8 month old baby cough - doctors visit or not?

[Stillmonday]

My 8 month old has had a bit of a cold for the last week and only coughed in his sleep a couple of times however last night he was awake half the night coughing. It seems worse when he's laid down. He's very snotty today. Should I take him to the doctors or sit it out a few days?
He's very happy in himself apart from last night and is still feeding well.

Sit it out a few days unless you're concerned about his breathing. And, in first instance, take to the pharmacy before GP.

He's coughed so much he's made him sick this afternoon whilst trying to nap :(

My baby was like this and i day in the bathroom with it quite steamy that helped her- if he gets a blocked nose I highly recommend saline spray by calpol works almost instantly

Could you try a folded towel to elevate his wee head to see if that would help

My little girl old always get coughs and whenever I've taken her to the doctors they just fob me off so I wouldn't waste your time unless you become concerned about their breathing. I find the calpol night time plug in works to help keep them a bit clearer through the night :)

Get a snot sucker (nasal aspirator) from boots or amazon. You can clear out the gunk and make it easier for baby to breathe through their nose. If it's really thick, saline drops or spray help to loosen things up.

If it was me I would deffinatly take your DS to the doctors, just for a check up to listen to his chest etc.
My DS suffered alot with his chest when he was a baby and was always worse with a cold.

Hope your DS gets better soon

Do all the usual things to make him more comfortable, ibuprofen, samp towel on radiator, elevate head end of the cot, saline spray or drops, snuffle babe, olbas oil on a muslin near the cot, time in the bathroom with shower running hot, plenty of feeds and water.

But... If you're worried about him, he's getting worse or his temperature doesn't respond to paracetamol/ibuprofen then have him seen.

The practice nurse can listen to his chest if you are really worried.

You could try putting a couple of books under the legs at the head end of the cot to raise it a bit.

And take them in the bathroom while you have a hot shower with windows closed to make use of the steam.

At this stage I would hold off going to the GP unless he has a high temperature or breathing difficulties.

When DD had breathing difficulties, the only obvious sign was that she was 'tummy breathing' which I only saw when I stripped her off at bath time.

If you're at all unsure, phone the doctors.

albus55 how do they fob you off?

I'd much rather my GP 'fobbed us off' than giving either myself or DD unnecessary antibiotics. I'm always pleased to have her checked over if I'm concerned but I actually am always crossing my fingers that it won't result in medication. We go to a large GP practice with 12 doctors to choose from and I deliberately choose to see the doctors who are less likely to prescribe.

I'm going to say the opposite- DS got a cough last winter and looking back I was shamefully blasé about it, thought he'd be fine, just a cough and so on.
On about day 4 he barely slept as he was coughing so much and he just looked so miserable and sad- I took him to the GP that morning who told me to drive him to A&E there and then (as it was quicker than waiting for an ambulance)
He had bronchiolitis and his oxygen sats were low. He was admitted for a few days and put on oxygen. I'd say try and gauge how bad he really seems ie. is he playing and smiling still?

@taybert I can imagine it's very easy to be fobbed off by a Dr as I've had it a few times. Their general go to seems to be teething. The last time I took my ds in and was told teething he was blue lighted 4 hours later with severe breathing difficulties. Sometimes a mother does know best, and Dr's will go for the easy answers.

I echo Kerr100. Keep an eye on his breathing. If he is sucking in his chest or throat, breathing rapidly, nostrils flared, going blue, extra tired... any of the above, phone 111 or 999. Otherwise just lots of cuddles/ calpol/ liquids.

How's your little one @Stillmonday

He's still very snotty & mucousy but getting better . Who knew a cough & cold would send a first time mum into sheer panic 😕
Thanks for asking @TheBabyAteMyBrain

Glad he's on the up, and honestly, every first time mum has been there! Don't worry about it. Dc2 has recently had his first temperature and I went onto full panic mode! After a year of dc1 and his tenancy to try to kill himself through high temperatures and viral infections I was packing the hospital bag as we hit 39° 😂

Oh no hope he/she's ok now!
It's crazy, the smallest thing can send you into crazy Mum mode can't it!
LO has decided that me wiping his nose is like an act of punishment, he screams and throws himself backwards every time I try and wipe all the snot away! 😬

Yeah, he's fine thanks. Seems he's a normal child and will just get a fever and get over it. No flair for the dramatics like his brother.

They are funny about nose wiping aren't they! You need to come from behind for a ninja wipe and quick distraction onto a toy!

Could you try a folded towel to elevate his wee head to see if that would help no don't, raise the head of the cot.

GP visit.