DS is getting a cold - i'm so scared, what to expect?

so... dh got a cold a few days ago, and sure enough i feel like ds and i are both getting it.

i'm hoping his cold isn't so severe since he is getting the antibodies in my breastmilk. plus, dh fought off his cold in like two days, so it wasn't a bad one.

but today ds is sneezing and coughing a bit and i am so worried

this will be his first illness. what can i expect?

is there anything at all that i can do to prevent it from progessing?

what should i have handy for him in case this gets worse?

TIA

ETA: DS is 7 weeks old on friday

Message edited 11/28/2007 4:12:10 PM.

Re: DS is getting a cold - i'm so scared, what to expect?

My dd had her first cold at around 7 months....she was congested, sneezing and coughing for 2 weeks. All you can really do it rub them with baby vicks (not sure if your baby is too young for that), run the cool mist humidifier every night and suction out his nose with an aspirator

DD's cold turned into an ear infection. That was tough but she was better after a round of antibiotics....

Re: DS is getting a cold - i'm so scared, what to expect?

Vincent caught a cold from me at 1-1/2 weeks old and now this week caught one from daddy at 10 weeks old.

All you can do is saline their nose and aspirate ... no medicine ...
use the cool mist humidfier and put him in his car seat in the bathroom when you shower.

No meds

Re: DS is getting a cold - i'm so scared, what to expect?

Re: DS is getting a cold - i'm so scared, what to expect?

DD has her first cold....she caught it from DH and I. We've had this sort of nagging sore throat, post nasal drip thing. She is 8 weeks, so I decided to call the pediatrician to find out the best thing to do.

She had a slight fever- never got above 99.5. She has been sneezing, coughing and a little congested. She definately has the post nasal drip, you can hear it.

The doc said to use the humidifier at night in her room, which we do anyway. He also said to put a pillow or blanket under one side of the mattress in her crib (of bassinet if your DS is sleeping in one) to keep her on an incline when she is sleeping...that will help with the post nasal drip. They had me make a saline solution (1/2 c. warm water- dissolve in 1/4 teaspoon). I was told to clean off a dropper well (I used the one from mylicon, but they said the dropper from infant tylenol cleaned off would be fine). Hold DD with her head by your knees tilted down slightly...put two drops in one nostril, lift her back up...wait about a minute and then use the bulb syringe...then repeat on the other side. I was told to do this as needed. I will tell you that DD SCREAMS bloody murder as I do it, coughs a bunch as it goes into her throat...but it's amazing how fast it breaks up the mucous- within a minute she stops freaking out, realizes she can breath a lot better and is happy again.

I was told (1) if her fever goes about 100.4 call immediately, (2) if she is having trouble drinking call immediately, (3) if she starts having trouble breathing call immediately. Otherwise, you just have to wait it out.

Since your DS is very young also, I would check in with your pediatrician...I'm sure he/she will give you some variation on the instructions I got.

Hope he feels better soon

Re: DS is getting a cold - i'm so scared, what to expect?

I was actually at the ped today with my 6 week old because he was wheezing, congested and sleepier than normal. She said he's probably getting a cold and not to be too concerned (I was kind of freaking out) but to use saline drops to loosen the congestion, to bring him in the steamy bathroom, and to call if he starts running a temp.

Feel better Jonah and hang in there

Re: DS is getting a cold - i'm so scared, what to expect?

I hope he, and you, feel better soon!!

Definitely get the cool mist humidifier and saline drops. Try not to suction him unless you really have to. HTH!

Re: DS is getting a cold - i'm so scared, what to expect?

Posted by Rooster

DD has her first cold....she caught it from DH and I. We've had this sort of nagging sore throat, post nasal drip thing. She is 8 weeks, so I decided to call the pediatrician to find out the best thing to do.

She had a slight fever- never got above 99.5. She has been sneezing, coughing and a little congested. She definately has the post nasal drip, you can hear it.

The doc said to use the humidifier at night in her room, which we do anyway. He also said to put a pillow or blanket under one side of the mattress in her crib (of bassinet if your DS is sleeping in one) to keep her on an incline when she is sleeping...that will help with the post nasal drip. They had me make a saline solution (1/2 c. warm water- dissolve in 1/4 teaspoon). I was told to clean off a dropper well (I used the one from mylicon, but they said the dropper from infant tylenol cleaned off would be fine). Hold DD with her head by your knees tilted down slightly...put two drops in one nostril, lift her back up...wait about a minute and then use the bulb syringe...then repeat on the other side. I was told to do this as needed. I will tell you that DD SCREAMS bloody murder as I do it, coughs a bunch as it goes into her throat...but it's amazing how fast it breaks up the mucous- within a minute she stops freaking out, realizes she can breath a lot better and is happy again.

I was told (1) if her fever goes about 100.4 call immediately, (2) if she is having trouble drinking call immediately, (3) if she starts having trouble breathing call immediately. Otherwise, you just have to wait it out.

Since your DS is very young also, I would check in with your pediatrician...I'm sure he/she will give you some variation on the instructions I got.

Hope he feels better soon

Re: DS is getting a cold - i'm so scared, what to expect?

thank you everyone for the advice! i have saline drops and my nasal aspirator handy.

BUT as of now DS hasn't gotten any worse at all - knock on wood a million gazillion times!!!!!!! i am also not feeling worse. so maybe this is as bad as it will get