Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1) Support Group

Feeding your infant and ensuring they are getting enough nutrition is one of the most important aspects of parenting during that first year. This community is dedicated to those who are nurturing a baby, whether breastfed or formula-fed.

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WinniePoo 06/28/2010

So my little guy Benjamin is 5 weeks old now. He has majorly bad congestion. You can hear it when he breathes and you can sometimes feel his little chest rattle. He has absolutely no fever and for the most part is a very happy little baby...he has even started smiling and has been holding his head up since about 2.5 weeks. The problems come in the form of feeding and occasionally sleeping. He has been spitting up A LOT and we think it is from drainage...and then last night for the first time since we brought him home he had trouble sleeping. (we've been getting 4+ hours at a time since day 1) we are combo feeding...he gets a bottle of half breast milk and half formula because he wouldn't take the breast. All of the things I have read say you can't use baby vicks or those types of things until the baby is 3 months old, but I want to help my little guy breathe. I use the bulb syringe about 4 or 5 times a day and get stuff out every time, but it only gives him relief for about 15 minutes and then it's right back to not being able to breathe again. any suggestions???

deleted_user 06/28/2010

I have had a similar problem and my daughter is 2 months old. I hate using that bulb thing. Someone suggested putting vicks on her PJ's and using a humdifier. Does your baby sleep on his belly? I noticed that when she sleeps on her back she isn't nearly as congested when she wakes up. She is the same way, very happy and smiling alot but has had a few times of being very fussy due to being congested. I the am going to try the vicks on her clot hes at night to see if that offers some relief. I've had the humidifier going for 2 nights now and that does seem to help a little bit. Good luck and I'll let you know how the vicks works.

deleted_user 06/28/2010

my son was the same. most things I read was that babies can be nasally till about 6 months for no real reason. It turns out he has allergies the whole time.

He slept on his tummy, just was the only way he slept I know now he drains better on his tummy but I don't not suggest that until you are comfortable or till he is able to hold his head up well...it scared me when I started to have him sleep like that at about 6 weeks.

the nose sucker and baby saline works.
Humidifer yes, that is a good one and does help, try to find one that doesn't have a filter I heard that those don't leave the room so wet. I ask the specialist about the difference between the cold mist and hot mist she sugguest the hot one, we haven't try it but we have the cool mist. I am not sure if the room is muggy after the hot mist one. also and Air purifier helps with allergens. worth a try.

deleted_user 06/30/2010

I have been using a vicks vaporizer with a teaspoon of salt added to the water for better steam, and put a sheet over her crib and let it steam up and she hasn't had a problem since. It cleared her right out and I do this 2x's a day once in the morning and once at night for about 15 to 20 minutes and she's been clear and happy. It works GREAT!

deleted_user 06/30/2010

try bringing your little man into the bathrom and turn the shower on really hot and steam up the bathroom. that should help clear your little one up.

Instead of a warm mister, try a cool one instead. it may help him be able to breathe a little better.

You can get vicks plugs that has vapourizer pads and the eucalyptus oil in it and that should help as well without putting vicks on him. also if you use the warm mister, you can buy eucalyptus oil to drop into the water and it vapourizes into his room too

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