Nurse recommended Benadryl for 9 month old?

[zenmumajen]

Hi.

My son has had a cold since last week. No fever, no coughing, just a runny nose. He has a lot of drainage lately, especially in the morning. The nurse at my pediatrician's office recommended that we put him to sleep on his stomach and give him 1/4 tsp. of children's benadryl elixir every 6 hours to help dry him up. Is there anything I can do for him without having to give him benadryl? That stuff is really strong and knocks you out. 

Thanks! 

[LaydieBugs]

Hyland's makes a homeopathic tablet for infants, for stuffy nose.  I found it at Fred Meyer in Oregon, but have also found their formulas online.

(while you're at it, their colic (tummy) and teething formulas are awesome also!)

[scrandall1173]

I never gave my daughter any allergy or cold meds...just ibuprofen if I suspected a sore throat. I also use saline spray and a nose sucker thingy-- I can't think of what they are called right now- ha!

Some colds go on forever and it's hard to wait them out but that's always what our ped recommended... Comfort measures and waiting it out.

Oh and do you use a warm mist humidifier? That may help too. We did that after reading Dr Sears' website

Good luck!

[zenmumajen]

Thanks for everyone's input! 

I wish somebody carried Hylands around here! 

He still has a stuffy/runny nose- the nurse suggestion we put him to sleep on his tummy to help with the drainage but we nurse him to sleep so not able to do that. She also said that a humidifier (we do have one!) would make it worse but I will look it up on Dr. Sears' website. 

[cristeen]

Interesting... Dealing w the same ongoing congestion/runny nose issue We were advised that there is no safe decongestant for children under 2. Saline and suction, humidifier and positioning are what we've been doing.

[newmamalizzy]

When DD had a really stuffy nose with a cold recently, I found it helpful to use Vick's vaporub on myself.  I snuggle her close for a little while and it helps her nosey clear up, then she sleeps in the bed a few feet away from me.  I know babies aren't supposed to use Vick's themselves, but I feel comfortable having it on myself as long as she doesn't sleep right near me or have it on her own skin.

[BabySmurf]

i suspect that the benedryl was suggested to make your baby sleep.  unless you know her (or him) not to be that type.  when i was a baby the doc recommended benedryl purely as a sleep solution, which IMHO is kind of dangerous for babies.  my ds had a bad cold that took a bit to clear up and a humidifier definitely helped him sleep...just do whatever you can to keep him comfortable!