Going out of my mind with this baby

[CornishFairing]

Dd 8 months has a cold, tonight so far has been a repeat of last night. She can't / won't sleep lying down. Cot won't tilt up so I've got her in pram tilted up with white noise playing , humidifier on, dark except for nightlight, she has had calpol. She's crying uncontrollably. She only stops when I pick her up. I'm alone with her and am scared of falling asleep holding her. I'm so tired and I don't know what else to do!!!!!!!!!

Baby vicks rub, co sleeping and a steamy bathroom- I’ve had those nights. Stay strong she will be well before you know it x

Do all day time naps sitting up, so in a car seat/bouncer chair/swing. In the evening, use the nasal spray/snot sucker combo and calpol.
My kids have tended to always follow this plan with colds:
Day 1: Cry all night
Day 2: Cry all night
Day 3: So tired that they sleep brilliantly
Day 4:Cough a bit then sleep
Day 5: Couhh all night and cry.

It’s weird, it’s identical every time. At least you know that by day 6, everything will be (hopefully) back to normal and you get a bonus night before the cough kicks in ;)

How did the doctors go op?

Hi all,

Docs went as expected - was told it is a heavy cold, ears looking a little red and swollen but I was just advised to continue with pain relief, got the snuffle babe rub and vapouriser.

DD has refused food today although was a bit brighter this afternoon am we sat in the park.

Things have taken a turn for the worst tonight. Tried to put her down in cot (mattress elevated slightly at one end). Screamed until projectile vomited, the vomited all over me and the floor when I picked her up.

Changed us both, soothed her standing up and tried to feed her (offered milk but she would hardly take any, did take water) . Tried to cuddle her on my bed, again elevated one end with towels under sheet. She writhed around screaming until she vomited again. Probably phlegm in the throat, she is so congested.

Brought her in lounge in desperation, calmed her down with you tube video, offered water and tried to give nasal spray - not having any of it. Gave further water and have humidifier on. She's sat on my knee like a zombie watching nursery rhymes. At some point soon I'll turn them off, put white noise on and cross my fingers.

She simply refuses to lie down anywhere except her pram so I'm aiming to get her to sleep in that.

I wish she wasn't vomiting so much as she'll be hungry and probably has vommed up all calpol now.

Does she take her bottles warm OP? Hot drinks always help when I have a phlegmy throat, obvs she can't have anything actually hot, but warmer than normal might help? It loosens the yucky stuff.

Also might be worth steaming up the bathroom and watching a video in there with the hot taps/shower running so the steam can help loosen it too?

That's a good idea. I'll try that. I think she'd take it warmer than usual . Only thing she hates is cold milk. I'm not sure whether to try giving milk again , she just voms it all up , it's so distressing for both of us

Water down the milk? Dairy is bad for phlegm. I really feel for you, and for her. Poor baby. I always get a bad stomach with a cold, I guess my body doesn’t cope with phlegm well either. Just remember it will be over soon and persevere, can you set up a box set to watch to take your mind off worrying so much? I know it’s hard but I blitzed the full shameless box set when my boy had bronciolitis! Didn’t dare sleep for long 😞

Oh and a good steamy shower and fresh air seemed to provide short term relief for us. I still do it now when I’m blocked up with hay fever

Sounds awful, feel for you both and

If she's being sick just keep an eye on whether she's having plenty of wet nappies, maybe write it down if you're still really tired as it's easy to forget.

Good luck, she'll bounce back and you'll be left feeling like crap!

If she's being sick her ears may be properly infected now. I had similar experience when my son was 5 months - took him to GP and they said ears a bit red but sent home. 12 hrs later raging infection on both ears. Call 111 if things don't improve.

Some good advice here OP - I just wanted to add so sorry for your little DD and to send you some virtual support. It’s so sad when they’re miserable, and so hard on you

Thanks all, the solidarity is really keeping me going. After a walk around the block in pram she's finally asleep.

When she wakes I'll check nappy and try to get some watered down milk in her (and some nurofen). Keeping an eye on temp too. Will call 111 if worries during night - I really don't like the vomiting / risk of dehydration. Hysterical crying followed by gagging (on phlegm most likely) seem to be causing the vomiting.

Hopefully she'll take a feed and go back to sleep later.

Ugghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggg

I would definitely recommend sitting with her in the bathroom with the shower turned on as the steam will help. Also as I think someone else has recommended one of those things that you can suction the nose with. Put saline drops in first helps as well. Sorry you are having a tough time, been through it with my two DDS. One thing just to keep an eye on is her breathing, look at her chest and see if there is any pulling in under her ribs or like she is working hard to breathe. Just with you mentioning the vomiting, this can sometimes happen if they have bronchiolitis, which both mine have done. If you are worried take her back to the doctor again. Hope you get some rest.

You poor things. If it is of any use, our HV, who used to be a neo-natal nurse recommended snuffle babe on the soles of baby's feet, might be worth a try?!

Hi OP, hope you're hanging on in there!

Regarding the feeding, you could try the 'half as much, twice as often rule'. My daughter has had a lot of chest infections/bronchiolitis/bad congestion, and whenever she's been admitted to hospital, that's the advice we've been given. It's because having a full tummy can make it harder to breathe & make them more uncomfortable when they're already congested. It might be worth taking her into a steamy bathroom before you give her the bottle, so that it helps unclog her a bit and makes it easier for her (as she won't be able to breathe through her nose whilst feeding at the mo). Or, use a feeding spoon/syringe?

Just a word of warning, and I'm sure it's unlikely, but keep an eye on her chest when she's breathing, and make sure there's no 'tug ' around the ribs when she breathes in. That can be a sign of bronchiolitis (again, I'm sure it's unlikely, just flagging it up as someone who's experienced this several times )

Have you got a car? Could you put her in the car seat and drive around for a little while?

My DCs had wind-up swings but they were unable to stay awake in - it saved my sanity many a night and I could catch a nap on the sofa near them.

My daughter was a prolific vomiter with colds from 0-3. Have you tried a rehydration "challenge" as the doctors call it? 5 ml of juice/milk/water by syringe every 15 mins if you are worried about dehydration. Good luck x

Hello,
I’m so sorry to hear your baby isn’t poorly, but please don’t follow some of this advice, every body is told so many different things by health care professionals, please ring 111 for some advice, especially regarding concerns of dehydrstion, babies can go down hill very quickly.
Really hope she is ok.
Cot should be propped up at the feet not directly under the mattress xx

Sorry was meant to say is poorly. The poster saying about the 5 mls every 15 is good though. We did this in a and e x

She doesn’t want to lie down because it hurts her ears more.

And then then then all the crying will make her sinuses swell up and that will make her ears hurt more anyway.

It sounds like a really nasty cold. I’ve been there with my babies.

Aw sounds so incredibly stressful/upsetting/worrying!

Have you seen a doctor? Also do you have any family/friends who could do a shift/help?

Yeah been to docs today , just told me to carry on as I am basically. Might go back tomorrow if no improvement. Baby has slept for c. 3 x 1 hour and taken a 2-4 oz liquid each waking. Will now not sleep in pram so is on my chest. If I keep her upright enough and stop her from crying too much she doesn't gag/vomit.

Yay for Netflix !

Thanks all xxxx

I hope you and DD got some decent sleep last night. I really hope she gets better soon.

Baby colds are horrible.

💐