OK to Sleep in Car Seat/Swing During a Cold?

[Mom to M&M]

My sweet Marisa (7.5 weeks) has had a cold since Friday night/Saturday morning. No fever - just stuffy and runny nose, coughing, sneezing, etc. She is seeing the doctor anyway on Wednesday for her normal checkup.

During the night she has been sleeping pretty well in her crib (on incline) but she is having a hard time napping in there during the day - she keeps waking up coughing and sneezing. Is it OK to let her nap in her car seat or swing since they keep her more upright and able to breathe? I don't want her to get used to only sleeping in them, but she does need to be able to sleep to get better!

[Tonya]

I say yes - when they are ill, most mom's stop sleep training until they are better.

Do what makes your baby the most comfortable until she's better!

[snugbug]

I just talked to a pediatrician about this on the weekend...and she told me that it was absolutely okay. You just have to make sure that their heads are supported and not slumping over (ie., don't put anything behind his/her head - just a couple of rolled up facecloths on either side to keep the head straight).

Good luck!

Christine

[bheemeryck]

We did the same thing- I also used Eucalyptus oil in a diffuser (the littel metal or ceramic dishes with a candle underneath) in my lo's room, seemed to help keep his little nose clear. I think Johnson's also has a vapor cream you can rub on their chest that has eucalyptus in it, but I don't think that an infant's delicate skin would like it?