My almost 11 mos old so is so congested he can't nurse. His nose is running thick and clear but no matter how much I suction it and squirt saline up it, I can't get him breathing out of it. Do I dare try a nasal rinse if I hold him over the sink? I doubt he'd let me. I don't know if it would be safe. Has anyone done one to a child this young? Any ideas? I'm going to get out the humidifier though I don't think help with the congestion, it will help his mouth and throat from getting too dry from mouth breathing.
Poor baby. Can you try breastfeeding him in a raised position? It might be easier for him if his head is not in a laying position. Or maybe pump some breast milk and give a bottle or sippy. I don't think I would do a rinse on a small child, I won't do it with my 5 yo because I worry she will breath it in and choke on it.
Hold off on the saline spray and humidifier for a bit and see if some of it dries out.
Oh my poor baby!
My LO also had terrible congestion issues. Here are some things we tried:
- elevate his head while sleeping by putting phone book under crib legs
- fill bathroom with steam by turning on shower full pressure hottest setting. Sit with baby in the steam filled bathroom. Please be careful not to get hot water on the baby.
- are you suctioning properly? It took me a while to get the hang of it. Baby's head elevated on a pillow, put saline drops, wait a few seconds, compress suction , insert all the way in one nostril while keeping other nostril closed by pressing with finger, release and remove.
Also the blue suction aspirator they give at the hospital works best as compared to others you get outside - the non blue kinds.
Hope your LO gets to feeling better soon!
My DD used to get croup. We put a pillow under her mattress to elevate her head. I also sat with her in the bathroom with the shower running for steam and nursed her in there. Your milk is a "clear liquid" so if you can get him to nurse, it's a good thing.
We just went through this, I did steam and plugged the tub and put in some drops of tea tree oil and rosemary oil in the tub. I have the snot sucker and that really helps. http://www.fridababy.com/ Your local pharmacy or baby store may have it. Definitely get out the humidifier. I wouldn't try a nasal rinse, just a few drops of saline. Good luck, poor pumpkin :(.
what my dr told me to do with my daughter at that age is to give her 1/4 tspn of benadryl. i would suction her nose before every meal. im not sure you will be able to get your 11 month old to sit still for a nasal wash. my 4 year old does them because her allergies are raging ;)
If you haven't already, encourage him to try a different position to nurse in-- something upright would probably work best
This makes me so nervous when my baby is all congested because they can't blow their noses as adults. What I have found that really helps is to run the warm water and massage around her nose after you've warmed your hands in the water and clean the baby's nose like you would with a tissue but use your warm fingers. The warmth looses up the congestion in the nose and face and it gives so much comfort to the baby instead of using the awful suction bulbs. Also, when you are nursing the baby, place a tiny tiny bit of eucalyptus oil or camphor oil on your clothes that will be somewhere near your baby's nose that they can breathe it in and bring relief. Don't ever apply these oils directly on baby's skin but it is ok for them to breathe in. Hope it helps and hope the baby feels better soon!
If he's 11 months old he could probably drink breast milk from a sippy cup better until the congestion clears up. I would try that. I would check with a doctor about the nasal rinse first. They will probably tell you to keep trying the saline and suction but maybe they have another idea. It shouldn't last very long if from a cold so try the sippy cup and force liquids to thin the mucous some.
