My 24 month old cas a cold. He has a sneezing, runny nose, (minimal) coughing, and he just isn't sleeping well at all. Not to mention that he just got 3 shots at the doctors during his 2 yr check up (because he didn't get his 15 month boosters). As you can imagine my life is miserable right now. I know that doctors don't really want children this age taking cold medicine, but what do you do for your childs cold??????
Thanks
The only allergy type of medicine is CLARITIN. Claritin is made for children 2 and up. Cool mist humidifier. Vicks.
Little Colds med and Vapor Bath
What color are his secretions? Is his runny nose clear or green/yellow? Clear means it is an allergic tye of cold and green/yellow means it is a viral or bacterial infection. If it is clear, you can give him Children's Zyrtec 1/2 tsp once daily. I would recommend giving it at night. It may cause a little drowsiness. Zyrtec is an antihistamine that will thicken his secretions and make them not drain, which will allow him to rest without coughing all night. I agree with giving him all of the fluids he will take and let him eat what makes him happy. Alternating Tylenol and Motrin is a great idea.
If his secretions are not clear, then I would give him Children's Mucinex 1/2 tsp every 6 hours as needed. It will help any secretions he has to stay thin and draining. You wouldn't want to give him Benadryl or Zyrtec in this case because infectious secretions need to drain. I also really like the Pediacare Plug In's for my kids room at night when they are sick. It keeps the mentholated action going on strong! I also like the Little Noses decongestant drops that come in the orange box. Keep his little nose moisturized with lotion or vaseline and a humidifier running in his room. These are the instructions that my pediatrician gave to me. My 2 boys seem to keep colds a lot.
I hope this helps and your little guy feels better soon!!!!!
Warm water, lemon juice, and honey to make a drink, cool mist humidifier, Vicks Vapor Rub, steamy showers or steam up the bathroom before a bath, bulb syringe the nose and if they have a fever I give children's tylenol/motrin and popsicles or ice cubes.
I make an onion poultice to relieve congestion, make them drink a hot juice with garlic blended up in it. At night I put vicks or the onion poultice on their chests to help with the congestion and coughing, run the vaporizer all night and make sure they drink lots of water. Sometimes I make honey/lemon cough syrup adding echinacea and slippery elm powder if the cough is really bad. Both herbs help the immune system fight the virus. Garlic is a natural antibiotic/antiviral as well.
You can alternate between children's tylenol and motrin if he's really miserable. Doctors don't usually have a problem with that. It may seem obvious, but trying to get him to use a pillow or prop him up a little bit can help with sleep along with a humidifier. We use the saline drops almost every night to keep things moist in his nose. Also, if you aren't already, it's good to put vaseline or chapstick below his nose so that it doesn't get raw from the runny nose. Good luck!
My ped always told me there isn't any meds for this young of a child to take for cold symptoms. Around and during my sons 2nd bday he had had a cold for 3 weeks and was miserable. He wasn't sleeping and had so much drainage that he would throw up. We tried all of the dr.'s recommendations, saline solution, suction his nose, elevate his head while sleeping, cool mist humidifier, motrin and tylenol. Finally, at my ends wit, I broke down and said Im going to get him childrens med's whether its age appropriate or not! I went and asked my pharmacist and he actually showed me 4 different types of cold relief med for ages 12 months and up. Many were all natural ingridents. I was shocked that I had never seen or noticed any of it before but it did help and he was better with in days. Although I normally always say go with what your ped says, sometimes you just have to break the rules.
I do all the home remedies.....
humidifier in the room, saline nose spray, suck out the snot if you can, sit in the bathroom with the hot shower running to create steam, take warm baths, at night I will rub the childrens vicks vapor rub on his chest and even the bottoms of his feet (heard that helps with coughs). It's so hard to see them with a cold because nothing really works, but maybe you help him find some relief. Best of luck
Watch for symptoms if it gets worse, look out for fever... if any changes or it gets worse, call your Ped.
Sneezing, coughing, runny nose.. is a natural progression of colds.. and it serves to get out congestion and the virus. So that's good.
But yes, it makes it uncomfortable for the child.
Usually, a cold runs for about 7-10 days. And then will get better. Maybe less.
Keep him hydrated.
Orange juice will make congestion worse.
Call your Ped and ask what you can give him, if anything.
There is something called "Little Noses" that is for young children, that helps nasal congestion etc.
Al the best,
Susan
