How can I help 8.5 month old DD with a cold?

[whoopwhoopbib]

DD has her first cold and I'm not sure what I should give her.

She has a runny nose rather than a blocked one so vicks etc doesn't seem as though it would do much for her.

We have given her one lot of calpol today and she is bf fine just a bit more often. She is just a bit grumpy and whingy and wouldn't settle properly in her cot last night but will play for a few minutes today.

I feel so helpless because it's easy when I've got a cold because I know how I feel whereas it is all guesswork with her.

Any suggestions?

We always found humidifiers great in bedroom, and raising head of cot...but runny noses only really stop running when the cold stops. You can't give antihistamines at that age these days (with dd2 we did, because a) she had complicated ENT issues and b) Medised was still sold for under 6s).

I still put Olbas Junior on pillows with colds, and calpol, and you are doing all the right things BFing more often to stop dehydration. Here's to a fighting immune system, to you not catching it, and to lots of cuddles and distractions!

Thanks, DP has a cold as well but so far I've been ok.

I have got some blocks which are for putting under the cot so I will do that for tonight. I think she might end up in our bed as she would only settle in there last night but I was a mean mummy and didn't realise she was coming down with a cold and kept putting her back into her cot .

the vicks should still work, because it makes the runny less nasty iyswim.

and lots of cuddlies.
you might find that you need to keep her with you in the night - I've noticed that DD wants to feed all night when she's ill - i think it's more for comfort than anything.
and i can't put her down because she moans or cries.

Try having a nice hot steamy bath or shower & have her in the bathroom with you. The steam will help her, to clear the snot and just generally feel better.

You are doing all the right things, my ds was about 8 months before he really had his first illness (v&d in our case) so know how you must feel.

Vicks, calpol, vapouriser in room or olbus (or any other brand) drops on a muslin tied to door handle at night. Lots of cuddles, feeds, can try offering orange segments for snack or part of meals, or diluted orange juice to help boost her vitamen c levels to help her fight it naturally.