7 month DD ill

[learningallthetime]

My DD has terrible cold, blocked nose, stuffy, generally not herself.

Any ideas how I can make her feel better?

you can use olbas oil with over 2 months old, calpol if temperature, tixylix if coughing. Lots of TLC and patience!
possibly warm bath might be soothing, depends if your DD relaxes for bathtime?
good luck, I've got same prob but with 4 week old (and 2.5 yr old, but she's not so worryning!).

Raise the head end of her cot or mattress, vicks rub on her chest, "snot sucker" to unblock the nose, wet towel over the radiator in her bedroom (if like me you have the heating on cos it's BLOODY FREEZING!!) Lots of fluids.

A few drops of olbas oil or similar dropped on to a muslin tied to the end of the cot. Raising the head end of the matterss/cot always helps mine, breathe and sleep easier.

I've tried giving her water but she really don't like it and only has half an 0z at a time, would you give her juice?

I would yes, if she won't drink water then any fluid is better than nothing. Is she still drinking her milk? She'll be getting enough fluids if she is. x

She's still drinking her milk.

She's completley of her food though, hasn't eaten her breakfast or lunch but I'm too worried as she's having a lot more milk than normal.

Does this sound ok?
Would you give her juice?

BUMP

My ds goes off his food totally when he's got a cold (he's 8 months) I wouldn't worry too much, just keep the milk intake up. Her appetite will probably come back in a day or two once she's over the worst. To make her more comfortable I'd echo what everyone else says, DS' room permenantly smells of Olbas oil these days, a couple of drops on a damp flannel on a warm radiator can help. We now have a warm steam humidifier for when his colds are really bad, but anything steamy can help relieve conjestion, run the hot tap in the bathroom for a bit to build up some steam. And Calpol before bed to soothe any soreness anywhere. Not much more to be done but lots of patience and TLC.

Thanks for all the advice, I've just put the olbas oil in her room and raised her cot. Will give her calpol later.

Do you think she needs more fluid than milk?

I wouldn't have thought so, I have given ds some watered down apple juice when he's had a cold just to ring the changes for him a bit more than anything. Is she drinking from a sippy cup or anything? If so maybe just keep offering it to her now and then and see if she'll take a bit of watery juice as well.

With the olbas... I've sometimes put a few drops on a tissue and held it under ds' nose for a few mins too. Not always easy when he wants to grab it, but it can help boost the effects. I usually try and get him to take a dummy when I do that to make sure he's breathing through his nose. It may be stuffy at first but a couple of good sniffs with the olbas near her nose and it might just clear things up a bit for her.

I keep offering her cup with water in so I guess if she was thirsty she'd drink it.

I think I'm just worrying too much, its horrible seeing her like this.

Milk is ok if she is off food. Half oz of water is better than no water, but she will be getting fluid from milk.

My Dd often does not eat for several days when she is unwell, but drinks milk. She had been so poorly that she would only drink 1oz water in a day and no milk!! (croup and then a throat virus).

Olbas oil/Karvol works a treat, as some-one else said, raise the mattress at head end by placing a pillow/blanket underneath it.

Lots of cuddles and fuss.

Let her have as much milk as she wants...some babies nowadays are not weaned yet so milk only will do her no harm, she will get all she needs from it including enough fluid.

It's hard not to worry when they are like that but she'll ride it through and you'll both be stronger for next time.