Sould I bother the doctor with just the sniffles & a cough?

[Tangas]

Hi
My DS has had a cough for a couple of days now, but today it sounds a little more chesty. He's also got the sniffles, his 5mo and this is his first cold. Is it likely the doctors will give him any thing for it. Am gonna make an app tomorrow, but is there anything I can do for him in the mean time?

Run your bath/shower/sink tap on the hottest you can and stand with him in the bathroom, pack it with steam.

Good idea.. Thanx

Try raising the end of his cot up (if he sleeps in one), this will help to clear him whilst he sleeps. I would give him some Calpol as well as it's likely that he's achy.

you could try a drop or so of tea tree oil/olbus oil too - that can help.
I doubt the docs can do much, tbh - but you could try the chemist for saline drop (or use ebm) to help clear the nose before feeding if he's finding that hard.
It's misearable when they're ill & you can't help, isn't it

be careful of that olbus stuff, I think it was that a while ago spilt on a babies bed and it died from inhaling too much, I always steer clear. Obviously it's ok to use as directed, just that story sticks in my head.

I would stick with Carvol, if you can use it at 5 months. You could put some on his chest and some on his blankets. You can still use it conjunction with medicines as well. Can you use Medised at 5 months? It is supposed to help clear congestion as well as make them sleepy but never worked on DS.

Unless the cough persists, I wouldn't bother with the doctors.

Good point - I think it is officially not recommended under 6 mths (although I doubt a drop or two in a room would do any harm)

You can use saline drops and a nasal aspirator to de-snot a blocked nose, which can cause them not to feed properly. Not sure what the minimum age is for Medised but the gp may be able to prescribe Otrivine drops if applicable to relieve stuffiness. Other than that a humidifier or vaporiser (Sudafed do a cheap plug in one)and raising cot head shodul help. tbh for a cold there isn't a lot more other than to treat the symptoms but wheeziness and a persistent high temperature, especially accompanied by poor appetite for fluids or sickiness, should be seen by a gp.

Whats Medised girls? and could you get it from TESCOs?

I have a baby nose clearer. But haven't heard of saline drops, where can you get these things from??

Should be able to . It is a decongestant/pain relief paracetamol based syrup with a sedative effect.

Chemist counter ? Saline is kind of an all purpose rinse.

medised only from the chemist.

i got the Saline drops too but got that from my docs as my dd was about 8 weeks old atm and couldnt breathe!!