With Fee now 21 months old, we have had our fair share of colds and general under-the-weather episodes. Thankfully they never last too long though it can be an exhausting and worrying process at the time!
I have put together a list of useful thing that I have used when Fee is sick that seem to speed up her recovery and make her more comfortable when we have the boo boos.
1. Blocked Nose – Inhaler Dummy / Pacifier
Whenever Fee has a cold she really struggles with breathing through her nose as she hasn’t yet learnt to blow or clear her nose by herself. It can be really uncomfortable for her particularly at night when she lies down and is trying to get some sleep.
I have tried various vapour rubs on Fee with mixed results (they always seemed a bit messy and too strong for her). However, while searching the internet I came across an inhaler decongestant dummy that worked a treat and really helped her breath more easily. The image on the right links to the one I bought on amazon.
How it works: You put a couple of drops of vapour oil in the compartment at the end of the dummy, clip it shut and voilà! Fee was able to breathe a lot more clearly through her nose at night when we used this dummy, which meant less night time awakenings and a more restful sleep for all of us.
The vapour oil that I used in the dummy was one specially formulated for babies: here is the link:
2. Clearing a blocked nose with a nasal aspirator
Another great gadget I use when Fee has a blocked nose is the nasal aspirator. It sounds like a scary gadget but it is actually really simple to use and a product I really recommend.
How it works: I simply put the tube tip into Fee’s nostril and then place the other end of the tube in my mouth and suck. This gets all the mucus out of her nose. I then open up the middle section and rinse it out under the tap. Repeat the process with the other nostril and you end up with a nice clear baby’s nose 🙂
Yes, I know it doesn’t sound very appealing (Mr E and my sister thought it sounded pretty gross actually) but it really is a brilliant little device. Fee, in particular finds the process quite hilarious (I have even made it into a little ‘game’ that we play in order for her to allow me anywhere near her nose) and it is rather satisfying to see all the gunk that comes out, allowing her to breath (and laugh at me) more easily.
By the way, there is a filter that catches all the gunk, so you can rest assured that you will not be swallowing bogies in the process!
I found this device much better than other types of nasal aspirators that have a bulb that you squeeze at the other end because you can control the suction a lot better.
3. Saline solution up the nose
Most cough/cold medicine is not suitable for babies or toddlers, but saline solution can be used even on little babies. When Fee is bunged up I put a drop or two of saline solution into each of her nostrils. This helps loosen the mucus and then I would use the nasal aspirator to clear it out.
4. Raise the head when sleeping
Whenever Fee had a cold and was congested, I found that elevating Fee’s head slightly while she slept made it easier for her to breathe. I did this by placing a couple of rolled up towels under her mattress at the head end.
5. Medicine Dummy / Pacifier
Getting Fee to take paracetamol or ibruprofen when she is sick and has a fever can be pretty tricky.
I spotted this little medicine dummy online and as Fee will take a dummy at night, I found that this was a great way of getting her to take her medicine.
6. Keeping your little one hydrated
Hydration is so important when your little one is ill. I always make sure that Fee drinks enough fluids (milk, water, thin soup) during the day when she is poorly. Keeping hydrated also helps to keep any mucus thin and easier to swallow and helps ease congestion.
7. Vaseline
I put a couple of dabs of vaseline around and under Fee’s nose when she has a cold and it usually helps prevent her getting a sore nose.
8. Breastmilk for conjunctivitis
This is best cure I have found for conjunctivitis in babies/toddlers. Fee had conjunctivitis a couple of times when she was a little baby and I was told by my midwife to use breastmilk. I found that a couple of drops in the affected eye twice a day cleared things up pretty quickly (after two days or so), plus it was completely a natural (and a cost free) remedy.
9. BRAT
It is hard to know what to feed a sick toddler. The BRAT diet was recommended by my doctor when Fee had an upset stomach as the foods are easy to eat and digest. The foods also contain nutrients that can usually stay down even with an upset stomach.
• Bananas: Reduce stomach acidity and maintains your little ones potassium level in check. Potassium helps regulate the body’s blood pressure.
• Rice: Is easy to digest and can help if your child has diarrhea. It is also source of carbs and protein, and provides energy.
• Apples/applesauce: Easily digestible (important for sensitive tummies) and is a good source of sugar, vitamins and energy.
• Toast: Offer dry toast as it provides carbs and can help settle the stomach.
Hope you found these tips helpful. If you have any great tips that you would like to share, we’d love to hear them!
