11 month old with continuing congestion

[osker]

Hi there,
Hope this is the right spot. I'm looking for help for an 11 month old who has had head congestion for about a month now. The pediatrician says it's not in her lungs, not an ear infection, not allergies (no sneezing or watery eyes)... must just be a cold, how about some antibiotics?
She doesn't really seem to mind it, and during the day she only coughs every so often. She does generally have a runny nose throughout the day though. It's early mornings that are the problem. She wakes up about 4am and is so thick and congested that she can't sleep anymore. She's up for the day! This has been going on for a month and I feel like she can't get over it because she's not sleeping enough, but she's not sleeping enough because she can't get over it!

Any natural remedies? What would you do?

TIA

[Llyra]

Honestly, I know your ped was skeptical, but my first thought, especially this time of year, would be allergy. I don't think that the lack of sneezing or watery eyes necessarily rules out allergy. So that would be my first thought-- seasonal allergies, of course, or possibly a dietary allergy, or an environmental allergy (molds, etc.)

[mbravebird]

I would wonder about an environmental allergy, too, like mold.

Also, unlikely given her age but possible, have you checked her teeth? Cavities can sometimes cause congestion. They did in my son. The nose and mouth share bacteria.