Congested nose

[Odhran]

Our son is 13 weeks old and has developed an extremely congested nose and a slight cough. I am hoping it's just a cold but because he has very sensitive skin and suffered badly with eczema when he was only a few weeks old, I am more concerned that it may be an allergy or asthma.
We are using a saline spray and a pump to alleviate the mucus but he is really suffering. He is much more irritable than usual too. any suggestions ?

[katyjo]

Odhran, Sounds like a cold to me and if its his first one you are doing really well to have got to 13 weeks!
It is horrible when they are ill, you feel so helpless.
Try not to worry about the asthma thing, even if his is asthmatic they won't diagnose it until he is two, but I worry about it too everytime ds has a cough or sniffle I think his is asthmatic, it is only natural to worry.
I found best thing for a cold is warm bath in steamy bath room and lots of cuddles from Mum and Dad.
Hope he is better soon!
XX

[Odhran]

Thanks Katyjo :-) Thanks for the reassurance, I know we are being over the top but it's all so overwhelmng sometimes and we do tend to panic about stuff. He is asleep in bed now but seems to be in better form today.

[katyjo]

Tell me about it, I think I am a bit over protective, but it is difficult not to worry!
Hope your wee one is feeling better today.
XX

[ShouldKnowByFriday]

What about Karvol and putting a pillow under the mattress so that he slightly elevated when he lies down? I think I used one of those pregnancy wedges under the mattress which I know did help. Congratulations by the way!

[Vindaloo]

Odhran - my dd had quite bad eczma when she was little and I was worried about ashma too (my sister and her 2 dd's have it both very severely). My dd has always been a mucasy child, even now and shes 2.8 yrs.

someone once suggested filling the normal big bath (couple of inches deep) with something like olbus oil/karvol or similar product, then put baby bath in this normal bath and bathe baby as usual. The idea is that your baby will be surrounded by the vapours from the water to help him breathe but does not have to have contact with the water. the steamy environment helped my dd.

For a while I also slightly raised the mattress of dds cot with a pillow as that does help.

I hope that all made sense.