3.5 week old with nasty cold - any suggestions to aid breathing

[Tillysmummy]

Hi all. Dd has got a cold and has given it to our new ds (3.5 weeks). We have been madly trying to avoid this because he has a small cyst on his lung and we don't know if it will cause an infection. We have been told to take him straight to our local hospital where he was born if he seems particularly unwell. We have been dreading her bringing something back from nursery like this because we have an appointment at Gt Ormond Street for him in a couple of weeks and we were hoping that until he gets a bit bigger and stronger we would be able to keep him well. Anyway it can't be undone. It's one of those things.
Really just wanted some advice. He seems to be feeding ok (although having to come off for air frequently) and is fairly alert and not running a temp. Last night though he wanted to be held all night I guess because he's so bunged up etc and wants the comfort so I held him most of the night and then my dh took a turn. Problem is he's so blocked up and I wondered if anyone has any suggestions for someone so tiny to help unblock. I know I can't use anything but I was wondering about filling the bathroom with steam and taking him in it ? I have propped his carry cot up a bit with a book underneath it.
Thanks for your suggestions in advance.

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I rang NHS Direct for advice on this once - they suggested the steam thing. I also found propping ds up helped - as you are already trying.

going into steamy bathroom worked for us. we used to call it his evening sauna. be careful to do it in small doses. little ones get hot.

sorry twiglett but karvol might be a bit too much for a 3.5 weeker. the recommendation is 3mths and i'd wait til at least closer to that.the damp muslin is a fab idea.

put hot towels on the radiators in his room with a tiny drop of eucalyptus oil on - works really well.

that should be hot WET towels - doh

I have seen that you can buy Karvol plug in's now. They work like the air fresheners do, but obviously help to aid breathing for children with colds etc. I saw one in Tesco's for about £6, might be worth a go for throughout the night.

You can get inhalator dummy things from mothercare. But i dont know what decongestant you could use in it for such a little baby...and it depends if you are anti dummy. Do the saline drops just before a feed, to help inhalation and lessen the trauma!!

vicks baby balsam if you cheack in your bounty pack you recieved from the hospital it should be in there

saline drops are good for blocked nose - also I bought a humidifier for dd when she was tiny as she kept getting colds and coughs - it is brilliant - now use it for ds who is the same! Worth the money

definetly get a humidifier worth every penny my ds is now 4 years old and we use it every time he starts a cold or cough. It saves having to sit in a cramped bathroom or the saftey issues of the kettle. You just fill up the reservoir , add eucalyptus if you want and turn it on, close the door and it will keep little ones room lovely and moist to help breathing and break it all down. We swear by ours can get them in any good chemist argos etc. Also raise the head end of DS's cot, basket a couple of books under the top end legs is really good for helping breathing and hopefully ensuring nothing settles on the chest.

Good luck, hope they all perk up quickly!!!

My 4 week old had croup and I used our wallpaper stripper in the bathroom to create a steam room. Fantastic! worked well for the bunged up stuff. However, make sure you are lightly clothed as well as it does get v.v.steamy.

my son was born 3 months prem so when he gets a cold he always gets a nasty chest. I have done all the things listed here, again karvol is good as well as old fashioned vick.

I would take him to the doctor as if the cold has gone onto his chest they can give antibiotics, which they wouldn't for a normal cold.