4 week old baby with a cold

[daisystone]

hope someone can help.
DD is 4 and a half weeks now. She has had a cold for the last 4/5 days and is really struggling. I called the health visitor a few days ago who said that if she was managing to eat, which she is, and if she didn't have a temperature, which she doesn't, then there was nothing to worry about.
This set my mind at rest, but she is still really struggling to breath through her nose and the sound she makes is heartbreaking.

We have been using saline nose spray and DH went to mothercare on Saturday and bought a contraption for sucking snot out of a baby's nose! (never knew they existed before!).

Is there anything else I can do for her? As she is so young, some things on the market aren't recommended for her. Most seem to be for 3 months and over. Can't even use the Karvol or Calpol plug in aroma thingies I don't think as she is too young.

If anyone has any tips or advice for dealing with colds in very small babies, I would really love to hear them. Also, how long is a cold likely to last in a baby?

Try to keep her sat up as much as possible, in a bouncy seat is good and try to prop the Moses basket up aswell. Steam will help clear the congestion.

Its a good sign she is still eating as normal and no temp so hopefully it will clear in a few days xx

Might be worth investing in a humidifier.

Prop the head end of her cot/basket up buy popping a couple of book under the legs, so she's still flat but on a slope iyswim

It's horrible when they're so little, but if she has no temp and is eating then she can't be feeling too grotty.

DS slept in his car-seat for a few days when he had a cold at that age - it may not be great, but he (and we) got a bit more sleep than he did lying down. You can also prop up the head end of the cot by putting big books under the feet.

Steam - it works wonders.

Also, make sure the saline spray you are using is sterile. Afaik the sprays usually arent and its the drops which are.

Dd is 14 weeks and has had a conjested nose since birth and for the last 2 weeks a hideous cold. It is crap isnt it?

So long as it is 'just' a snotty nose dont worry about it too much its just a case of getting through it. If she develops a temp or a bad cough or struggles to breathe then call the doc obviously.