. My daughter still lives there and has just given birth to her 2nd daughter 6 months ago. They were here in Texas for a 3 month stay. She just went home a week ago :o( While they were here her baby girl got the same thing as your baby. With the first signs of onset of congestion, etc... MY DAUGHTER PUT BREASTMILK UP HER BABYS NOSE!!! I thought to myself...what the heck is she doing???? But, a few times administered and the baby was well! She never even got worse! She also got an eye infection and my daughter squirted breastmilk in her eye for it to go away. IT WORKED! Breastmilk has alot of wonderful things in it that fight infections naturally. I highly recommend it! As my daughter was leaving I came down with a doosy of a cold, conjestion, lungs, nose...you name it. I couldnt breathe and had to sleep sitting up (suffer from coughing and asthma...so everything goes right to my lungs). Out of desperation I decided to use the breastmilk on myself!!! Two days and I was as good as new! I used it a 3rd day to be sure and now I still have a little phlegm but have been working out and all without missing a beat! Just thought I'd let you know. All the nurses, hospitals, etc.. in Norway use this remedy and I found out that they do it in Mexico as well. Otherwise seems few people have heard about it. Good luck! and GET WELL SOON for your little one.

Hi P.,
Sorry that your little one is not very happy. It is very difficult when babies get sick this young. You have received very good advice here. I just wanted to let you know that good thing that your baby is vomiting phlem, the more he/she does this the faster he/she will get better.

Sending you a hug,
Elisa M

P.,

So sorry for both you and baby. My son also had this problem from a young age. I agree with many responses - it's not fun, but use the saline and bulb often, the cool mist humidifier helped us a great deal too. The best thing we did (at about 2 months) was purchase the Nap Nanny. It's a wedge we put in his bed that keeps him at a steep incline for sleeping. He used this until about 7 months before things were much better and we were able to lay him flat again.

Good luck!!!!

It may be a food allergy. If he is bottle fed, try a non-milk based formula. If you are nursing, cut out all dairy.

The saline will work. It takes a while.

Be sure to put saline in your young ones nose every 30 minutes.

My suggestion would be to turn on the shower as hot as you can and let the bathroom steam up and then sit with your baby as close to the steam as possible - this works like a vaporizer just better. One other thing would be to go get the vicks plug ins...You cant put Vicks rub on them but I got a vicks thing that you plug into the wall and plugged it in for a couple of hours before my son went to sleep and that helped a lot...I unplugged it so it wouldnt get too strong but it def. helped him sleep better. Other than that there is not much else you can do for a baby so young....My son is 12 weeks and had the same issue a few weeks ago.

I used a humidifier and it worked really well with congestion.

My son had the same thing. Clear lungs but always sounded like he was rattling. He was a mouth breather. We went through all the breathing treatments, ear tubes, removed adenoids, etc. You have to treat the problem. Eliminate the source of the phlegm producer. My son's pediatrician put him on Singulair and Nasonex and that's what fixed the problem. It was allergies... Go figure.
But one word of advice on the suctioning bulb thing - make sure you clean it after each use. I learned the hard way and kept introducing the bad bacteria back into his nose. UGH! I felt like such a dummy. But live and learn.
Now he just uses Nasonex during his specific allergy season.

Good luck!!

I agree with the allergy related replies. I think the bulb syringe and vaporizer are good remedies, but you might look into allergies as the cause. Maybe start with diet, yours if you breastfeed or a different formula. I know how frustrating and scary it can be to listen to your baby choking and gurgling all night long, I did not sleep much for those months.

P., it is a PAIN to do this, but it's really the best thing. You really need to just suction the baby and use saline often. THe baby hates it, you hate it - it's AWFUL, but it is the best thing to do. The humidifier/vaporizer is also a great idea.

My only suggestion is an essential oil blend that you can add to the vaporizer called Breathe Easier. If you have a local natural food/health store in town, they will probably carry it (the brand I have is Wyndmere). It's a synergistic blend of EOs, which means that each one of the EOs they use in it work together to achieve results. If you go that route, don't be put off by the cost - my small bottle cost $9, but it goes a long way and is a big plus over giving a baby unnecessary medication! Just a few drops added to the water can help.

P.,

When my son was sick with cough/congestion, he too was too young for any medication and his doctor's nurse told me to do steam treatments. Turn on the shower (hot water) and shut the door behind you for a couple of minutes. Once the bathroom is filled with steam, you and your baby go in the bathroom and breath in the steam for about 3-5 minutes. It will seem like a long time, but it will help clear out the congestion. Do this a couple times a day and continue to do what the doctor instructed you to do.

God Bless,
E.

Well, I have had this problem from birth, including ear infections. I finally found out that I'm allergic to cow's milk! My youngest daughter had excema while I was nursing her and I took the milk out of my diet and her excema cleared up and my allergy symptoms improved as well!

I have a 4 month old and he has the same problems over and over. This is what has worked for us.
1. Try a humidfier insted of the vaporizer (run it 24/7)
2. Have him sleep in an upright position (in his swing, bouncer, car seat) When my son is really bad I move the swing into my room at night and run 2 humidifers. That way he is right there next to me and I can hear him right away.
3. Suction his nose before he eats or sleeps (I know this is hard but the more you get out of his nose the better he will sleep/eat)
4. Use the saline and wait a few minutes before suctioning.
5. If it gets really bad take him into the bathroom with the door closed and run the shower with hot water. The steam will help get things out.

Good Luck! Hope this helps!

You've received great advice from Jessica R. and Karen N. One thing I have not seen in any of the responses is chiropractic. My youngest son had MAJOR congestion at 2 weeks of age. I KNEW that all the dr. would tell me was to rinse with saline often and suction twice a day. Took him to the doc, and sure enough, that was the advice. At my own chiropractic appt., I mentioned the situation to my chiro. He recommended an adjustment. Being at my wits end, I agreed but was skeptical that it would help. It not only helped, it solved the problem! Within 30 minutes of the adjustment, MAN sized amounts of plegm came out of my 7 lb. baby boy. It was disgusting and incredible, all at the same time. After that, all of the congestion was gone. He went on to have severe food allergies, so congestion and ear infections became a huge problem after I stopped breast feeding. I ended up going to goat's milk since he was allergic to cow's milk and soy. To this day (he is now 3 1/2 yrs.), I take him to the chiro when he gets congested. EVERY SINGLE TIME, he coughs or sneezes out chunks of congestion after an adjustment, and he has never needed an antibiotic. The adjustment takes away the pain of the ear ache and then the fluids drain and no further treatment is needed. I recommend a chiropractor who is trained in pediatrics. Many of them are not pediatric trained.

It looks like you have received many responses so I just wanted to briefly mention the possibility of reflux. The reflux can thicken the saliva and cause them to choke and sound congested. This exact thing happened to my daughter. She was only 10 days old and I awoke to her choking. We had to take her to the hospital to have her suctioned and shortly after that she was diagnosed with reflux. I am not trying to diagnose your little one, but just wanted to give you more info to consider. My daugther is 9 months old now and doing great on Prevacid.

I used euclyptus oil to help my son last winter. Look up the benefits...I don't remember. you can find it very inexpensive at the Vitamin Shoppe. Don't you hate that you can't do more? I put a cotton ball of the oil on the vaporizor so it would fill the room. Putting vicks on their feet and then putting socks on them sometimes helps. And no milk products because this produces more phlegm.

Hi P.
Sorry your little one is having these issues- you might try changing your laundry detergent for his clothing and bedding- He could be inhaling some residue left in the fabric causing him to have these allergy like systems. If you do not know of any toxin free and chemical free laundry products PM me and I will send you a link and the research links as well.
good luck and blessings

Hi P.,

I'm so sorry you and your little one are going through this. My son suffered with cold after cold for the first year, starting at the age of 6 weeks. It is so hard, but it really is the only safe thing to do. Antihistimines are dangerous for such small people and do not even work on very small children. I know how frustrating and frightening it is, but the bulb, syringe and cool mist vaporizer are really the best tools we have.

I hope he is better soon!

I couldn't tell from your post whether you were breastfeeding or not. Either way, consider getting your baby off milk based products (your consumption of milk if you are nursing or switching to soy-based formula if you are not). Dairy makes you form more mucous and shoul help your baby. Also, consider having your baby sleep on his tummy at least during the daytime to avoid choking. If your baby is sleeping in the same room with you, try having him sleep on his tummy during the nighttime as well--provided your home is environmentally friendly (i.e. you have NOT just installed new carpeting, new wallpaper, vinyl blinds, new paint, new furniture, etc.). Our 2nd and 3rd slept on their tummy at night and they sleep much better and it will reduce their risk of choking. Good Luck!

Have you considered a cows milk allergy? An allergy to cows milk could cause congestion. This is what we went through with our daughter. The fact that he vomited the milk is also suspicious and leads me to think of a milk allergy. (by the way, a infant/toddler phase allergy to cows milk proteins is one of the most common childhood allergies. Typically the child will outgrow it by age 3-6.

Not sure if you are breast feeding or giving him formula. If you're breast feeding, you would need to cut out all diary for a few weeks to see if his congestion improves. If you are giving him formula, try a non-dairy one.

I have additional info on cows milk allergies and will try to forward it to you later.