Snot Wars

So I was writing to a friend of mine the other day, her little baby girl (who is too cute for words) is sick. I can remember when Ben was an infant and the snot wars I dealt with, and realized, for a mother blog, I guess I really should address this issue. The common cold. It can turn into a nasty thing, and can also be mistaken for other more serious illnesses. Like Croup, I had no idea what the heck that was until a family members kid had it... The main thing is making sure that snotty nose and cough doesn't turn into something worse, which is really hard to stop, if it happens it happens, and usually isn't a parents fault, but here are some tips that got me through some nasty times with my little man.

Products to use, vaporizers, they are amazing, but the trick is to use the right ones. Ever felt the steam coming out of those things, it's usually cold air! Not the right thing, especially in the cold months when kids usually get sick. So I love and use the Vicks warm mist humidifier, what the heck is the difference between a vaporizer and a humidifier, I had no freakin' clue, so here is what the difference is, I looked it up for you readers: http://www.essortment.com/home-health-humidifiers-vs-vaporizers-26490.html found at any babies r' us.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2266322

I also use this humidifier at night in his room because of the dry air in our apartment. It's pretty awesome. Keep all his passages from getting too dry. Also using Little Noses Saline Mist, and a Snot Bulb (as I call them) works wonders. NOTE!!! Make sure it's the non medicated Saline Mist. Apparently according to several pediatricians I took my son to, the medicated spray can actually create breathing problems and or death... We don't want that of course. You can irrigate your childs nasal passages by following the directions on the box, baby will NOT like this, but will feel so much better. I always felt evil doing it to my son, but it helped him so much.
PS make sure your Nose sucker has a little strength, the baby size ones NEVER worked for me, and I couldn't get anything out of his nose. A larger size is really needed. And will ensure baby isn't swallowing tons of mucus and snot which will prevent him from eating and drinking.

YES fact, babies who make snot, eat snot, it naturally will go down their chest into the tummy, so this makes it even more important to get it up and out as much as you can, the more it comes OUT of the nose the better. Baby will also not usually eat as much during times of colds because of this, my doc actually mentioned they fill up on mucus, I know lovely thought...

Another thing that helped during the infant months for my baby was his swing. He's too big to use it now, but man what an arm saver, and as much as I LOVE to cuddle my honey when he's not well, it's good to have alternatives too. We would put him in his baby swing during the times of sickies, because not only did is soothe him when he wasn't well, it helped him sleep and kept him upright so he could breath better, and trust me when I say this, a baby who doesn't sleep well, will stay sick longer. Being in the swing during naps, or even part of his nap would help the passages drain correctly, so he wouldn't wake up crying with a dry mouth from not being able to breath through his nose. I know how that keeps me from being able to rest when I am sick, so often I will prop my own self up with pillows. Also a Boppy pillow is another great product for such things when you have a sick infant who needs to be upright.

Well for now that is the help I can offer, best of luck, and breath easy.

For more info on the Boppy Pillow: http://www.boppy.com/


Little Noses Saline Mist: http://www.target.com/p/Little-Noses-Saline-Mist-1-7fl-Oz/-/A-11199183?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM=|11199183&CPNG=health%20beauty&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=11199183

Snot Bulb: http://www.nosesucker.com/

Baby Swing at Babies r' us: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3739297