Suggestions on easing nasal congestion

[Karen99]

DS (8mo) has had a constant runny nose and nasal congestion for the last week or so. Nothing I do seems to ease it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to ease the nasal congestion?

I have tried:
-steamy shower
-wet towel on radiator
-vapour rub on chest and bed clothes
-raising end of cot (thought we've had to remove this as DS now moves about in the cot and often ends up lying down-hill!)

Thank you!

We had a nasal aspirator (or 'snot sucker' as it became known in our house!!) which was great to get rid of the nasal congestion. Wasn't much fun to administer, but did the job.

I got ours from a catalogue (can't remember which one, sorry), but if you ask at a Chemist they might be able to help.

What about some fresh air? I usually open ds's window once he's gone to sleep and then shut it before I go to bed so he doesn't get too cold in the night. This seems to help him. Otherwise we try Karvol on the bed clothes or putting a drop of eucalpytus oil in his bath so he can inhale the steam.

my DS2 5 mo is the same at the moment. I put a couple of drops of Thyme essential oil on his PJs, Neal's Yard do it, and use a nasal spray of saline solution.
Eases it a bit but doesn't stop him snuffling and waking 4 times a night

Another vote for the snot sucker. Best couple of quid I ever spent.

but how do you pin them down long enough to do it? I have sucked it out myself on occasions (a mother's love and all that)

Once little Bob worked out it made him feel better he was fine. He now actually gets excited if he sees it approaching. Plus the noise makes him giggle.

Have you tried saline nasal drops? - you can buy them at the chemists - works a treat on my ds who is surprisingly unphased by salt water up his nose. We have a snotsucker too - very satisfying when it works, but I'm not that skilled at getting getting a proper air lock going with it without freaking him out. If you want to try the drug route Medised seems to dry up runny noses too...

otrivine, for adults and children, I swear by it. Works for 10hours at a time, and you can breath again.

LOL BTB!

Thanks all for these suggestions! I'll ask the chemist today if they sell a "snot sucker" otherwise I'll do a Google for aspirator! Oils & saline drops on my list too. I agree about the fresh air, but usually close the window when I put him down! DOh!

Thanks again

Karen99 - don't suppose you are still bf? If so a couple of drops of breast milk work wonders

We have a karvol plug in,like the glade thingys but it opens up and you slot in a karvol slide.It cost 7 or 8 pounds and comes with 3 slides,you can also buy the slides in packs of three refils.I got it in superdrug but boots also have them now and they can be left on in the room all night,these seem to be the best thing i have ever come across in 8 years of snot and colds.

Hi Loobie - just picked one up today! Along with a 'snot sucker'! DS didn't quite know what to make of it, but DH had fun playing with it before we tried it on DS Also found a pocket size vaseline which will hopefully soothe the soreness from all my tissue rubbing..

Found that the Otrivine was from 2yrs+ and DS is only 8mo. Couldn't find any other saline drops.

Prufrock - yes, still bf.. just a little under the nose? How does that help? Someone should bottle it.. the amount of things a little b-milk heals!

Hi karen, otrivine was given to my baby at 8 months, he is a heart baby and if he is bunged up and can't breath, he turns blue. On the packaging it says= consult doctor before using on infants under 2 years of age. Not to be used on infants less than 3 months old. Ask your Dr, to prescribe it for you. This is something I recomend to all my friends now......