Questions on Cold Vs. Allergies Vs. Something Else?

We have had this problem with our 2 year old basically all winter. She hasn't had the stuffy nose as much but has had the cough, mostly at night and in the morning, off and on for a long time. I ask my doctor about it just last week and he suggested starting her on Claritin. The have a childrens formula and you can also get it in the generic brand. Yes the humidifier will also help. We started one in our girls room a couple weeks ago and it has helped with the cough but not eliminated it. I would say treat it as allergies, especially if dad has them. We are getting into major allergy season so it will probably only get worse.

I agree that it sound like it could be allergies. Contact your doctor about the possibility of some allergy medicine, but do not get anything over the counter without checking with the doctor first, as they do not recommend a lot of the things for children under the age of 2.
I would also avoid any milk or dairy products after dinner, and encourage her to up her intake of water, since that will help thin any mucus that might be causing her problems.
You might try keeping a food journal and see if you can find a link between certain foods and increased problems.
Good luck!!
R. Ann

Hi!

My daughter and baby have the same thing. I havent taken them to the doctor because neither has a fever. They have runny nose and cough, but not all the time, just here and there, and my daughter is mostly at night. I try not to take the kids in for every runny nose, it gets expensive. I mean if they have a fever, sure.
We live in a newer house, and we have been sick a lot this year too. Well my kids and husband have, for some reason I havent gotten much (knock on wood). I guess its so I can take care of them! But whenever I here that something is going around, they get it!! I almost think its because we just took my son to his 6 month check up, they probably got it from the doctors office. Maybe thats why we are sick so much, all the babys check-ups and sick kids at the doctors office. Who knows! But our ped said a runny nose/cough could last up to 2-3 weeks!

you can give her Zyrtec, that will help with the stuffiness and the Allergies. We have been giving our daughter that since she was about 1, she is almost 3 now. Call your doctor and ask