Vicks - is it OK to give to 6 week old, on tissue in clothes?

[lowrib]

My LO has a blocked nose. My friend has said I should put Vicks on a tissue, and put it down his top so he can inhale it. I'm not sure about this.

Vicks says it's only for 6 months+ but my friend says that's only right for if you rub it into the skin, but inhaling it from a tissue is OK. Is this true?

[fryalot]

I don't see any reason why not.

But olbas oil is probably better and deffo ok for a little one.

[ChiefMangosuthuButhelezi]

It's a bit strong I think. I think even snufflebabe is from 3 months.

[bruxeur]

Be very careful with camphor and tiny people, it's pretty vicious stuff. Seizures have been reported...

[bruxeur]

case study here

[ChiefMangosuthuButhelezi]

I seem to remember having some saline type solution and you put a drop in each nostril, or getting the bathroom all steamy and sitting in there with the ds's. Ask the chemist or the doc.

[Lastyearsmodel]

They can sleep upright on you in sling or raise the feet of their cot/crib on books or similar to help breathing.

Baby Olbas or Snufflebabe on sheets nearby should be fine. And the steamy bathroom thing. And wet towels on a radiator to create damp atmos helps too.

There is something about an onion but I can't remember and some other wise MNetter should be along shortly...

[Seona1973]

even albas oil is for over 3 months but I would put a drop or 2 on a tissue in the room and see if that helps.

[NAB09]

I think too strong for a 6 week old.

[vanessa26]

There is a plug in that help them breath easy, its 5 pounds+ but very worth it (I cannot remember what it is called but go to boots and explain and they will know what it is, as thats where they sell it.

[mrsdisorganised]

I used olbas oil diluted in my oil burner in the room where baby was, it wasn't strong but really helped her she was only 4-6 weeks too.

[believer07]

I would say definatly NO, i have read a recent study said that vick/olbas oil when used on babies too young can acutally inflame the air ways. I would use the child albas at a good distance away, never on clothes. Humidity is what you want, a wet towel on a radiator.

[lowrib]

Thanks for the replies everyone

believer07 Do you know where I could find that study?

Brilliant tip on the steamy bathroom, thanks ChiefMangosuthuButhelezi and Lastyearsmodel. I was trying to work out a way to humidify the room - that sounds much easier than anything I was imagining!

My LO has had a stuffy nose for a while now. Most of the time it doesn't bother him much, but when he's feeding sometimes he has to come up for air, and the because he's snuffly anyway, he then can't breathe at all for a some seconds (seems like ages to me!) he goes all red as he desperately gasps for air and it's horrid to watch, so I want to have a good go at helping clear his airways.

I've been using saline solution (as advised by Dr) and a nasal aspirator. I think I'll try the head raised thing tonight.

Thanks for the case study bruxeur. Seems inconclusive though, the child in the study was 2 and I think they mean she actually ate the Vicks!

Having said that, my instinct was "no". I'm keen on natural stuff like Olbas Oil, but it just seems too strong for my little 6 week old!

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

I have a habit of dabbing olbas oil on the curtain above the radiator in DS's rooms that way there is no chance they can end up rubbing their faces in it but they get the benefit of the vapours

[SlightlyMadScotland]

I am with Beliveer on this one...camphor, eucolyptus and menthol can disturb their breathing centre and inflame the airways. It can actually cause small babies to stop breathing.

I have seenteh study before but unfortunately I couldn't find it again when I was looking for someone else recently. I will try looking again though.

[bruxeur]

Mmm. Case study was just an example, I'm not suggesting that you would feed your baby camphor, but smaller babies are at more risk of side effects from even small amounts - just saying be careful is all.

Olbas oil is another matter - that stuff has killed childre (all older, again) - it's also worth remembering that arsenic, cyanide and belladonna are all "natural".

[lowrib]

Hi bruxeur "I'm not suggesting that you would feed your baby camphor" of course you're not!!

I'm not keen on the idea of Vicks or Olbas oil for my DS when he's so young, and this thread has fed my distrust of it.

But .. I was hoping for something more concrete I could show my friend as she still thinks I'm being a crazy lady / PFB!

[SOLOveMeTenderLoveMeDo]

Well, I definitely would not put a tissue in the babys clothing. What happens if it works its way out and baby gets it in its mouth...No, definitely not!

Lavender oil on the bed linen or on babys sleep suit IMO/E.

[PinkyMinxy]

Is the children's olbas oil also harmful?

I have used it, veyr sparingly on a cloth near my baby.

I found a small bowl of water stood on the radiator worked really well, along with propping the crib up.

[PinkyMinxy]

ie next to the crib, but I did get the impression it made her eyes sting a bit.

[PinkyMinxy]

oh dear, I should be asleep! I mean the children's olbas oil was on a cloth next to the crib- on my bedside table.

[Traylouisebanbury]

I'd strongly disagree always follow what it says if a baby is younger than the age its saying please do not use people forget that vicks baby run and vicks adult can harm a child if not used right it cause inflammation of the lungs please I recommend you it the shower on or bath and just heat the bathroom of hot steam this will clear baby's airways when you walk in to a steaming room hope this helps even though it might help for your friends baby it might have dangers for yours x

[Traylouisebanbury]

@Traylouisebanbury

I'd strongly disagree always follow what it says if a baby is younger than the age its saying please do not use people forget that vicks baby run and vicks adult can harm a child if not used right it cause inflammation of the lungs please I recommend you it the shower on or bath and just heat the bathroom of hot steam this will clear baby's airways when you walk in to a steaming room hope this helps even though it might help for your friends baby it might have dangers for yours x

I mean make the bathroom steaming do not add any vicks in the bathroom