Six month old baby ill

[H930]

I’m looking for some advice from the wise community here! My six month old baby has a chesty cough and cold. He’s absolutely miserable with it although I think there’s something else going on too (teething? Separation anxiety? Tummy getting used to food now we’re weaning?)

He absolutely will not take any calpol or other medicine like nurofen - I’ve tried EVERYTHING believe me - dummy, bottle teat, dripping it in over several minutes, he finds a way to spit it out or once just got really upset and projectile vomited it everywhere.

He actually isn’t super blocked up or anything but is just so miserable and I’m wondering if something is hurting him (throat? General aches and pains?) if this was my older son I’d just dose him up with calpol, but it’s not an option with the baby.

I’m not sure that eg Vicks or saline spray will be any good, as I say he isn’t especially congested but clearly just doesn’t feel well at all.

Any ideas as to what I could do instead to ease any discomfort or pain he might be in?!

Sorry your little one is unwell. I wonder if he's having growing pains because 6mo is when they have another growth spurt. I know it made mine grizzly. Is he stretching his arms and legs alot? It's so hard when they can't just tell you what's wrong. Mine just got over a cold and chesty cough, he's 14mo so still have to guess at what's wrong. Hope he gets better soon😊

I'm usually all for gentle parenting and encouraging baby to make choices from an early age but where it's a health concern and if medicine is needed, the choice is not baby's.

Mine is recently recovered from a very bad cough and heavy cold, 7m old and also isn't a fan of Calpol. We ended up at the GPs and narrowly avoided being sent up to A&E due to breathing distress! Baby had a big temperature too so it wasn't an option to not have meds as I needed to bring their temp down with Calpol and also give them the steroids prescribed by GP.

How have you tried to give it to them? Mine I gave a little at a time into their back of the cheek, blowing gently/lightly on their face triggers their reflex to swallow. Then repeat until the dose is all gone. I also gave baby an old Calpol syringe to play with/hold/explore at the same time. And sang songs and cuddled loads. One 5ml dose of Calpol took about 20mins to administer.

Other than that it was a case of longer sleeps/naps, rest, keeping an eye on how hydrated that were and riding it out at home, checking regularly through the night, and keeping the head end of the cot slightly elevated. And lots and lots of cuddles. And keeping the overloving pre-schooler out the away 😂

Hope your little one recovers soon 🤞

Hi, I'm not in the UK but here we always use paracetamol suppositories for babies - sooooo much easier than oral medicine!! Maybe ask your GP or at a pharmacy?

I really recommend the snuffle babe vapour rub. I have found it helps my daughter get off to sleep when she has a cough.

You say he is weaning. Is he having yogurt yet? I used to mix Calpol or nurofen with that when my daughter was little. The medicine taking does get better once they are toddlers x

I agree not having medicine is not an option. Wrap them tightly and use a syringe.

Has baby got a temperature? That would indicate more than just a cold, and possibly a trip to the GP if it's been going on awhile.

If it's teething have you tried teething gels or powders? Maybe a cold teething toy.

Thank you all for your replies 🙏

Regarding medicine not being optional, yes I do totally agree and have been trying to give it to him - tried the blowing trick and everything - but he just somehow manages to spit it out. The one time we tried being a bit more forceful (wrapping him and laying him flat and doing the blowing with each drip over about ten minutes) he became so upset he vomited it all out, so totally pointless in that particular instance.

I do have an older child but he was born during the first lockdown and never got ill as a baby because we never went anywhere!! So I feel a bit like a ftm in this situation.

The yoghurt tip is a good one, although food does tend to get everywhere but his mouth at this early stage. I did wonder about trying calpol mixed into a small bottle of formula.

He hasn’t got a temperature and my older son and I both have the same cough and cold so I’m confident there’s nothing seriously wrong. I just feel so sorry for him and want to ease his discomfort a bit.

I didn't realise snuffle babe was good for a cough so will definitely try that.

thank you all again!

Oh and suppositories are a good suggestion! I will ask at the pharmacy!

@H930 good luck. I have been in same boat. My first daughter born in 2020 was never ill as a baby due to lockdown. Second DD is just under 1 month and already has caught a cold from older child x