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Multiple births

When do you start showing with twins? What is life with twins like? Join the conversation on our Multiple Births forum.

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Original poster

DTs have constant colds - any advice?

20 replies

harrogatemum · 03/10/2005 13:15

The DTs are now 11 months old and for the last month have both had streaming noses, bad coughs and wake in the night unable to breathe through their noses. I have taken them both to the docs who just says they have colds.....has anyone else had this, is it normal or should i be worried that their colds just dont seem to go away???

OP posts:

Thomcat · 03/10/2005 13:18

I think it's pretty normal tbh. I went through a stage with lottie where she would have a cold for 2 weeks, get over it for 2 days and then it would start again. I've heard many a mum complain of the same thing. It's horrid for everyone but as far as i know it's very normal.

Do you put a bowl of hot water with olbas oil on their radiator at night, helps to air the room.

MarsLady · 03/10/2005 13:20

jnr olbas oil at night.

Don't fret it... all small children go through constant colds. They kinda slow down at 4yrs.

My DTs are 19months now and are continually streaming at the nose etc....

Just par the course I'm afraid.

I used to pray for Spring..... that's when they all vanish!

Marina · 03/10/2005 13:23

They are almost old enough to have max strength Vicks on their chests too. Dd loves this "chest cree! chest CREE!" and that does help decongest her.
Poor little things - but it is an essential phase of developing a normal immune system
How are they on fresh fruit?
And have you tried raising the head end of their cots slightly because that can help with breathing?
If you are happy to give them paracetamol-based medication Medised Infant has this in, to help with feeling rubbish when you have a cold, and a mild decongestant sedative. For the nights when a cold is at its peak this does help them sleep.

Furball · 03/10/2005 13:41

I use Medised which you can get from most chemists. It's great it really dries them up and also has anti-histimine which helps them sleep.

throckenholt · 03/10/2005 14:09

try putting a few drops on a tissue in their room overnight - it will help them breathe better. Fairly typical - mine certainly had loads of runny noses and colds - at least it means their immune system is getting lots of practice

Lonelymum · 03/10/2005 14:12

Sorry harrogatemum, it is completely normal. My ds3 had a cold every two weeks for the first year of his life (slightly less in the summer, maybe every 4 weeks.) He wasn't so bad last year. Now 2.7, I am hoping this winter won't be too bad but not going to hold my breath. He catches them from his older siblings.

TwoIfBySea · 03/10/2005 22:09

Normal, harrogatemum, unfortunately for us dabbing at snottery-beaks! Whatever illness seems to bounce from one to the other and back again. Dst (nearly 4) started nursery school in January and they were ill with colds, chickenpox etc for ages but it seems to have built up their immunity.

It is stressful though for us mums!

Original poster

harrogatemum · 04/10/2005 06:53

thanks all for your advice....have been up since 5 with one of the DTs coughing uncontrollably after he was already up at midnight so think i am going to go back to the docs even if they will just tell me to go away, feel really helpless.

OP posts:

MarsLady · 04/10/2005 07:23

hi hm... I've been up for hours with DT2 coughing his heart out. There really isn't much we can do apart from sit it out.

Have you gotten some Olbas Oil yet? They do a kids version. It really does help.

My two are currently eating breakfast with streaming noses... not a pleasant sight.

The coughing seems worse at night, but I think that that is par the course.

Don't be surprised if the Dr tells you it's just a cough again. It will get better honey. It just seems so much worse cos there's 2 of them.

encouraging Bring on Spring!

katierocket · 04/10/2005 08:11

give them probiotics, really helps build up their immune systems. This article explains it well
here

the powdered ones are best.

Original poster

harrogatemum · 04/10/2005 10:27

thanks guys, now at work and trying desperately to keep my eyes open. Will see if I can find some of those probiotics, in the meantime going to find cough medicine at lunchtime (any recommendations?) as DH wanted to give DT Cointreau this morning at 5am!!!! Hmmmmmmmmmm

OP posts:

Kelly1978 · 04/10/2005 10:32

I tried mine on cough medicine and it seems to make it worse. dt2 got to the stage of jsut a dry cough and the tixylix made it go all chesty again. I think it supressing it and it building up again. dt1 had a cold for about 3 weeks, dt2 has had it for 5 weeks. It driving me up the wall, as there is no chance of gettign them to sleep properly at night.
I found medised, and a Karvol plug in most effective.

Kelly1978 · 04/10/2005 10:32

btw, my dp keeps askign when they are old enough for phenergen.

katierocket · 04/10/2005 10:48

We've found cough mixture to be pretty useless. The GP told me to give DS Ibrubrofen if it's a chesty cough as it takes the inflamation down.

MiaouTheFamiliar · 04/10/2005 11:04

Is it definitely colds, HM? Or could they be allergic to something in the home? Not an allergy expert but doesn't that cause cold-like symptoms?

Harrizeb · 04/10/2005 12:05

Hi just something that has helped us, put something under the bed/cot to raise the head end a little bit, the coughing is often caused by mucus pooling at the back of the throat and by having the bed at an angle you automatically swallow it. Won't stop all coughing but has certainly made our lives much easier with colds at night.

Also another vote for Medised - it is fab stuff, and if you get a syringe to dose them with, you can give a dose when you go to bed to carry them through the midnight/early hours of the morning, with a bit of practise you can do this without waking them up completely.

Good luck and hope the colds ease soon for you.

H x

Harrizeb · 04/10/2005 12:08

Umm didn't know you could get karvol in a plug - good idea, I'm thinking of something like a plug in room fragance but with decongestant in it.

You could also put vic's on their jama's or vest if you don't want to put it on their skin.

H x

Kelly1978 · 04/10/2005 20:04

karvol plug in is great - smell stays there and doesn't fade. It is rather like a glade plug in.

Original poster

harrogatemum · 06/10/2005 20:38

Yes I agree Tixylix is rubbish, DT with the cough doesnt like the taste so does the whole "I am a rigid surfboard" thing so you cant get the medicine anywhere near him.

WE finally had a night without screaming last night but instead had to get up at 5am (it was our 9th wedding anniversary last night so it was a late one). Tonight DH is away in Paris on business so have my fingers crossed (and my large glass of white in front of me) that they both sleep through - send me positive thoughts!

OP posts:

Kelly1978 · 07/10/2005 16:14

hope they slept through for u!

pmsl at 'I am a rigid surfboard'! That describes dt1 so accurately!

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