my 10 week old has been having a hard time breathing at night. He was sleeping 5-7 hours a night and within the last few weeks he has slept for less periods of time down to 3 hours before waking. Basically, his nose is clear, he doesn't have a cold but you can hear him having a hard time breathing. We have used saline and suction but wonder if that is drying him out? We tried the humidifier, cleaning the dust out of the room, and a steam shower last night which didn't seem to help much either. If you have any advice we'd love to hear it..just want him to sleep more comfortably.
My son was seen at Mass Eye & Ear by Dr. Keamy an ENT. My son has laryngomalacia which is a condition in his throat causing swelling around his vocal chords combined with 'silent acid reflux'. He never vomited or spit up so this was very helpful information to receive. My son is now taking drops of steroids (to help decrease swelling) through his nose and zantac by mouth. The last two nights he has only woken once to eat and no longer struggles to breathe. I hope other mom's listen to their intuition as well. I knew something wasn't right even though his pediatrician thought he was fine because he was gaining weight and overall happy. Waking every hour gasping wasn't normal at 2.5 months old, now he's doing great! Thanks for everyone's feedback, I got him into MEEI immediately!! they are amazing down there..
Go see an ENT Dr. Gibson at University Otolaranology in Providence is wonderful. It is a little early but it could be adnoids which could lead to sleep apnea.
Babies and Young children are developing lung capacity as well as growing brain cells....their entire systems are very fragile and succeptable to many outside influences.
For instance you should take a look at the ingredient lists on products that you are using in your home as well as baby products that you are introducing to you baby. Definately check with your doctor if this condition persists.
I would do a search on the computer to check ingredients in your products. It is amazing the numbers of formulations that have never been tested for their effects on infants or adults for that matter.
I have found an alternative to using toxins in my home...I am not taking chances with my family. I didn't think about it much until my daughter developed asthma type symptoms. I checked out the world wide web and could not believe what I was reading. Feel free to contact me if you have questions...I have done a lot of research.
By the way my daughter no longer uses her in-hailer at my home or hers.
Seeing as he is 10 weeks old, and you've tried all those things already, and you say he doesnt have a cold but has congestion..... I'd say take him to the DR and have him checked out... it cant hurt, but he is so little you want to be sure.
Best of Luck
Hi...you might want to try to ask your pediatrician if a nebulizer would help. We got one for our 6 month old when he had a cold and it helped. They usually give it to babies that have asthma but they might want to give it try.
My little ones have had something that sounds similar. For them it was formula in their throats that haden't gone down into their stomach. When they breathed the formula would gurrgle sounding like congestion.
As the muscles in their throats matured the congestion sounds would get less and less until they disapeered. My third little one now is 9 weeks and she is still sounding like she has congestion until about an hour or two after she feeds.
Meanwhile try elevating the upper part of her body. See if that helps. It might or might not.
Try a fan on low, indirectly blowing air toward him. See if that works. A fan worked better than a vaporizor blowing Vicks into the air for our baby girl.
Is he a c-section baby? Both of my girls were & this seemed to be a commomn issue. Try to elevate his head area when he sleeps, it should help. If hes in a cradle or bassinet put an xtra blanket under the mattress, just to give it a little incline, not too much tho.
Good luck. ;)
My oldest had those night time troubles. (she's now 31!). But, I made sure she was up a little with pillows under her shoulders/neck, so she wasn't lying flat. With a baby maybe you could prop up the mattress so its not so flat. Of course you'd want it to be safe too. My little girl ended up getting allergy shots starting around 4 I think. It helped a lot. She has vivid memories of this sleep/breathing difficulty. Hope it works.
L. Bavota, Pure Romance by L.
www.lenorebavota.pureromance.com
Hi -
The same thing happened to me, and someone mentioned that it could be some reflux which made sense to me. My son already sleeps on an inclined foam pad, but I folded a receiving blanket and put it under the pad so that he would be even more inclined and it seemed to help. I did all of the things that you did beforehand! Good luck.
J.
Asthma? My oldest was diagnosed at 10 months but thats what he sounded like from the time he was born.
This sounds like something you may want your doctor to check out thoroughly.
Babies do make all sorts of sleep noises too.
Elevating the head of the crib should help if there are no underlying problems. Four to six inches, use a two by four...you can purchase one at any Home Depot type place or a lumber company.
Don't think I would salanize a 10 week old baby tho...and you did say his nose is clear. Is that because you cleared it? Or because nothing comes out? A 10 week old baby can neither blow nor snuffle their noses. Perhaps he is having some of these problems because of the saline solution.
I would use a rubber syringe to clear him if there were obvious snot up there.
You could continue with the vaporizer and put a safe solution in it for opening nasal passages.
It sorta sounds like, either its normal and you are freaking out.....or he has a congenital blockage, asthma, reflux, any number of conditions ,I think all are treatable.
Think I would have good conversation with your pediatrician.
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell
I would suggest using a Vicks Vaporizor. They cost about $15 at WalMart. You fill it with COLD water, add a little salt and the Vicks haporizor inhalent (which costs about $8). Run this in your baby's room while your baby is sleeping. If you stay at home eith your baby, you could even run it during the day. Since you can't give infants any medications any more, I have found this to be very helpful. Actually my 8-month-old son is congested, so I plugged it in last nite.
Is it possible he may have Asthma?? My son has cold induced Asthma and needs to use a nebulizer when he gets sick. I suggest bringing him to the doctor if it has lasted this long...
