First baby's first cold... any tips?

[mrsfix]

She is 4 months old and has only just got it. She is fine but I would love to do anything I can to help.... and perhaps more importantly not do anything to make it worse!

eg do you keep them warm or do you keep them cold etc etc etc

[pofacedandproud]

keep them warm unless they have a temperature in which case keep them cool. Make sure they drink enough. Use saline drops for a bunged up nose. And be prepared for many more to come!

[laurawantsababy]

We bought one of those 'snot suckers' from Boots! It is gross but there is a filter so nothing gets through. I think it was £7 but was brilliant as were able to clear her nose.

We also used to put a bowl of boiling water in her room with a drop of Obas oil in it just before she went to bed. Take the bowl out after about half an hour. We also bumped her cot up at one end to help breathing.

It is horrible when they are first ill but it doesnt last long

[HeadFairy]

If you have got the heating on, a damp flannel or towel on the radiator with some baby olbas or something similar (make sure it's the baby version) sprinkled on helped ds....

[Itsjustafleshwound]

If you are brave .... try propping up her mattress (pillow/blankets under the mattress) sometimes eases the breathing ...

[stressedbutluvem]

All as before but as well: snufflebabe and plug in vaporisers are never out of my cupboard, definately agree with propping baby up,have needed to use baby chair on the end of my bed in the past. Calpol or ibuprofen becasue they will feel rough just like we do with colds. Used to be able to buy medised which gets them a good nights sleep and dries up some of the secretions but can't remember from what age it is allowed. Fresh air if it is a nice day.

[greensnail]

Definitely get a snot-sucker - they're brilliant

[mrsfix]

Wow - thanks all!

What's the latest on the "Calpol Generation" then? Was it just a few Mums who dosed their babies up when it was unnecessary that got it the bad name?

[HeadFairy]

MrsFix - ds has had calpol about ten times in his 2 years, I'm still on the same bottle I bought when he was four months old... but when he's feeling weepy and tired he'll ask for some calpol!! He's hardly ever had it and he's a junkie already! It's very strictly rationed in our house for that reason.

[pofacedandproud]

there is evidence to suggest the more babies have been given calpol in the first year of life, the more likely they are to develop asthma later. You can always use babynurofen if you are worried.

[Montifer]

We found a couple of phone books under the legs of the cot at the head end helped when DS was very snotty, more effective than trying to prop up the mattress.

Also Karvol drops on a muslin tied to the cot bars and a bowl of hot water with a few drops of Karvol.
(I prefer the smell of Karvol to Olbas oil)

Poface - I heard about the calpol asthma link recently, is this new research?

I would also recommend avoiding black / navy tops for a few days so the snotty snail trails aren't quite so obvious
Am hoping silver might be an in colour this season for this reason

Hope DD is better v soon

[mrsjuan]

How on earth do you use the snot suckers? My 4 month old has also got her first cold (I've got it too which makes things even worse!) but I can't get near her with the snot sucker! Do I wait until she's asleep?

[TheMightyToosh]

Baby ibuprofen is good for keeping temp down - works for longer than paracetamol and I don't think it has the same connections with asthma.

Another vote for the Boots snot sucker - genius.

And also another vote for plug in Karvol or similar - really helps them stay asleep instead of waking up just because their nose is blocked.

[robberbutton]

"Snot Suckers" (we didn't find an easy way to do this, just put up with the screams!), Olbas oil, put towels under the mattress to raise her head a little bit, Vicks if she is old enough, and my absolute favourite - Sterimar Nasal Spray. You can use it from birth (I think) as it is just salt water, and it is absolutely brilliant at decongestion, couldn't recommend it highly enough (again no easy way to deliver though!). I found it at the chemist.

[greensnail]

DD had been snotty since about 8 weeks, and must associate the snot sucker with feeling better, as she's always very happy to have it done! Maybe once you've done it a few times she'll get the idea and it will be easier. Its now getting more difficult for us though - DD is 9 months and wants to "help" whenever we come near her with the thing!

[sleepwhenidie]

my DS was terrible when he got colds when tiny, so blocked up - when it was really bad I found sitting (usually at 4am ) for a while in the bathroom with the bath/shower running at its hottest (maybe with a few drops of olbas oil in bath) with him was the only thing that helped him breathe more easily. (toptip - light a candle rather than putting the light on though, it feels more soothing - for you if not for baby!- than full light!)