Hey there Mommys. My poor little girl has been fighting a cold/virus for almost 3 weeks now. It started off with just a cough, that got worse and very productive. Then about a week and a half ago her nose started to get runny. No fevers though. Now she is VERY congested!! I took her to the ped last week and he told me it was just a virus and we just need to let it run it's course. This whole weekend she had a terrible time sleeping with all the congestion and it seems to just be getting worse. She is very very tired and falls asleep, but once I lay her down after about twenty minutes she wakes herself from all the mucous going down her throat. (I know pretty gross-SORRY!) I feel like I have tried everything and Mamas I myself am SOOO tired, all I want is a couple hours of consecutive sleep :(. We have a vaporizer running, I have tried Baby Vicks, elevating her crib at the head, suctioning her nose, having her sleep in her car seat...I'm out of ideas, I don't know what else to do-(besides pull my hair out)! Please share your ideas and suggestions with me if you have any...they are so GREATLY appreciated. Thanks for your help Mamas and sorry for such long post.
You've got some good suggestions so far. One more thing to add that I used to do when my daughter was that age: I put 1 or 2 larger books under one end of her crib mattress. That way she slept on a gentle angle, and it was easier for her to breathe and stay asleep. We still use vics vapor tabs, and are very helpful for stuffy little noses.
When my baby is congested, it's a nightmare so I completely understand your frustration. I'm not sure if you've tried it already, but Little Noses (saline drops) works like a charm. You will need someone to hold her down when you spray it up her nose though, it's not fun. It's medicine free and completely natural. Good luck and I hope your daughter is feeling much better soon.
Good Morning,
Just this morning I opened an email from my SIL about putting Vicks Vapor rub on the bottom of kids feet with cotton socks at bed time. I don't personally know if it works but figure it is worth a try!
Good Luck!
You have tried a lot. Have you done a vicks bubble bath right before bed. I also give tylenol or motrin before bed and that helps a bit. Little noses has some nasal drops that you can also do before bed which I've used not always a given it works. Does she cough? I know this sounds crazy but I put vicks on my kids feet and then put cotton socks on them. It works like a charm. I'm sure you could the baby vicks on her feet. I know you don't want to start any bad habits, but perhaps during a nap you could hold her so she is propped up a bit and even you could nap a little. I think in such a circumstance to spoil a little is okay, but you may have to do a little tough love to break it if a habit forms. Some kids are habit formers some are not. I hope she feels better soon.
When you suction her nose make sure you are plugging the other nostril - that makes a huge difference in how much you get out.
You may want to suction her throat too.
Will she sleep on her tummy?
Before you suction.....use the Johnson's vapor bath for a nice warm bath. Then cozy jammies and baby vicks on the chest. Use baby saline spray in her nose (she will HATE it...but it really helps). Do this a few minutes before you suction and it will really help get the thick stuff loosened up and out before she goes to bed.
This too shall pass! There really isn't much else you can do for a virus. You are doing everything you can. Both mine have it and my youngest isn't sleeping great because of it. If it lasts much longer, I would let the ped listen to her lungs to make sure there isn't any wheezing or anything but other than that, it has to run it's course.
Have you tried 'steaming' her? Go in the bathroom and run the shower, letting the bathroom get all steamy. Take a blanket for the floor, some books and toys, and hang out there for a bit of time.
She'll probably be congested for a while because at 9 months she doesn't know how to cough up the phlegm and spit it out. It always sounds way worse than it is and I know it isn't much consolation when your baby is sick and you feel helpless. It sounds like you're trying to do all you can to make her more comfortable, so just keep doing the best you can and realize that yes, the illness will pass.
Hang in there - it won't last forever!
