8 week old has a cold, makes me worried!

[akat]

Ben is 8 weeks old and has had a stuffy nose for a while. It's stuffy not runny. He sneezes once in a while. He has not had a fever [since he's so little, I nurse him at least every 3 hrs so I would definitely notice - and I've taken his temperature often just to be sure]. He had one night where he had trouble sleeping right at the beginning, about 4-5 days ago - aside from that, doesn't act particularly sick - he smiles, kicks his legs and bats at his mobile, etc. He does not have a cough.

I do have a doctor's appt. today at 2.30, but just wanted to post because I can't stop worrying.

Since he isn't coughing at all, can I assume I'm safe from RSV/pneumonia type scariness?

[Kelly1101]

At 8 weeks old it is really common to sneeze a lot. It's the only way they can clear their nose, and doesn't necessarily mean a cold. If there is no coughing and the nose is not running, I would not be at all worried. Bring it up to your doctor today, I'm sure he/she will reassure you, but no I wouldn't be concerned.

[akat]

Thanks! I should clarify that he is VERY stuffed up - his breathing is very noisy and although we don't manage to get much out with the bulb syringe, once a day or so a big solid booger comes down to where we can see it and get it out. Sometimes it's stuffed up enough that I imagine it's hard for him to get enough breath - if my nose sounded like that, I'd definitely be mouth-breathing, know what I mean? We were putting saline in his nose, but now I've just switched to putting breastmilk. A few times a day/night, when it's really bad. Other times, during the day, it's not so bad.

We have a humidifier, but sometimes I feel like the humidifier makes my stuffed up nose *worse*, so I've been afraid to try it.

[jillmamma]

Marissa is almost 9 weeks and has already had her first cold about 4 weeks ago (thanks big brother and sister!). I did check with our ped and he said as long as she is still nursing well, plenty of output in diapers, and no fever, I did not need to bring her in. They did suggest elevating one end of her mattress for sleeping to help her breathe. I hope your LO feels better soon!

[Kelly1101]

Originally Posted by akat

Thanks! I should clarify that he is VERY stuffed up - his breathing is very noisy and although we don't manage to get much out with the bulb syringe, once a day or so a big solid booger comes down to where we can see it and get it out. Sometimes it's stuffed up enough that I imagine it's hard for him to get enough breath - if my nose sounded like that, I'd definitely be mouth-breathing, know what I mean? We were putting saline in his nose, but now I've just switched to putting breastmilk. A few times a day/night, when it's really bad. Other times, during the day, it's not so bad.

We have a humidifier, but sometimes I feel like the humidifier makes my stuffed up nose *worse*, so I've been afraid to try it.

He'll definitely mouth-breathe if he gets too stuffed up to get enough air. Being 8 weeks old he's probably still mostly mouth-breathing anyway. If he's not refusing the breast or acting like nursing is bothering him, I don't think it's too bad.

I wouldn't be worried to use the humidifier, if anything it will make his sneezes more productive. Especially if it's cold enough where you are that you still have the heat on.

[akat]

thanks everyone!

I thought that the little babies *don't* breathe through their mouths, not the other way around?

and yeah, we definitely have the heat on, there's still frost in the morning here.

I did put him on an incline last night, that seemed to help.

I'm probably overreacting by taking him to the doctor, but when I'm sitting there at 4am listening to that horrible noisy breathing, I get the most awful feeling in the pit of my stomach worrying. I'm anxious anyway, every time I catch anyone sleeping including the cat I watch to see if their chest is rising and falling... I always think it's probably ok, but then you hear the story of that one freak incident so I always want to be sure they're ok.