12 week old baby with a stinking cold

[Mamabear04]

My 12 week old DD has a horrible cold and is struggling to sleep with being so choked up. Tonight she was sick with lots of mucus and just generally can't breathe very well. I've tried putting vicks on her baby grow and on her bed sheet to help but is there anything else I can try for such a young baby? I have some baby paracetamol in the house but is it the right thing to give her? Should I try sitting her in the bathroom while the shower is running to try and steam it out? She has a wee cough too poor thing

DS had the cold a couple of weeks ago. It's horrible when they're so tiny. We sat in the bathroom with the shower running. I also got a nasal aspirator to get rid of some of the snot for him. The pharmacist gave us saline drops to put in his nose before feeding which helped wash some of it away. I also went out and bought a humidifier for the bedroom but I'm sure we would have been ok without that.

Thanks for the tips. I've just given her some saline drops. She's so congested she can't lie down or she starts coughing and then is sick with mucus

The calpol vapour plug is amazing and snuffle babe on the bottom of their feet is a bit of an old wives tale that is supposed to work. Look at the baby paracetamol bottle; if she’s old enough then it will help if she has a fever or is feeling grotty although that’s hard to tell in such a young baby. Also tilt her cot so her head is elevated a bit.
If she’s struggling to breathe with the mucus I’d consider seeing the GP but I am over cautious with babies so that may be a complete over reaction.

If your child is struggling to breathe, then you need a&e. Especially at 12 weeks!!!!

I agree with coldtoes

She is breathing fine as long as she is being held up so I'm not sure that I should go to a&e. I'm keeping a close eye on her and if she is struggling to breathe I will be there in a flash! I might call the GP when they open though

Please get your baby seen by a Dr or go to A and E, my DS is the same age and has already had 3 stays in hospital with bronchitis, bad colds like you describe. They can go from struggling to breathe to not breathing so quickly, please get someone to check them over. All the best hope they get better soon

I'll call the doctor

It sounds like bronchiolitis symptoms. Definitely worth a check by the GP. My LO was admitted to hospital last week with bronchiolitis. They can go downhill quickly and your little one is still so young. Hope they get better soon!

Thanks for all your messages and advice! I saw the GP first thing this morning and she is all ok apart from this stinking cold. Apparently she is coughing when lying down because she's been swallowing mucus and she is trying to bring it up (which she has twice now). So glad her lungs are clear! Just need to ride it out with calpol and saline nose drops!

Oh mamabear I feel your pain. My DS is 5months old, my Dd started school in September and since then he has had cold after cold. I often put a couple of teaspoons of snuffle babe in a bowl of boiling water in the bedroom, an hour before baby goes to bed, this seems to help (I don’t have the vix plug in)
He also seems to prefer napping in the buggy in the day time, I suppose it’s because he isn’t flat, that’s really helping him catch up on his sleep at the moment. I’m wrapping him up and going on long walks xx

Calpol plug ins. I came across them when DS was tiny after it was recommended to me by a bank manager. They are expensive initially, as you have to buy the plug as well as the plug ins, but worth every penny. Just put the calpol strip in, plug it in and it sends out into the room a menthol smell that they breath in and helps with congestion. I couldnt have got through DSs first winter without it

Do you have a nasal suction device? E.g www.boots.com/snufflebabe-nasal-aspirator-with-case-10076203. They sound disgusting but do help.

I do have a nasal suction device but it all seems to be in her sinuses rather than her nose. I will definitely check out the calpol plug in. I've also rubbed some vicks on her baby grow and left the jar open next to her cot. Don't think I'll be able to make it to the shops today! Thankfully super Granny is coming round to give me a break so I can have a sleep too!