My baby has been sick since birth pretty much. She had a bad cold and ear infection about a month ago. She is better, and happy BUT still has a runny nose and congestion. She coughs REALLY horribly, where her whole body shakes to get out the mucus, but if she dies cough it up she swallows it.
The pedi said she will always have some kind of cold symptom since she is in daycare and puts everything into her mouth. I understand that, but is it REALLY normal for a child to be so congested that she wakes up 2 times a night not able to breathe? I seriously have to sleep sitting up with her on my chest to get some rest. Those 2 times don't include the other 2 she gets up for a bottle. This has been going on for 5 months!!! IM EXHAUSTED.
So 1) Is it normal to be sick 24/7 because of daycare? When the other kids are not sick?
and 2) Any advise on how to clear up congestion other than the normal "humidifier, vicks, elevation, steamy room" advise?
THANKS IN ADVANCE!
I don't think its normal to be sick so much. Could she have allergies? You might want to look into seeing a pediatric allergy doctor and they might even suggest seeing an ENT. I ended up taking my daughter to the allergy doctor for constant congestion and we found out she has tons of allergies and slightly enlarged adenoids.
My little one was prescribed C-Phen DM Drops (antihistamine/decongestant antitussive). It's sugar & alcohol free and most of all allowed us all to sleep because he could breathe.
Nosefrida. Buy one on Amazon; they are about $16 and a miracle. It sucks the snot right out of her nose.
I am serious. You'll love it! You provide the sucking power but nothing goes even close to your mouth like snot, due to the filter. This thing saved our lives! :)
the brand "Little Noses" makes for kids, nasal spray decongestant.
From drug stores.
Do not use a bulb syringe too much... it will abrade the inner nose. It being tender. Our Pediatrician always cautioned about that.
Make SURE... she does not get secondary infections.... as this age they can't spit out mucous... and it can affect the lungs.
I got Bronchitis that way once... from a head cold. My post nasal drip was then getting my lungs infected... and I got worse.
5 months... is a LONG time... is it the SAME cold???? I would check about that. She is so young....
Pertussis is also epidemic in some states... make sure, she chest does not get... affected...
I hope she is still feeding well? By breast or bottle? Not getting dehydrated???
I would maybe get a 2nd opinion, from a Pediatrician...
all the best,
Susan
I second the saline solution. I used Little Remedies. I was able to work part time until my son turned one. During that time, he only got sick once. But on the third day we were at daycare, he came home with a cold and has been sick ever since (we're only at month two). But yeah, the doctor told me that they will catch something every two weeks or so. And, since a cold usually lasts between three and ten days, well, that's sick all the time! Although the other kids don't look sick, they all have runny noses ALL THE TIME.
But yeah, I've also had to sleep with him sitting up on me. That seems to help a lot. Since he is still nursing several times during the night as well, I've just gotten used to sleeping upright.
Good luck. Hope she feels better.
You've probably tried this already but I use saline spray and these always seems to help. My son isn't in day care but it helps to clean out all the mucous - I've been told not to use the aspirator (aka booger sucker) as this can lead to more problems...hope this helps! good luck and i hope your little one feels better and you both get a good rest!
I used saline spray, little noses to help keep nasal passages healthy. I also used the snot sucker thingy too, once I learned how to properly do it! i swear they should show you how to do that in the hospital!! I got that you squeezed it & held it and put it in the nostril & then let it unsqueeze, thus sucking the snot. What I never got was that it doesn't work unless you hold the opposite nostril closed. It works really well then. That is all I got, other than elevating her bed so her head is higher than the rest of her. Mine were very sickly while in daycare and by 2, 2.5 it leveled off. I think I went almost a full year before having to go to the dr. this last time & mine are 4 & 5. So, it does get better.
You could try a cold mist humidfier in her room. Run it all night long. This really helps. Also, before bed hold her in the bathroom for 5 or 10 minutes while running a hot shower. This really helps clear the congestion so she can sleep better.
