15 week old with bunged up nose - struggling to breastfeed

[peedieworky]

Hi all. My DS has a snotty nose and it seems to be making it hard for him to feed. I have one of those menthol vapour plug in thingies (very technical!) in the room next to his cot but it seems to be doing naff all. Is there anything else I can do to help? Feeding lying down definitely seems a no-go, which is infuriating given he's upped his night feeds! All wisdom appreciated - thanks!

[greeneone12]

Saline drops from the chemist were a life-saver for us. DD didn't like them up her nose but it cleared it almost immediately!

[Grumpla]

Big bowl of steaming water and a few drops of olbas oil or vicks on table next to where you are feeding (BUT SAFE DISTANCE AWAY, OBVIOUSLY!!!) might help? IME the plug in doodads are rubbish.

Or sit in a steamed up bathroom for a while before feeding, as for croup?

[Grumpla]

Oh yep and stick a couple of books under the head end of the cot so it is slightly elevated!

[lilham]

I use the karvol drops on a bib when feeding. It seems to help.

[peedieworky]

Thanks! Just back from Boots armed with snuffly nose kit! Saline drops seem to have really helped and have karvel drops for overnight.

[fallingandlaughing]

I have found actually physically clearing DD's nose is the only thing that works for us. We tried a bulb aspirator, which was useless. The suction device, I think it is called Baby-Nose-Clear works. Sometimes we loosen dry stuff with saline spray, which the chemist prescribed so it was free.