Babies first cold...?

Question

My 11 week 5 day old daughter has her first cold. I took her to the doc because of a persistent low grade fever but he said as colds go, it has to run it's course.

For the past several nights, her nose has been so stuffy that she couldn't sleep in her co sleeper, so she has wound up sleeping on my chest kangaroo care style, with me sitting up.

Needless to say, I have gotten even less sleep the past few nights than normal.

But my question is this: Tonight, she is back in her co sleeper...still stuffed up, but not nearly as bad. Should I be more worried about SIDS since her breathing rhythm is being messed up by the cold? I have her tilted up a bit (with a receiving blanket under the top part of the co sleeper pad)...But I am afraid to sleep because I am afraid she will stop breathing.

Any other mommies have experience with infants and colds/congestion? I could use some advice or support...

Answer 1

SIDS is incredibly rare. It is also incredibly awful and I am not at all trying to undermine what a tragedy it is. It is not related to a baby having a cold at all. It is less likely in a baby as old as 11 weeks as it is during the previous weeks. SIDS has certainly gotten to be talked about and it is worth doing everything possible to avoid it (although no one really knows specifically HOW to yet) but, it is also not the least bit likely to occur. Please keep that in mind when you are worried. Good luck and try to get some sleep.

Answer 2

You poor dear, my son has had one cold after another for 3 months running, his cot is permanently on an angle to keep his head elevated (though he is a lot older than 11 weeks) I have found that even using a vapouriser with or without the menthol drops helps lots too, the steam helps keep the nasal passages open and moist during sleep and as another person said to use saline drops and an aspirator on her nose will help too. If you think she isn't coping with the fever you can give her some infant paracetamol it is safe from 1 month and will also make her more comfortable. It will pass, but as her immune system is immature it just may take a while. I don't think her risk of sids is any higher with a cold than normal, just try to keep an eye of her and with the co sleeper pad you should be ok.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I don't think she will stop breathing because of her head cold. If she's too stuffed up, she'll wake up, or she'll breathe through her mouth instead (and have a sore throat in the morning from mouth breathing). SIDS isn't believed to be due to colds/congestion.

Use lots of saline nasal spray (like Ocean) and that nose sucker thing for babies who can't blow yet, to help clear her sinuses for her. Run a humidifier if you're not in a humid climate.

She'll be okay. It's often way harder on mom than baby.

I'm sure you know if she starts with a cough, go back to her doctor to make sure it isn't settling in her lungs as a bronchitis or something.

Source: mom of two kids, toddler and tween

Answer 4

I love saline drops. Use them and then use the aspirator to loosen up the mucus and she will sleep much better. We did this with our daughter and it worked wonders, especially since she she is a thumb sucker and tried to breathe through her mouth and suck her thumb at the same time. You can also put her in a bouncy seat while you take a shower, the steam will help. Good luck and hopefully you get better sleep.