DD 6 mo has a cold and chesty cough - docs tomoz?

[RGPargy]

Hi everyone

DD (6 months) has developed a cold over the last 2 days and this morning she started coughing a little chesty cough type thing. She's been fine all day with no more coughing but tonight she had a coughing fit and couldn't stop and catch her breath very well. Needless to say there were tears, snot and dribble all mixed together and i had to try and distract her so that she calmed herself down.

I'm not sure there's anything over the counter for chesty coughs for a six month old, but i'm wondering if i should nip her to the doctors tomorrow just to get her checked out? I'm worried about the cough developing into a chest infection or something.

It's only her second cold ever and her first cold just skimmed over her really and was gone in no time. Maybe it was because she was BF at the time but now only gets one BF a day so this could be why the cold is heavier.

I feel like i'm being a bit precious for taking a baby to the doctors with a cold so i just want some honest opinions please.

TIA!

Does she have a temp?

She's been a little warm all day and i did give her some calpol before bed last night. I haven't actually taken her temp yet I'll do it as soon as she wakes up from her nap in a bit.

They don't really do anything for a cough. Try airing and humidifying the air in her room tonight and raising the level of her cot head. If she can clear her throat with a cough and isn't being repeatedly sick, coughing up putrid phlegm or losing colour (ie blue lips) or running a temperature, she 'll probably be fine in a few days.

Just took her temp and it's fine so that's a relief.

I'll open her window tonight and rub on some snufflebabe and hope that that helps her a bit.

it won't hurt to get the doctor to check her chest is clear of infection if you're concerned .. but it does sound like it's upper-respiratory so I wouldn't be concerned .. see how you feel tomorrow

and as an aside .. please don't use 'tomoz' as a shortening for tomorrow .. it doesn't work and sounds awful in one's head

RGP DD2 has a chest infection and I had been giving her Meltus for babies which I bought over the counter, she'd had a temp and been sleeping pretty much round the clock for a few days earlier in the week but Calpol keeping temp down and sleep keeping her happy. Friday she seemed much better, eating & drinking more like normal and I went out leaving her with GPs as she seemed fine. My Mum phoned a couple of hours later to say she'd been vomitting phlegm and was really miserable. Got an emergency appt & turned out she had an infection, I felt soooo bad.

GP said not to worry about bringing a young baby with a cold just to check, if I'd left it over the weekend she'd have been really miserable.

I'd go just to get her checked and if it is something you'll get it treated earlier. Hope she's feeling better tho'

Well she's had a bath tonight with daddy and drank her milk before going peacefully to bed, bless her. She just seems rather bunged up so i think i might give the docs a miss, unless i get concerned.

Twiglet - sorry for the shortening. I'll make sure i never do it again from tomoz tomorrow.

Thanx Jbck. I'll see how she goes in the morning. All hell could break loose tonight so although she's gone to bed and is sleeping well, i'm not holding my breath lol.

A steamy room (eg bathroom with shower running) may be enough to clear her airways.

I don't think the doctor would do anything unless she was actually struggling to breathe (recession between her ribs or in her throat).

Also, if you think she is congested, lie her facedown on your lap and give her a good massage (imagine that you are working the phlegm upwards).

kerrymum - erk! What a worry for you!! I think that as DD is now 6 months tho, she will no doubt have a few more defences than a newborn. Obviously i would be alot more concerned if she were still tiny.

hmm i might just phone up and see if they have an appointment tomorrow, just in case. I can always cancel it i suppose!

Squeaky - bah! I normally give her a massage after her bath but didn't tonight in case she got chilly. one part of the massage includes laying her on her front and massaging her back so that might have actually helped. Oh well. I know for next time.

Definitely agree with Kerrymum, get it checked if you are even the slightest bit concerned. They can deteriorate so rapidly at that age.

I rememebr DS at 6 months had bronchiolitis and at one point they thought he had pneumonia - and then just as quickly as it came, it went ! v scary though, we were in hopsital for a while - and this was after 3 visits to the doc 3 days on the trot! My GP says not to worry even just taking him for the slightest thing - it' better to be safe than sorry.

OK, think i'll take her to the docs just to be safe.

RGP how's the little one today, mine is much better altho' still napping a lot but the antibiotics have really kicked in.

Hope she's feeling better.

Hi Jbck

DD is feeling much better today, thanx. Seems like she is a lot less bunged up than she was yesterday and her breathing appears much clearer. The cough is a lot less aggressive than yesterday too and only shows itself briefly every now and then. She deffo seems on the mend, thankfully!