Baby J was sick with something last week. I am not sure if it was a cold or congestion due to teething, but he was miserable. Because he has been sick a couple of times before, I had all of my favorite things ready to use when necessary. I would like to share my favorite congestion remedies with you in case you could use some ideas on how to get your poor little one a bit more comfortable.
Here they are (in no particular order):
The NoseFrida Snot SuckerThe NoseFrida snot sucker is a lifesaver when you have a congested little one. It does a much better job of getting the mucous out of the nose than the traditional bulb syringe. I make sure to clear his nose before naps, especially, so he can rest easier. See my review of the NoseFrida here.
De-congesting Chest RubThis is great to get all of that phlegm loosened up. I rub it on Baby J's chest, back, and feet. I am using my Vicks until it runs out and then will be making my own that doesn't contain petroleum. There are many recipes online that sound wonderful!
Humidifier The humidifier is probably the first thing I reach for when someone is congested. Sick people spend a lot of time in bed, so it goes in the bedroom. Sometimes we spend the whole day in the nice humid room. I see a huge improvement in Baby J's sleep when I turn this on.Trying to decide between cool mist and warm mist? This Mayo Clinic article explains that they are equally as effective because:"by the time the water vapor reaches your child's lower airways, it's the same temperature regardless of whether it started out warm or cool".Also be careful of the warm mist humidifiers as they can burn curious little ones.
Boogie WipesYup, you caught me! I'm that mom. The one that uses Boogie Wipes.I never intended to, but I bought some out of desperation when Baby J had his last cold. Wiping his little crusty nose felt like torture so I thought I would give them a try. They work awesome! I know this isn't very natural or crunchy (they are grape scented for goodness sake!) but they work great. I'm sure there are more natural ways to do the same thing, but for now I'm picking my battles. Please feel free to share a boogie wipe alternative with me. I would love to give it a try!
Coconut OilOh the wonders of coconut oil! I use it on most skin ailments, so when Baby J's nose got raw from his cold, I broke it out and slathered it on. It seemed to clear up the redness significantly. (It probably tasted awesome to him too!)
So that's it! We got through another cold and I am getting better at helping him feel better each time. Do you have any remedies or tricks to help a congested baby? I would love to hear!