Sick 4 Month Old :( Help

Hi ~ It's tough when their that young :( put a pillow under her crib mattress to elevate her head a little, a humidifier, saline drops (little noses) for her nose & use some of the vicks baby rub on her feet cover w/sock or footed jammies. Hope she feels better soon.

Dear A.,
You are an amazing mother. For loving and caring so much about your baby.

You may also want to consider adding a cold air humidifier to her room or even just a bowl of water under her crib (a Russian woman from Moscow taught me that one :))

Lastly, however you feed her, ensure continued fluids.

and of course, lots of love and cuddles which you do anyhow.

GL Jilly

Dont forget about using that suction bulb to remove as much mucus as you can from her nose. While the other stuff helps her breathe easier nothing is gonna work as well as actually removing the cause.

Sounds like you are doing everything you can. I have been there. I think we all have. It really sucks when they are sick. Mine got RSV at about 6 months and it was scarry. I could hold her and feel a rattle in her back before it got to the coughing and bad drainage. Also my son had croup a couple of times and the steam in the bathroom or being out in the cool night air would help that. My husband would take a sleeping bag out on the porch and they would sit on the swing in the sleeping bag and rock him to sleep so he could breath the cool air. For RSV : watch for the rattle in the chest/back. She also had green stuff coming out of her eyes and they were puffy and red. For Croup: watch for a cough that sounds like a seal. If you are still worried in the morning take her to the Dr and have her checked out. That is what they are for. Mommas instincts are usually right.

I feel for you A.. My 7 month old son just got croup. Friday night was super rough. We were up all night, we moved a playpen into our bedroom and had him in here with us, we called the dr, went in the am for an appt. We did the steam in the bathroom, sat out on the deck with him bundled in a blanket to breathe in the cool air, we did saline mist up his nose, and used the bulb thing to pull out the mucous, which he HATES. I nursed him as often as he could. And I was able to give him infant tylenol, which I don't know if you can. Probably not because I think it's over 6 months. He's almost better now, thank god and able to sleep...
Good luck to you - it is so tough when they're so little and sick.

Put the vicks on her FEET with warm socks....

ohhhh it is so hard to watch when they're sick and so young, but you're doing all the right things. First off, once she's eating/drinking you should know that she is fine. The doctor will tell you if she stops feeding then you need to keep a much closer eye on her. Hydration (as you pointed out) is key. Also, one other thing you might try is rubbing the baby vicks on the soles of her feet. I know it sounds weird, but it does/can help a bit. (It did with my daughter anyway) A lot of toxins can be released through the feet, so it's supposed to help clear her out. Hope she feels better soon!

Sounds like you're doing just about everything a caring mama can do. Just be there for her when she's feeling under the weather, as she may not sleep as well until she fights off the infection.

Be cautious with the Vicks – I know lots of moms swear by it, but it can actually cause more congestion for those of us who are sensitive to menthol and similar strong vapors. A study a number of years ago showed that many children react to it negatively.

You might want to look up Sambucus syrup (elderberry), which is believed to be beneficial for boosting immunity against respiratory illnesses, and clearing out existing infections. The syrup is yummy, and I think a baby might enjoy it. But don't use if the recommended age range is older.

Another thought is a saline spray to loosen nasal mucus. There's a gentle spray for younger children. Again, observe the age recommendations.

I would alternate her formula with some pedialyte. That way the mucous will be thinned out. The more hydrated she is, the better. Also run a cool mist vaporizer in her room, and put the vicks on the soles of her feet and put socks on her. It's so hard when they're so little!! Hang in there! If her nose starts running greenish or yellow, call the Dr. And watch her chest, if it seems tight when she tries to breath or cough, also call Dr.
Good luck, hope baby girl feels better soon!!

I used to put the vicks baby rub on my kids feet and then put socks on just before bed time.