6 week old baby has a cold

[ItCameUponAMidnightClara]

... and I'm getting it too, thanks DP.

Is there anything I can give him? He is so young I imagine most medication isn't suitable.

The worst thing is his breathing, he sounds so congested - I have read about a pipette/bulb thing to suck all the gunk out of them - what is this called and where can I find it? His breathing kept me up most of the night (we are co-sleeping).

I usually just ride colds out (well, there's not much choice is there) but is there anything I can take to ease the lack of sleep and night feeds?

I don't want to stop co-sleeping, not even for a couple of days, but am worried about tiredness building up and making it less safe.

I don't think there is anything you or your baby can take.

A bowl of hot water with oilbas oil in near you may help.

The best thing is lots of fluid for you, milk for your baby, and sleep when you both can.

Oh, and holding on to the thought that it will only last for a couple of days!

You can use saline drops (Nasosal is the brand name I think) for the baby. One drop in each nostril does a great job. I do it just before a feed and it makes a big difference.

And for you its the old honey and lemon drink and a couple of paracetemol. Now, rug up and have that DP bring it to you!

Perhaps DP can decamp to the spare room or sofa to give you both a bit more space in bed? Or just take to your bed and nap when you can/need to?

Hope you feel better soon

My DD had a cold at 7 weeks and I used one of those pipette/bulb things. I can't remember what they're called either, but I bought it from Boots. It was really useful and helped her breathe much better. Also I propped up the head end of the cot with some blankets underneath the mattress. I've heard the nose drops also work really well.

Yep the nose drops can be used from birth and are great. Get them at boots. Also you can drop a few menthol crystals into a bowl of hot water and put fairly near baby. From 3 months there is more you can give them...

the nose thing is called a nasal aspirator (or snot sucker as it is known in our house).
They really are fantastic,if you ust the saline drops up their nose a min or two before you snot suck much more comes out.
I bought mine from Superdrugs and it came with the saline drops.
I put books under the head end of the cot and use the plug ins that have menthol and use lots of karvol in the room as well.
Good luck.

Thanks for the posts, DP went to Boots and has tried to de-snot DS but not much came out so don't think he is that bad at the moment. Sorry that's far too much information, isn't it.

I didn't realise how little I can take whilst breastfeeding - though I suppose like in pregnancy, they can hardly use women as a test for anything - I wanted to take echinacea but will stick to Lemsip.