6 month old with first cough/cold - how do I help him??

[Newbiemum76]

Hi, my little one has caught his first cold and cough. Started with a runny nose and now he has a horrible cough and cries each time he coughs so I think it’s hurting him. He’s had runny nappies since Friday too.

No temperature (I keep checking with ear thermometer) but he does feel warmer than normal. He spent most of yesterday asleep and same again today. But struggling to sleep at night. I am waiting for a call back from the doctors today or tomorrow.

Just wondering how I can help him feel better? I’m worried about giving calpol as can only give 4 doses in 24 hours so he can only have 1 more dose today. Would I have to wait another 24 hours after that dose before giving more? Does that make sense?

Any tips welcome!! Thanks x

If he's had three doses of calpol today then he can have another today (at least four hours after the last one) and then you start afresh when he wakes up tomorrow (or in the middle of the night as long as it's at least four hours since the last dose). So four doses between midnight tonight and midnight tomorrow, with at least four hours between doses.

Do you think the calpol is helping though? Don't fill him up on it if it's not really doing anything.

Have you got a snot sucker? Saline drops were recommended when my smallest was a baby but that was seven years ago and advice may have changed. A pharmacist will tell you if you can use them.

Have you got any plug in vapour thingies? They were always a bit of a comfort to me although I don't know how much they help.

It's horrible seeing your little baby like this but he will get better very soon with a lovely mum like you to look after him.

give ibuprofen or paracetamol before bedtime.
baths in steamy bathroom helps with congestion.
keep baby upright during the day if you can (sling?) coughing is easier this way.
use a baby safe vapour cream to soothe.
feed milk little and often.

Oooh, forgot to mention raising the head end of his cot.

I used to put my sons in the bath, then run hot taps in basin to get a bit of steam in bathroom to help with congestion. Vics on the chest or clothes also helps. Depending on what type of cough it is, pharmacy should be able to give you something that will help.

Try some baby Vicks on the soles of the feet. It does sometimes help with a cough.

Can you raise the head of the cot so his a little bit upright to help with coughing. Keep on the the calpol and he should bouce back easily

Thank you for all of your replies! @CharlotteFlax i don’t know if the calpol is helping, it just seems to help him sleep longer so I’ve been holding off giving it him in the day and giving it him through the night instead as he seems more upset at night!

We have a snot sucker yes but it’s a battle trying to use that on him while he’s wiggling around and trying to grab it, I do keep trying but I’m not getting much out before he’s rolled over, we have a plug in calpol thing so might try that overnight tonight!

@tunthebloodyalarmoff we half cosleep at the moment and he’s half in his cot, I can try raising his cot tonight but usually when he wakes for a feed in the night he’s so unsettled going back into the cot that it’s easier to just bring him into bed with me. (Not ideal I know but that’s an issue for another thread)

I will look at getting some baby vics for him tomorrow, thank you!!

Neurogenic for children is better at reducing congestion than calpol IME

Nurofen!