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Original poster

6-week-old baby with a cold... Feel like a bad mummy!

15 replies

angel1976 · 04/04/2008 12:48

My 6-week-old DS developed a cold overnight. I could hear his breathing becoming heavier last night. This morning he has been sneezing and mucus coming out of his nose. I feel like such a bad mummy i.e. maybe I haven't put enough clothes on him etc...

Managed to get some mucus out of his nose this morning... Poor fellow doesn't know how to blow his nose. He seems ok otherwise... Feeding as normal, alert when awake, no fever, though I can see him sometimes struggling to understand why he suddenly isn't breathing like before!

Should I take him to the doctors? Is this common? What can I send my DH to get on way home from work? Any advice appreciated!

Thanks, Ax

OP posts:

mad4mybaby · 04/04/2008 12:52

nose drops are the best thing by far as i dont think there are many things you can give a newborn. There as specific ones for babies. Also there is a vapour rub you can put on their chests by snuffle babe i think. You can get it all from boots, chemist or most supermarkets. The plug in decongestants are great i use for my ds but you need to check it ok for newborn

mad4mybaby · 04/04/2008 12:53

oh also raising his head when he sleeps will helps. You could roll up a towel and put under matress or if in a cot put blocks under one end

Seona1973 · 04/04/2008 12:53

colds are viral so you wont have affected him in any way even if you had left him stripped down to his nappy!! You cant do much for a 6 week old as they are too young for calpol, etc. I think you can get saline nasal drops from the chemist that could help with his breathing or how about running the hot taps in the bathroom and then sit in the steam for a wee while. You can also get 'snot suckers' (nasal aspirators) which can get rid of some of the snot from his nose - I have seen them in Boots. I dont think the doctor would be able to do much so I wouldnt take him unless he did start running a temperature and/or refused his feeds.

wiredtothemoon · 04/04/2008 12:56

Agree with nasal drops and the plug in decongestant (karvol do one)
Also if you lay him over knee face down for a bit can help to clear the nose for a bit.If he's managing to feed no problem then he's getting some air in through nose!
Running hot shower and putting him in steam for a bit might also help.
They get colds all the time,certainly doesn't make you a bad mummy!

Original poster

angel1976 · 04/04/2008 13:23

Thanks! I feel like crying though... watching him breathing so hard!

OP posts:

wiredtothemoon · 04/04/2008 13:52

It is horrible to watch,ds has just got over a cold.He is 6 months so even worse when they are smaller.
If you get really concerned about his breathing,even just to put your mind at rest then get him checked out by gp. Watch out for him breathing really fast (60 or more breaths a minute) sucking in between his ribs or under his ribcage.If he is becoming more unwell,high fever or not feeding also get him seen.

nappyaddict · 04/04/2008 13:55

saline drops and a plug in vaopuriser will help him breathe better. also you can get baby vicks and olbas oil.

nappyaddict · 04/04/2008 13:56

oh and karvol drops on his cot sheets will help him sleep during nap times and at night.

Pheebe · 04/04/2008 17:49

At 6 weeks I think he's too young for sunffle babe/karvol isn't he. We used a humidifier (can use a wet towel over the radiator) to keep all the mucus moving, and raised up the head of the cot. we found a dummy helped him shift some of the mucus himself

Egg · 04/04/2008 17:52

Don't worry my DD (12 weeks now) has had a permanently snotty nose most of her life. I enjoy suctioning it out with the nasal decongester thing (it suctions the snot out and is very satisfying, can be bought in Boots). I have had had three colds since DTs were born and I think she just gets it all from me.

nappyaddict · 04/04/2008 18:16

when ds hada cold at 5 weeks the doctor recommended this so i assume it can be used from birth.

we used children's olbas oil and karvol drops too. it did say from 3 months but the pharmacist seemed to think it would be ok as it's no difference to using a vapouriser.

nappyaddict · 04/04/2008 18:16

when ds hada cold at 5 weeks the doctor recommended this so i assume it can be used from birth.

we used children's olbas oil and karvol drops too. it did say from 3 months but the pharmacist seemed to think it would be ok as it's no difference to using a vapouriser.

bubblagirl · 04/04/2008 18:28

sit in steamed bathroom for 10 mins before putting down and raise head of cot or moses basket to keep air ways open

its nothing you have done wrong so dont feel bad my ds had continuous snuffles for months at that age

LIZS · 04/04/2008 18:55

Desnotter(nasal aspirator),saline drops, raise bed head, humidifier/wet towels and washing on radiator( too little for decongestant/vaporiser). It's a cold , unless he stops feeding/is more sick than usual, has a temperature, becomes lethargic/hard to rouse or breathes in rapidly sucking around the ribs he doesn't need meiacl attention and it shodul pass in a few days.

fannysparkle · 04/04/2008 19:07

It is horrible when they are so small, my ds constantly had a cold and actually still does. There isn't anything you can do to stop them getting them and each one will be making their immune system stronger. I used the saline drops, they were quite good as they made ds sneeze and so it would clear his nose for a little while. Like LIZS said as long as he is feeding and seems pretty normal in all other areas he will be fine. Do feel for you, i remember it well, don't blame yourself though.

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