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General health

How can I help him???

29 replies

burstingbug · 18/09/2005 10:36

My poor ds is 7 months this week, since Monday he has had a cold, real stuffy nose and a cough, Monday night he only had a bout 3 hrs sleep, on and of in short bursts of 20 mins at a time. My HV said to put snuffle babe on his chest which I have been doing before bed. He was sleeping fine again up untill last night where again he only got up to half an hour at a time. This is becoming a nightmare as he won't settle when we put him in his cot and he's cried constantlty through the night, both me a dh have been up all night between us and having to hold ds and hoping he'll be quiet and settle to sleep.
ds won't let us near his nose so we cant move anygunk out of the way to help him breathe better. I have resulted to putting snffle babe in a cup of water and having it on a table next to ds. I have finally managed to have him sleeping for the past half hour in his buggy which involved alot of pushing backwards and forwards.

What else can I do and how can I help him?
Sorry this is long and rambled but I'm exhausted !

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crazydazy · 18/09/2005 10:42

Have you tried putting in the steam filled room? My kids really suffer with coughs and colds all winter long and find that when they get really bad this helps them breathe and clear their airways. We still worry like mad and they are 5 and 3 and I remember when they were babies it was horrible.

Good luck x

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crazydazy · 18/09/2005 10:43

sorry...."putting her in the steam filled room"

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burstingbug · 18/09/2005 10:45

Steam filled... could I sit ds in the bath room after I've had a bath ? would that work?

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nannyjo · 18/09/2005 10:48

turn on all taps really hot in bathroom and sit in there for a while, it works wonders.

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nannyjo · 18/09/2005 10:48

and shower

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burstingbug · 18/09/2005 10:50

Will just have to be the taps nannyjo, we don't have a shower
He's still sleeping at the mo in his pushchair, not dared to move him.

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crazydazy · 18/09/2005 10:54

It is really good though burstinbug. Just go in there for 20 minutes, if you can get the buggy in get DH to help you and let him stay in there whilst he sleeps, when he wakes up he will feel so much better.

We have tried everything as our kids are mildly asthmatic too, the coughs they have are very upsetting and tiring but this method really does help!!!

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burstingbug · 18/09/2005 10:59

I shall go and do that now, I can wheel him in. Poor DH is having his turn at sleeping.
When can you tell if babies have asthma? DH has it and just wondered if it'll be something that DS may have or develop later.

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crazydazy · 18/09/2005 11:15

We just found they had it because that since they were babies they have averaged 1 cold/cough a month. The colds are not a worry its the cough, they can cough for hours and have been know to cough continuously throughout the night. We have been to the GP countless times and in the end they decided the kids could be mildly asthmatic so gave us inhalers, we have found the preventer is much better than the reliever and plan to start administering them as soon as the first cold starts (touch wood been okay so far).

I was given steroids whilst pregnant with both my kids to mature their lungs as there was a danger of premature birth. I am sure this is linked to the fact that they have mild asthma although yet I have not found a link.

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jacobsmummy · 18/09/2005 12:17

I used to wait until my children were asleep in their cot and then put a large bowl of hot water (sometimes with a little bit of lavender or carvol in it) The steam works wonders althgough you would NEVER do it if there was any possibility that they could get access to it and scald themselves.

Even when the water is cold, it stil humidifies the air that they breathe in and may help.

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ess · 18/09/2005 13:57

Just to add, you can but Karvol plug in at Boots- each refil lasts about a day- we found this really helped, also propping cot up at head end with phone books stopped her getting so bunged up in the night.

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burstingbug · 18/09/2005 14:07

More hot steamy smelly water it is then.
He's sooooo tired poor thing, but can't sleep again.
The bathroom steam didn't really work, it was just very hot in there.

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dinny · 18/09/2005 14:37

I used to put my mouth over ds's nose and gently suck out all the snot/gunk so he could breathe easier. worked perfectly, I kid you not!

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burstingbug · 18/09/2005 14:42

Eugh, do you not end up with all their gunk in your mouth? ds has finally dozed off on me
just hope he'll keep his whinging and crying to a minimum when he wakes up, otherwise he'll find himself on the door step !!

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dinny · 18/09/2005 14:45

er, yes, you do if it's worked!

even ds's snot is lovely to me just read your bit about your ds not letting you near his nose so probably not much help.

no other suggestions other than steam and putting a couple of thick books under one end of cot mattress to keep him tilted upright.

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burstingbug · 18/09/2005 14:52

Ew!! I might try it later if I can think about it without gagging I'll try books again tonight, we took them away a few weeks ago. daren't move while he's sleeping on me, so i'll have to get the water later.
When he wakes..... any ideas how to stop him from being a mega grouch??? I swear I'll go mad if he continues to cry. I understand he's not well, but theres only so much I can do for him.

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hunkermunker · 18/09/2005 14:53

Medised. Medised. Medised. Will dry up his snot and help him sleep too.

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burstingbug · 18/09/2005 14:56

where would i find said medised? bearing in mind i have a mega grouch, no transport and its a sunday?

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dinny · 18/09/2005 14:59

oh yes, how could I forget Medised?? any pharmacies near you?

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hunkermunker · 18/09/2005 15:00

Pharmacies, including supermarket ones.

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burstingbug · 18/09/2005 15:02

there is one about 15 mins walk but garrenteed to be shut. not sure where our on duty chemist is. i could ask my mum to find the open chemist, but she doesn't have transport either.

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dinny · 18/09/2005 15:04

friend? neighbour?

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tatt · 18/09/2005 15:08

steam always helped us - not much but better than anything else. Any friends nearby with young kids who might have some medised (not that I've tried it personally ). I used to put cold water in the bath first to get more steam and boiled a kettle in the bedroom. Also raised the head of the bed.

His nose is probably quite sore but you need to try and wipe it, he'll feel better later. Couldn't suck myself but some people buy a little bulb to do it.

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burstingbug · 18/09/2005 15:13

Neighbours aren't that helpful and nightmare at the best of times! No family close by and my friends are too far away or non drivers.
Doesn't help that we live 7 miles away from friends and the main town. We only have a few shops on the island which all but 2 shut on a sunday

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dinny · 18/09/2005 15:36

which island do you live on, Burstingbug? (I'm from an island...not yours though, too big)

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