Three Month Old with Cold

They sell pediacare medicines that works very well. I used a vaporizer in my son's room when he was congested. I also give him baths in vapor bath by Johnson & Johnson. Pedicare sells decongestant nose drops (saline) for babies and I used that on my son. I would then use the suction thing from the hospital and suction out his nose making it easier for him to breathe. I hope she feels better. Poor baby! :)

100.0 really isn't a fever in an infant. If she runs a higher fever then it is not a virus, it is bacterial and needs an antibiotic. Use saline drops in her nose, a cool mist vaporizer in her room, tylenol if she is cranky, and vicks on her feet and then put socks on. Also if she is really congested and stuffy run really hot water in the bathroom and take her in to breathe the steam. I would give regular congestion and cold symptoms about 3-4 days unless it is getting worse in which I would call when it gets worse.

Hi there, my 13 month old has a cold as well, so not fun for them! Try a cool mist humidifier in her room; this will help with the congestion. You can get them at drug stores or practically any store that sells baby stuff.

Also, double check with her doc b/c she's so young but it should be okay to give her tylenol for the fever and any aches, etc. she's having. Again, talk to your pediatrician about the dose, you must be very careful about dosages of meds esp when they are so little. Motrin is also a possibility if your doc is ok with that. Also, bulb suction her nasal passages out with saline. Babies HATE this but it really does help them breathe better.

Hope that helps - hang in there, this will probably be her first of many, many colds unfortunately, esp. with a pre-schooler but it will only make her immune system stronger in the end! :)

C.,
I would go ahead and call today. See if they will get her in and just check her. Sometimes a cold virus in an older child can be more serious in an infant. They will probably just have you wait and see how she does, but it can't hurt to ask.
Also, I have heard that ever so slightly raising the head of the bed (by placing something underneath the crib mattress) can help with the congestion.
Best of luck!

I always call the pediatrician if my kids have a fever. Fevers usually indicate some type of virus. They are recommending now nothing more than Tylenol or Motrin for a cold. They basically took all cold medicines for children off the shelves ):
Hope she feels better soon. I know there is nothing worse than having a sick baby. They are so helpless at that age.

The first cold is the worst (for the parents!). It never hurts to call the dr. and talk to the nurse. To make her more comfortable, you can use saline drops and a nasal aspirator to help clear her nasal passageways so she can eat. Put a couple drops in a nostril, then aspirate it out. Do the same to the other side. Tylenol for the fever, check the dosage with your doctor or pharmacist. She is still young, and even if the cold isn't so bad, you have to watch her for dehydration. Take care, I hope this helps.

C.,
I feel for you because thats such a hard age for them to be sick! Not much you can do for them, and they can't tell you where it hurts. Something I have always done was to give them a warm bath and use a vapor bath product. I cant remember exactly what it was called, but its sold with the baby products and you just put a capful of it in the tub with them. It will suds up a bit but it will smell kind of like menthol. It works great to clear their sinuses, and relax them so they sleep a little.

my dr says if a child has a fever for more than 48 hours the child should see the dr..

I have taken my kids a couple of times for fevers.. adn the dr said it was a virus..

I would also go by how the child was acting.. is the baby really lethargic and pitiful looking or does she seem ok.

Humidifiers help quite a bit.. and a nice warm bath or a shower with mom can help clear out the nose too.

C. ~
As a nurse, technically a temperature isn't an actual fever until over 100.4. Like you've been told, make sure she gets liquids, and pedialyte is the best for that ~ she may not really feel like eating the heavier formula (or breast milk if you're nursing). Also, don't keep her too wrapped up or heavily dressed. That will increase her temp. You don't want her to shiver, but maybe just a diaper and t-shirt (if she starts shivering, then another light layer is fine). Tylenol is fine for a temp. I know they don't recommend the decongestants anymore for little ones. It wouldn't hurt to call your pediatrician's office ~ maybe you can talk to the medical assistant or the doctor and just ask them what they recommend. They may want to see her because they worry about RSV in babies under a year.
Hope she feels better soon!
D.

Call them now ... and try getting a humdifier (I was told a warm mist) when my daughter got congestited around that age ... and Gerber makes a Vapor Bath that should be okay for you to use with your daughter; it isn't strong when a little bit is added to the water, but it'll help loosen things up. Good luck and I hope your little one feels better soon.

In addition to all the advice other have given, you could elevate the head of the crib mattress by placing towels, a pillow, whatnot UNDER the mattress (the equivalent of propping yourself up with pillows) to relieve congestion during rest.
I've heard putting Vicks vapor rub on the feet (with socks on over it) helps even better than the old "put it on your chest" remedy - I'm not sure if this is appropriate for one so small, but it might be worth looking into.

My peditrcian always says wait till teh fever is over 100.1 to give tylonel. Tylonel is the only thing they can take. Sometimes if the symptoms sre real bad my ped also reccomends benydril.

Go ahead and call the pediatrician now. She's got a fever and other symptoms, too, and she's still very young. It very well might be just a virus, but you don't want to mess around at her age.

I would not wait. I err on the side of caution. I have twin boys who are almost 2 and were born in OCT. RSV season is starting and in addition, there is a lot of bronchitis and pneumonia going around. I'd rather have the dr. tell me it's just a cold than have it be something more serious.

K.

Have you used a vaporizor yet?
Vick's vaporub?

Eukalyptus in that vaporizor would help. get some drops at a health food store

I would call the pdiatrician now since the fever is 100. and she is only 3 months old. Then you can have some peace of mind too w/talking to a doctor. Good luck! Both my girls are sick too! Tis the season of back to school...

C.,

I agree with with the other suggestions, but don't forget to give your little one lots of liquids.

I like pediasure because it also has electrolytes that the body needs for the immune system to keep working.

Just keep in mind how you feel when you have a cold and try do give her similar things. Lots of liquids, lots of quiet rest, Vicks on the feet or chest, etc.

-Good luck!

I would suggest contacting your doctor. Any time a baby that little has a fever, you should ask your doctor if the baby should be seen. My son had a 99 temp when he was two weeks old and I took him in to the E.R. thinking they would laugh at me and send us home...he was transported by ambulance to Beaumont where he stayed in ICU for 6 days. I don't want to scare you, but don't take any chances.