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Original poster

Tips on ending toddler suffering from a cold

53 replies

genuinequestion21 · 28/11/2021 18:06

My toddler ( almost 2 ). Is suffering from a cold the last few nights.

Her nose is really congested and she's had a very minor raised temperature once or twice.

She's not eating that much, but is otherwise ok and her usual self. But at night time, she cries a lot and I don't know what to do.

She's obviously suffering because she's so congested. At night it's horrible, even for us adults, it's absolutely miserable when we feel like that.

How else can I help her ? I've been giving her Calpol before bed, just to help if her throat hurts. I also have vicks for babies and put that on her and I have olbas oil around her sleeping area. I also have saline drops.

Is there anything else I can do ? She wakes up and just cries. I give her water but she doesn't want to drink it. I give her cuddles and sleep with her in my bed. I'm really tired, as it's been a few nights of no sleep. I'm pregnant, so I guess this is a good reminder of what's to come quite soon. ( the sleepless nights again ).

Am I missing anything ?

Thank you.

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 28/11/2021 18:08

Your thread title reads in a slightly threatening way Grin

I find the calpol plug ins really good, plus a steamy bath to ease congestion before bed. Regular calpol, lots of fluids.

Hope she feels better soon

Original poster
genuinequestion21 · 28/11/2021 18:10

Yes I just realised that Blush

I'm such an idiot. I'm so tired. Sorry about that.

OP posts:
TubbyCustards · 28/11/2021 18:12

The title has just about finished me off 😀

Original poster
genuinequestion21 · 28/11/2021 18:14

FML the title is bad sorry everyone Blush

But I'm also kind of laughing now I've realised.

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 28/11/2021 18:16

A nice hot bath, snuffle babe or Vicks (I think Vicks is for over 2s).

I got a Vicks Vaporiser which was good.

Vicks on the soles of feet plus socks is good but fuck knows why.

I feel for you. We’re entering week 4 or some kind of horror in this house.

LizzieSiddal · 28/11/2021 18:17

Poor you OP, I was quite alarmed at your title tooGrin

Can you lift the head of the cot up? Put a book at her head end, under the legs. That really helped my Dds, but not sure if it’s recommended nowadays!

SickAndTiredAgain · 28/11/2021 18:17

A bath before bed to ease it for a bit.

Also try and make sure she’s drinking lots during the day. When my DD (2.5) has a cold and doesn’t want to drink, we give watered down orange juice when normally she just has water or milk. It means she drinks a little bit more - I think water can taste a bit gross when you’ve got a cold (a bit phlegm-y) and obviously she doesn’t understand that staying hydrated will help her feel better!

LizzieSiddal · 28/11/2021 18:18

Oh another thing is a bowl of water under her radiator, it keeps the air from being really dry which helps with congestion.

magicstars · 28/11/2021 18:21

Calpol plug ins for sure.

There are theories about putting Vix on the soles of feet, with socks on over.

Salt room (google to see if you have one locally).

Well wishes, it's rotten.

Hetyanni · 28/11/2021 18:21

Calpol plug ins are good. There is a saline nasal spray thing you can use to clear the congestion.

Cacee3029 · 28/11/2021 18:25

Some ideas:

Calpol plug in

Klear vol capsules - similar to the old Jarvik kapsules I had as a kid!

Humidifier

Going into the bathroom and running a hot steamy shower to clear airways - I've always done that. Often j would put dc on the bathroom floor whilst I showered with door shut!

A hot bath. You can buy also buy vapour bubble bath

Lifting up head of bed to help snot drain during the night

Ice lollies if they are off their normal drink. Gives them some fluids!

Don't have much else to advise. Hope little ones feels better soon. It's horrid when they can't shift it. Worse then are tiny. It can linger for a while!

Cacee3029 · 28/11/2021 18:26

Also, saline nasal spray. Calpol do one

ShirleyPhallus · 28/11/2021 18:27

@genuinequestion21

Yes I just realised that Blush

I'm such an idiot. I'm so tired. Sorry about that.

You poor thing. When our toddler is like this DH and I agree to do half the night each, so we know we will at least get a decent chunk of sleep either end, then the other one deals with nighttime wakings etc. Can you do that to get some rest? Is your husband pulling his weight?
Ozanj · 28/11/2021 18:28

@genuinequestion21

My toddler ( almost 2 ). Is suffering from a cold the last few nights.

Her nose is really congested and she's had a very minor raised temperature once or twice.

She's not eating that much, but is otherwise ok and her usual self. But at night time, she cries a lot and I don't know what to do.

She's obviously suffering because she's so congested. At night it's horrible, even for us adults, it's absolutely miserable when we feel like that.

How else can I help her ? I've been giving her Calpol before bed, just to help if her throat hurts. I also have vicks for babies and put that on her and I have olbas oil around her sleeping area. I also have saline drops.

Is there anything else I can do ? She wakes up and just cries. I give her water but she doesn't want to drink it. I give her cuddles and sleep with her in my bed. I'm really tired, as it's been a few nights of no sleep. I'm pregnant, so I guess this is a good reminder of what's to come quite soon. ( the sleepless nights again ).

Am I missing anything ?

Thank you.

Burn off the alcohol in a tbsp of brandy and give it to her when it’s lukewarm - 5-6 times a day. In my toddler’s experience it has killed cold dead within 24 hours.
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 28/11/2021 18:28

Can you put olbas oil or similar in the room at that age? Or I too young? Worked well for my 7 yo recently (he won’t take anything that would be in the least bit helpful)

In my day (with dd - now 13) we had medised for these occasions! At one point it was allowed from a few months. But that is now banned. I’ve been told by a gp that you can use piriton for this but I think that will meet with bowls of “nooooo” on here.

Original poster
genuinequestion21 · 28/11/2021 18:28

@Cacee3029

Also, saline nasal spray. Calpol do one
Hahaha this cheered me up. Thanks for the replies everyone. Just sent the husband out for the plug in and spray and will give her a nice bath plus lift her head up higher with pillow.

Also, would be great if she could learn to blow her nose or at least blow into the tissue.. when can they start doing that? Her face is a mess and when I try to wipe her nose, it's a struggle. Bless her.

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 28/11/2021 18:30

Oh another thing is a bowl of water under her radiator, it keeps the air from being really dry which helps with congestion.

^^
I’ve been told this too. Probably safer than my other suggestions

mumof1or2 · 28/11/2021 18:31

I always put a big bowl of boiling water in my sons room with a spoonful of vicks and a few drops of olbas oil in it. We call it a "hot bowl". It smells really strong and stops him getting bunged up during the night. Nice hot Bath to clear him out before bed and some calpol at bedtime too. (Obviously make sure the bowl is out of reach!)

Original poster
genuinequestion21 · 28/11/2021 18:32

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

Can you put olbas oil or similar in the room at that age? Or I too young? Worked well for my 7 yo recently (he won’t take anything that would be in the least bit helpful)

In my day (with dd - now 13) we had medised for these occasions! At one point it was allowed from a few months. But that is now banned. I’ve been told by a gp that you can use piriton for this but I think that will meet with bowls of “nooooo” on here.

I've put it on her sleeping bag. No idea if that's allowed? But I always do it. I think it helps her!
OP posts:
Original poster
genuinequestion21 · 28/11/2021 18:32

@mumof1or2

I always put a big bowl of boiling water in my sons room with a spoonful of vicks and a few drops of olbas oil in it. We call it a "hot bowl". It smells really strong and stops him getting bunged up during the night. Nice hot Bath to clear him out before bed and some calpol at bedtime too. (Obviously make sure the bowl is out of reach!)
Sounds like an alternative to the Calpol plug in ! Thank you !
OP posts:
KarmaStar · 28/11/2021 18:33

Clicked on this as also worried about the title 🙈😀 op,you must be exhausted hope she's better soon.

Original poster
genuinequestion21 · 28/11/2021 18:34

@KarmaStar

Clicked on this as also worried about the title 🙈😀 op,you must be exhausted hope she's better soon.
So sorry, again Sad
OP posts:
mumof1or2 · 28/11/2021 18:34

I think they start blowing their nose at 4 or 5. Have you tried those contraptions you can use to blow it for them? I used them when my son was young, but maybe younger than 2....

ChimChimeny · 28/11/2021 18:35

www.boots.com/boots-saline-nasal-spray-100ml-10286412

This always works for DD, I'm not sure if she'd have used it at 2 but it's worth a try.

There's also this, we use it at bedtime after the nasal spray so DD can sleep

www.boots.com/otrivine-child-nasal-drops-10ml-10099815

mommybear1 · 28/11/2021 18:35

I feel your pain OP. I do everything you do but add in a bath as pp have said Asda do a bubble bath called vapour bath it's amazing as soon as it comes into our store it's sold out - if you can get some I highly recommend it. Calpol plug ins, vicks vapour thing (as above), I also try to elevate my DS head with a pillow or rolled towel (handy for snot 😉).