This Horrible Cold!

The only advice I can offer that you haven't listed is to put a pillow under her mattress when she sleeps to keep her elevated.

well i would take to the doctor and demand that they check her. she could have something more than a cold.

Lots of baths with the shower running making steam- good for her head and lungs. Chicken broth actually has good things for colds. If you can make your own, with lots of veggies, even better. Vicks her chest neck and back, put on an undershirt and the jammies. Keep the room cool at night. Use that mister everywhere she is day and night. Good luck.

Hi K.!

It you could get your baby to drink plenty of fluids especially water that will help to break up the phlim in her chest which is probably what she is trying to cough up. Also I had a bad cold a month or so ago and the cold water helped me with my coughing bouts which usually occurred late at night. Hope this helps.

You're doing the right things, just keep it up. One year one of my girls had a night cough that lasted for 3 months...it's just something that goes around, my 7-year old has something like it now.

It's caused by a post-nasal drip. I give my 7-year old Lotradine (aka claritin, alavert), but your child is too young I guess. Although I remember seeing a liquid form for younger children, I don't know how young...you should check it out in the grocery or drug store. Just don't forget to put that vapor rub on her feet! And if she gets congested during the middle of the night try running a hot shower in the bathroom and close the door and make a sauna for her.

My son 2 1/2 always seems to get these terrible, deep coughing colds too. He also has asthma and allergies though. However, our doctor recommends the Mucinex for babies. It's in a powder form that you sprinkle on their tongues. Please call your doctor first though for advice.

I have a 14-month old daughter who has had the same thing as your daughter for about three weeks. She has all those symptoms, but is in good spirits. I wasn't too concerned b/c she has had a cold before, but we finally took her to the doctor, and lo and behold, she has an ear infection in both ears. Perhaps that is what is going on with your daughter. Just a thought.

Sounds like you are going all the right things. I would also put a couple of drops of saline in her nose each time you change her diaper. Also, keep her drinking lots of fluids which also helps thin the mucous. One thing my pediatrician told me was to make sure to clean the humidifier completely every day- he swears by this and has mentioned it over and over.
If she starts losing her appetite, starts pulling at her ears/holding her head, or begins acting lethargic, I would see the pediatrician to rule out an ear infection. Hope she feels better soon!

My son has been dealing with this for so long now. The nurse at his pediatricians office suggested this to me. Turn the shower on hot and let it steam up the bathroom for 10 to 15 mins...however long your water will stay hot enough to produce steam, and let your daughter play in the bathroom floor during this. She will probably start coughing more during this time, but it does help to get some of the junk up out of the chest.

If you notice her starting to rattle and wheeze, you might want to take her to the doctor. This stuff can turn into bronchitus like my son's did. We had to do the nebulizer for a couple of weeks. Also watch for ear infections to follow a bad cold as well.

Hope your baby gets feeling better soon! Trust me I know how rough it can be with a sick child.

Take her into the bathroom and turn the shower on hot and sit in there for 5 to 10 minutes (door closed). Do this to calm her cough and help clear her nasal cavities. Make sure she drinks lots of fluids with honey and lemon to help her immune system!!

As hard as it is on us Mommies to hear our child sounding miserable, I really think we just have to let colds run their course...typically 10-14 days. Give plenty of fluids (water/juice more than milk) and use cool mist humidifier...basically what you are already doing. Don't doubt yourself, you're doing a great job.

My daughter is 2.5 and has had a terrible cough and cold twice already this year. I haven't tried the Vick's thing yet, but I might do that tonight. One thing I would suggest is putting some folded towels under the head of her mattress-- you will have to gauge how high you can raise it so she doesn't "roll downhill"-- but this has made a dramatic improvement for my daughter who coughs because of the drainage. She is also taking Delsum (not sure a 13 month old can take this cough suppressant and not sure the MD would recommend it--so you would have to ask).

The whole waiting game is terrible-- about 2 months ago, my daughter had this crud for over a month and they finally decided she must had a sinus infection-- while on the antibiotics, she got the stomach flu and could not finish the antibiotics-- so now I am waiting to see if it's still the same sinus infection or if she got something new. It's always so frustrating..... the waiting.

I do know that if the cough is keeping her awake at night, you need to call the MD again and tell them that.

Good luck with her and I hope she gets better quickly.

use the sudicare vapor plugs They are AMAZING. When my 14 month old gets a cold or cough i put those in his room while he sleeps at night and at nap and it clears him right up.

the vicks is a great product, I would also try saline nose sprays. Its just salt water. I have also turned on the hot tap in the shower and sat in the bathroom with my son which helps to loosen the congestion so they can cough it up. I hope your baby gets better soon.