When Mabel started nursery every other week for at least the first 3 months, she had some kind of cough and/or cold. As a parent you can’t help but feel a bit useless, there is no cure, no one bottle of magic medicine to make your baby sleep well and no way of making them know how to blow their nose…..I can remember lying awake at night frantically googling potentially remedies whilst listening to Mabel sob with frustration and fatigue.
Just recently Mabel has been suffering with yet another flu-ey type virus that’s been doing the rounds in our area, even now, two weeks on she still has an irritating cough but it’s been easier to deal with now we are aware and experienced in various proven remedies. Unfortunately I can’t offer any instant miracles but I can share some of tried and tested solutions that have certainly helped soothe the symptoms and make the road to recovery that little less bumpy.
Please do consult your Doctor/GP before using new medicines with your baby and ask for advice if you are unsure how to administer, the correct dosage or associated side effects. Always read any associated instructions thoroughly and carefully before using any medicinal product with your child.
Foam Wedge/Pillow
Simple, some might say obvious, but definitely makes a major difference to Mabel’s cough and thus how well she is able to sleep. As she was so little with her first cold we used a foam wedge underneath her mattress, often associated with anti-reflux. As she is almost two now we use a regular small cushion but the Clevamama Clevafoam Baby Pillow available at Boots is suitable from birth and is made from completely breathable materials.
If Mabel rolls off her cushion/pillow for any reason during the night the coughing inevitably becomes worse, as soon as we place her back on, her cough becomes far less frequent.
Nasal Aspirator
Not particularly pleasant (for either party!) but definitely effective – and a nasal aspirator is suitable from birth. I can recall James trying to get the hang of it when Mabel had her first blocked nose (somewhere between 6-8 weeks) and it really did make an improvement to her level of comfort, even if the relief barely lasted an hour.
Vapour Plug In
We use the Calpol Sooth and Care Vapour Plug In – suitable from 3 months old. The lavender and chamomile oil really do seem to improve breathing and a blocked nose.
(Non paracetamol) Medicines
Most syrups contain Glycerol which has soothing properties thought to aid tickle and dry coughs. We use the Boots own brand which is suitable from 3 months. Now Mabel is a little older I have tried the Organic Elderberry Syrup from Neal’s Yard – suitable from 12 months. She seemed to be fine taking it (always a bonus) and I know it’s certainly helped to soothe my scratchy cough this past week or so.
Please do share your experiences and effective remedies in the comments box below, I’m hoping we’ll gather so many useful tips that we can put together a definitive list and keep it somewhere permanently on the blog as a useful reference.
Image by Little Beanies
I absolutely swear by nose frida for clearing out snotty noses. Takes a bit of time perfecting the technique and maybe 2 people to wrestle down a toddler to keep them still but it is amazing!
Also, snuffle babe on the feet before bed is always a good shout
Hi Harjit, I’ve heard about this snuffle babe via instagram – I must check it out x
Vapour rub on feet, under a pair of socks is quite simply magical for a cough. It won’t take a nasty cough away but the bouts of coughing are certainly less frequent and not as intense.
Poor kiddies, it must be so horrible for them when they’re ill.
Xx
Great post Charlotte. There’s nothing worse than your little one suffering and not being able to do much about it. We’re actually about to buy the Vicks Humidifier for Ethan, I have some Mama friends who rave about it for coughs and colds. Not sure if it’s available in the UK, but here’s the Oz link: http://www.babybunting.com.au/vicks-humidifier-starry-night.html
Hi Naomi, yes I’ve heard a humidifier is effective – for adults too apparently, I’ll take a look and see if they do them here x
We’ve had a nightmare with sleep for the last week ? But I went to the chemist yesterday and bought anything & everything I could find… A combination of ibuprofen, snufflebabe chest rub, calpol plug in and saline nasal spray seemed to work thankfully! So awful when they’re all bunged up and helpless xx
Isn’t it the worst Shelley, I can’t ever sleep when Mabel is unwell, I just fret all night worrying! I hope your little gets well soon x
Very well timed – we’re 4 weeks in to Juliet’s nursery attendance and she has been ill for the full 4 weeks. She’s also growing 4 teeth at the same time – so sleep has been somewhat elusive during my first month back at work! Coffee is my friend.
Juliet moves too much for a wedge/pillow i think. Every time I look at the monitor she’s changed position..
But we have had some success with calpol, nurofen, snufflebabe on the chest and a damp cloth on the radiator with olbas oil on it. I put a lot of olbas oil on it and have it in her room for an hour before bed so it’s all mentholly when she goes to sleep. And then repeat as it dries out.
Recently, I’ve started to be more generous with the medicine – mostly due to her clearly being in pain with her teeth. I used to try and hold back giving her stuff – I think I thought it was the right thing – until I saw her two top teeth coming through and I realised just how horrible that must be! Now I try and act how I would act. If I was going to bed with a terrible cold I would take paracetemol to try and get some sleep. xx
Calpol medicine really is a life saver in terms of teeth, it’s the only thing that made a difference for Mabel. She also moved quite a bit with a wedge to begin with, less so now though x
Milly is in her first few months at nursery and she seems to be getting coughs and colds on a 7 days on 5 days off basis. It’s horrible. However, we have found the Vick’s humidifier works well for easing coughing and generally making breathing easier at night.
This is the story of my life – Zoe started nursery back in October when she was 8 months and was constantly ill until a couple of weeks ago. I got that Calpol plug in and it really is good – it even worked on me when I had a touch of the cold. Snufflebabe vapour rub is also helpful. I just put it on Zoe’s feet, because every time I’ve tried the soles of the feet method, she has wiped it off on my jeans before I’ve finished applying it! Snufflebabe also do a saline nasal spray which is good for blocked tiny noses. Fingers crossed there aren’t too many weeks of cold season left…
Oops, I meant I just put it on her chest, not her feet. Brain/fingers disengage.
I drop a few drops of Olbus Oil for kids on Frankie’s duvet when she has a cough/cold, that seems to help. Plus good old Vicks on her chest now she’s a bit older. We tried the raised pillow trick but has the innate ability to slide down, lay flat on her back and snore like my Dad on a bad day.
It’s easier now she’s older as she can blow her nose which is such a help, but not so good on the amount tissues we go through 🙂
Mabel snores, even when she’s not unwell – really loud as well!!!! I wonder if this is something that will continue?!
Calpol plug-ins are absolutely amazing. They are pricey but SO worth it. We don’t use a wedge, just stick thick books under the feet of the cot – bonus is that it’s free! Definitely stock up on Calpol, I know some parents are reluctant to give drugs as they are not “natural” etc etc but we have to remember that babies & toddlers can’t tell us what hurts when, and paracetemol/ibuprofen has not proved to be harmful if you follow the correct guidance.
My daughter suffers from coughs but we don’t use cough syrup as there is evidence that at best it is useless in small children and at worst it can be harmful. When her cough was particularly bad as a baby the Doctor prescribed a steroid inhaler to use for a short period which did work well. I would definitely advise seeing your GP if you are worried about the duration of a cough (i.e. if it goes on more than 2-3 weeks).
My 7 week old has his first cold! We have used steam showers, his Moses is already propped up and keeping bowls of water by radiators.
Any other suggestions as we can’t use any helpful medicines yet!