Running Nose

Ithink it could be allergies. Lots of people and doctors do not think babies can have them but I know that is and was my babies problem around this time each year.

It could have something to do with teething, a cold, or allergies :-). There's realy no way to know other than give it time.
Typically, a runny nose that lasts more than 10 days is a reason to call the doctor. What started out as a cold could become an ear infection or sinus infection at that point, so the doc might want to check her ears. My son has had ear infections without fever before.

My first child went through a lot of congestion/runny nose episodes around that age. In hindsight, I now know it's because she started drinking more milk-based formula because I had quit nursing. Once she started drinking whole cow's milk she got a couple of sinus infection and we learned (simply through trial and error) she is allergic to milk. Once we switched her off dairy, she hasn't had a runny nose since (that was over 3 yrs ago).

For congestion related to a cold, nasal saline is typically the way to go. Cold medicines that work on grown-ups are often completely ineffective on babies. Spray the saline, wait 10 minutes, then suction with a nasal syringe. It's not pleasant (took two of us to hold my son down for this!), but it is effective if you can do it several times a day.

It is possible for a baby that age to have allergies and allergic symptoms. The best thing for allergies is an antihistamine. Benadryl is great, but either makes kids incredibly sleepy or incredibly wired. Mine get sleepy with it, so when they need it I try to time doses to half an hour before naps or bed time.
She could also take over-the-counter liquid claritin (just ask your pedi for the correct dose) or prescription Zyrtec. I don't know about Claritin, but with Zyrtec they need to take it for 2 or 3 days for it to be fully effective. It does have an immediate effect on taming allergy symptoms, but I notice my son is usually remarkably better after the third day on it.

Hope this helps

Ditto on Lindee's response. My dr. basically told me the "conventional wisdom," then said, "but if it acts like a duck, quacks like a duck..." My oldest developed allergies by 6 months...came up the same time as her daddy's! You might try a little Benadryl & see if that helps. Check your dosing & check w/ your dr., too.

D

I would suspect allergies - the mold count and ragweed have been CRAZY! I would take her into the doctor and see what the doctor recommends. You want to be sure to treat it because so often allergies turn into a cold or worse in babies that young. I would call my pedi!

That's about the age my son developed allergies. I had him checked by his pedi, and she said to try a little Benadryl. Worked like a champ! :-)

Hope that helps!

My youngest had allergies young (even though doctors say she shouldn't until she lives in a season a second time; something like that), so I used Xlear. It is a natural fruit extract that coats the inside of the nose so the allergens can not stick to her nasal cavity and enter her system. Apparently 90% of allergens enter this way. I use it on both my girls still and have since they were infants. I buy it at Market Street, Health Collection, or Doctor Cameron at Cameron Chiropractic. It is around $15. I use it and actually am not on allergy medicine at the time...years past, I would be on a couple of prescriptions during this season, so I think it is wonderful. I tell the girls, "squeeze squeeze" since I squirt one squirt in each nostril and then squeeze their nose together quickly. They actually let me do it now....