Connor woke up at 3am and I cleared his nose but our medication isn't working. Is there a nighttime brand that is best? What else do you do to alleviate the symptoms? TIA we are heading to the store soon.
Also, any day time formulas that work too? I try not to medicate him but it's hard when I see him coughing and not breathing well. We're also doing the Albuterol nebulizers all day and his Pulmicort nebulizer at night.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 12:05 pm:

After reading this article I would be cautious about using decongestants.
Cold Remedies Cause Three Infant Deaths

Poor Connor! {{{HUGS}}} Heidi, has he been dxed with asthma? This seems to be a recurring issue, and from my experience with both kids my hunch is that asthma/allergies are involved. My kids both have allergy triggers, but also tend to have asthma flares with colds. However, since starting allergy and asthma maintenance meds. they both have been much healthier and we've been able to nip asthma flares in the bud.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 12:52 pm:

he does have asthma and that's why we had to start him on singulair and pulmicort every day.
i think those deaths were in infants, not 2 yr olds. i bought some stuff appropriate for his age group.
i think the pulmicort keeps us out of the hospital imho.
we had to give away our dog as she kept licking him and giving him hives. he's only allergic to dogs and i couldn't keep them separated all of the time.

By Amecmom on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 01:05 pm:

Those deaths were also due to way too much medication being given.
I have found that if you get the single meds and then give only what he needs it works best. I like Simply Cough, Simply Stuffy or Children's Sudafed, and a basic antihistamine like Benadryl. This was if they are stuffy with no cough and no drip, I'll gist give the decongestant (Simply Stuffy). If a drip is involved, then I'll do the antihistamine and so on. This way I know they are getting what they need, only.
There's something called Rynatan which is perscription, and very good. It works for a cold or allergies and has a decongenstant and antihistimine.
Good luck, and hope he's feling better.
I would also check with the doc btw, since he's on the asthma meds.
Ame

By Heaventree on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 01:14 pm:

I always check with the pharmacists when buying meds for the kids, you want to be sure and not to double dose, a lot of cold medications have pain relievers as well so if you give cold meds and Tylenol you can double dose. I'm sure you know all this but sometimes standing the cold and flu remedy isle can be overwhelming.

Hope he's feeling better soon! Betcha can't wait for Spring for more than one reason huh?

By Vicki on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 01:34 pm:

There's something called Rynatan which is perscription, and very good


I totally agree with this!! When dd was small, nothing over the counter gave her much relief. I called her ped asking for more recommendations since nothing was really cutting it and she called Rynatan in for her. Works GREAT!! She gave me refils on it and anytime I needed more, I just called and she called it in.

By Debbie on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 01:38 pm:

Heidi, do you have an asthma/cold action plan? If not, talk to your pediatrician about one. I have one for Josh. It is great because I always know the best way to handle his colds/asthma flare-ups, and I don't have to call the doctor all the time. It lists what to do/what medication to give for varies symptoms, and when to call the doctor.

I hope he is feeling better soon. Our pediatrician feels that Robitussin DM is the best OTC medication for a cough. I don't know about a runny nose.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 02:02 pm:

Ditto Debbie.

Heidi, do you have an asthma/cold action plan? If not, talk to your pediatrician about one. I have one for Josh. It is great because I always know the best way to handle his colds/asthma flare-ups, and I don't have to call the doctor all the time. It lists what to do/what medication to give for varies symptoms, and when to call the doctor.

FWIW, I wonder if the Singulair is working. It did nothing for DD, and our allergist said it only works for about half his patients.

By Mrsheidi on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 09:00 pm:

I don't have an asthma/cold action plan. Should I see our allergist or our pediatrician for one?
I am quite lost on what to do and when, etc.

We did go and visit Barley (our dog) last Saturday and then Monday we had these symptoms. Would they flare up like that? Or, is it just a cold with wheezing/asthma symptoms?

Good point about the Singulair. What else is there?

I'll call his pediatrician about the Rynatan. Any side effects? How old does he have to be? He's 32 lbs, I believe.

By Kaye on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 10:17 pm:

The homeopathic method is to take garlic cloves, with a touch of olive oil and rub into the soles of his feet. My middle kid has asthma and I just hate giving him any more meds, this helped him some.

By Debbie on Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - 10:52 pm:

Heidi, since he is allergic to dogs, then visting your dog could definitely cause a allergic reaction, which could trigger his asthma. I would talk to the doctor that diagnosed him with asthma. It is so nice to have an action plan. I don't stress like I used to. My ds has horrible seasonal allergies, and it really effects his asthma. He is actually doing very well on Singulair. However, I have been told the same thing as Trina, it seems to either work great, or not at all. Since Josh's triggers for asthma are mainly colds/allergies, his action plan tells me exactly what to do when he gets a runny nose or a cough. Depending on the symptoms, I will do different things. It has really helped us control his asthma, and his flareups don't last as long. Also, Josh never gets were he can't breath. He just gets a terrible, hacky(is that a word?)cough.

By Reds9298 on Saturday, January 20, 2007 - 04:39 pm:

Benadryl works really well for Natalie at night especially. She drips really badly when she lays down, causing the choking and gagging and thus no sleep. It helps her sleep and dries her up. She tends to get really watery eyes and lots of drip when she has a cold. Sometimes during the day I'll give her a half of a dose and it helps dry her up without the sleepiness.