[mrsfrenchy]

DD has a nasty cold right now. She sleeps in her own room. We cosleep from time to time, but mainly when she won't sleep in her own room (ie when she's teething)--because cosleeping results in poor sleep for both of us.

She's coughing every few minutes. It's obvious that her throat is scratchy and painful. This is the third night in a row that she's coughed almost continuously. She's woken up a couple of times/night (she normally doesn't wake up at all), but gone back to sleep pretty easily.

It's obvious that she's sleeping really lightly but I'm afraid to go in there to do....what?
DH says that if it was bad enough that she needed to nurse or something, she would be crying.

I'm just at a loss as how to help her.
Any ideas? Please? Quick?

 

[peaceful_mama]

Any other symptoms besides the cough?

cause I don't want to be a total alarmist, but DD had whooping cough at 6 weeks old and that's what it was--nights of constant coughing that weren't **nearly** as bad in the day.

but she literally could not lay down, the only way I was able to help her sleep was to keep her upright on my chest.

you would know if that was your problem, I mean I ended up taking DD to the ER the third night, it was that bad.

short of that, vaporizer, the moisture in the air should help.

 

[mom2annika]

Vaporizer, or in a pinch, a humidifier. You say it's not really keeping her from sleeping, and most cough meds aren't recommended for kids anymore anyway (let alone babies). A vaporizer will not build up ickies the way a humidifier might.

Keep her warm, keep her hydrated. Good luck!

 

[mrsfrenchy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mom2annika Vaporizer, or in a pinch, a humidifier. You say it's not really keeping her from sleeping, and most cough meds aren't recommended for kids anymore anyway (let alone babies). A vaporizer will not build up ickies the way a humidifier might. Keep her warm, keep her hydrated. Good luck!

I've used both and haven't seen (or heard) any difference with either. She's got a nasty runny nose (think snot running down her face--she won't let me wipe her nose). She still coughs a little during the day but it's obviously better when she's upright.

How would you tell that it was whooping cough? I don't think it is, but don't really know what to look for.

 

[anj7]

She could be coughing on the nasal drip. I'd suggest elevating her head/head of her bed and I use a humidifier (I don't have a vaporizer). One of my girls has an 'underlying asthma condition', her asthma flares up when she has a cold and she coughs all night long.

 

[nycmom18]

if you're nursing still, i would up your vitamin c like a lot and get her to nurse more often, maybe even lay off the solids for a couple of days....

 

[nycmom18]

also, steam shower for 10-15 minutes every night or as often as necessary throughout the day to clear the congestion so it doesnt get "stuck" in her sinuses.

 

[peaceful_mama]

When my dd had whooping cough, she had *just* the cough--no runny nose or other cold symptoms.

But she would sometimes cough up a little bit of "junk"...what got me to take her in to the ER finally was this stuff got so thick she was choking on it.

that was after 2 previous nights of cough-all-night me sitting up with her. Then I'd call the doc's office at 8 AM, had her in there a couple times, finally got the OK to even give cough meds.

I mean, you would absolutely know this was more than just a "normal cold" cough. It starts that way, but it gets *bad*, you know you need a doc.