Any tips on helping them sleep when has a cold/cough!!

[becksmummy]

Hi my dd is 9 mths and for the last few weeks has had a cold and as soon as she lays down to sleep she starts coughing. I have been to the chemist but at this age there isnt a lot they can take they have to just put up with it by the look of things!!

She is normally quite a good sleeper but with not being able to breath well and coughing we are having some terrible nights, any help would be appreciated!!!!!!

You could try vaporub on her chest and maybe some infant karvol on her sleepsuit (it's not quite as eye-watering as the adult version). Also, what I used to do was to put a couple of hardback books under the cot legs at the head end, to tilt the cot up slightly, to let things drain IYSWIM.

My DD 7 months has a cold just now, she chokes when lying on her back. I gave her some calpol last night and a few dots of Olbas Oil on her pyjamas. She slept fine x

Also, to loosen things up a bit before bedtime you could try popping her in a steamy bathroom? (obviously not unattended )

medi-sed! she'll sleep like a log, mine can't keep asleep longer than 15 minutes when she takes it. I only ever give it to her if she is genuinely congested, the decongestant makes her sleep. If she has a cough you could give her baby benylin or tyxilix with guafenisin in it, wouldnt help with teh sleep though, just be really careful with combining, check with pharmacist. The medi-sed is v strong and i do feel a bit guilty thinking oh well she will defo sleep tonight but it is good for her to have a restful sleep to help recover.

oh and yes, i almost forgot, karvol capsules on a tissue nearby. Also, check with pharm re the medised that can have at 9 months cant remember, i think its from 6 but de check first.

deffo medised, if they sleep well they will recover quicker

can you get hold of a vapouriser, or make her room steamy in some way? This really works for mine - before I bought a vapouriser, I would turn the radiator right up and put a wet towel on it, with some olbas oil on it. Also, jacking up the cot at the head end seems to help a little (DS1 was elevated on Tom clancy's for ages when he was this age). Hope this helps.

Medised? It's paracetamol with an antihistamine so it dries out their nose but, as with most antihistamines, it makes them drowsy and helps them sleep. I swear by it over the middle few days of a cold when dd is so bunged up she can't suck on her dummy and Karvol, etc does absolutely nothing. You can get it from the pharmacy.

raise the head of the bed

Thanks everyone, I had bought medised but felt bad giving it for just a cold but seems like it helps with breathing and gives a good nights sleep!

Have tried karvol but didnt seem to make much difference and most cough medicine they can have until they are 12 mths old, I like the ideas of wet towel on radiator and raising end of bed will give those a go tonight, thanks again!!

Could I ask a question about medised - do you find 1 dose at bedtime is enough or does it need repeating during the night??

I've only had to use it once for the whole night, if that helps?

Same here, one dose (I do give the maximum for their age though [bad mummy emoticon]) lasts all night.

Medised is a total life saver-I agree, my DD seems to have a constant cold..Plus I stick a folded up pillow under the end of her mattress-at first I was worried she wouldnt get to sleep so propped up but she went off fine and it really helped..