Need help!?? Anyone here at this hour???

[Mjaz]

I don't know what is going on.  My LO has been up every 45 minutes since we put him down to bed at 6:45.  I can't find anything wrong - no fever, not cold, not hot, not teething...I thought we had a pretty typical day.  I don't know what I should do???

[Peek-a-boo]

{{{Hugs}}}  That's really frustrating.  If it's not normal behavior, when that happens here, I just keep chanting to myself--be patient, this isn't normal, so even though I haven't figured out what it is yet, there's something wrong and I need to love her through this.

Lately I've noticed my kids will do this sort of thing at the onset of a cold--before any symptoms are even appearing.  I just try to settle them as independently as possible, avoid any intense AP that will turn a one off into a pattern worth repeating, take shifts with DH if necessary. 

[Mjaz]

Bethany,
Thank you...I am so sleep deprived lately that I was panicking last night at the thought of an entire night like that!  I read your response before I went to bed and told myself I would simply need to be patient.

I could not believe it when he woke this morning with a stuffy nose and a cough.  You were dead on!  Is there anything I can do for a 4 mo. old with his first cold?

Thank you!!!

[~Sara~]

Hi Melinda...just to chime in here...when Aaron got his 2nd cold at 5 months, we used saline drops, Vicks vapor rub for infants, and Tylenol (just one dose at night to help with his discomfort).  You should be able to use any of those at 4 months.  Also, you could try a humidifier and elevating his mattress to help with the congestion.

[Peek-a-boo]

Yup, that's that the same bag of tricks we have.  I find the humidifier very helpful.  We also do the saline drops in the nose, leave it for a few moments to loosen stuff up, then use the bulb-suction thingy-ma-bob to suck out the snot.  They HATE it, but it really clears them out and can help. 

[Mjaz]

Thanks ladies!  Hi Sara!
He has an ear infection AND a cold!  The cough seems to be what is bothering him the most. I am running a dehumidifier, but maybe the vapor rub will help...

Thank you!

[Mom to M&M]

Personally I'm not a fan of the nasal bulb/aspirator - it can actually make things worse/increase nasal swelling. I use the saline drops/spray and let it drain out. Also a BIG fan of Vicks baby run on the feet before bed (and then covered with footed pajamas or socks). Also bring him in the bathroom and run the shower on hot and sit with him on the floor or wherever and let it get really steamy in there for 10 minutes or so. A few drops of peppermint oil in his bath can help too.

[Mjaz]

Thanks!