Baby with cold not slept in 4 days usual ?

[PostHeads123]

I know this is not mumsnet but after 4 nights of no sleep I'm desperate. I've got an 8 month old (my first child) had a bad run of illness just finished with hand foot and mouth and now he has a cold / cough, thought the cold would be walk in the park but he has not slept now for 4 nights, he just screams and cries cannot put him down, during day he is not so bad. The first few nights he would get the odd 30mins sleep by my partner holding him or me taking him out in the car for a drive but last night nothing would sooth him. We took him docs on Tues and they said cold nothing to worry about but he seems to be getting worse, I have nothing to compare against as he is my first child but is it usual for the baby not to settle at all at night with a cold and just cry and scream even when held and for this to go on for nights ? During the day he perks up not so bad. I think he is more ill than just a cold as before he was a happy baby and only moaned if something is really up. Capol etc gives no relief.

thanks

[ikarl]

very similar to what my daughter went through a couple of months ago (hand, foot & mouth with a cold) we found the only way she would sleep was propped up against one of us, as if she was in her chair.... even then she would wake crying every about a dozen times throughout the night. It was a difficult time to get through!

[PostHeads123]

ikarl said:

very similar to what my daughter went through a couple of months ago (hand, foot & mouth with a cold) we found the only way she would sleep was propped up against one of us, as if she was in her chair.... even then she would wake crying every about a dozen times throughout the night. It was a difficult time to get through!

Thanks yeah this sounds the same, did it just pass in time then or did docs give anything for it?

[C0ffin D0dger]

As our doc said having suffered similar some time ago - "Calpol, Calpol, Calpol..." Seems to be the only thing that eases it for them, you can give them both the Ibuprofen and Paracetamol version to whatever the max allowed dose is, alternate between the two. Also has he been checked for an ear infection by the docs, babies are very prone to these, especially when full of cold and they really hurt.

[Smitters]

Calpol and cuddles. Enough fluid to keep getting wet nappies. If you can get reclined on the sofa, I have found my wee one would nap on my shoulder when ill, as being a bit upright helped stop the sinuses getting gunked up.

Trust your instincts. If you're still not happy, go back to the doc.

[C0ffin D0dger]

Oh and the other thing at that age is he could well be teething, my eldest really went through it when is bigger teeth were cutting. Try a bit of Dentinox and or Teetha powder to see if it helps? In theory the Teetha stuff shouldn't do anything as it homeopathic but really seemed to make a difference with our two. The other thing we bought was a humidifier for their room (ultrasonic) as modern houses can have quite a dry atmosphere and this doesn't help the with coughs / colds.

[Foliage]

Steam,

Fill your bath with hot water, get the bathroom nice and steamy then sit on the floor on something soft with your little one and see if that helps get them to settle at all. You could put a small amount of essential oils or herbs in the water too something like rosemary would be a good starting point.

[Huntsman]

With ours and the cold, it seems he doesn't understand why there's so much snot or what to do about it. Makes him grizzly.

Teething? Nine month sleep regression? Growth spurt hungry? Hot? Cold? Wants a nappy change?

Noise is their only way of communicating. I always reckon a noisy baby is fine. If ours went quiet I'd wonder.

Do keep an eye on the nappies, make sure still peeing, then you know not dehydrated.

Ours is poorly with a virus right now, was up at 3.30 giving him calpol, at 4pm he vom'd it all over the bed....

Edited by Huntsman on Thursday 8th December 11:42

[ikarl]

PostHeads123 said:

ikarl said:

very similar to what my daughter went through a couple of months ago (hand, foot & mouth with a cold) we found the only way she would sleep was propped up against one of us, as if she was in her chair.... even then she would wake crying every about a dozen times throughout the night. It was a difficult time to get through!

Thanks yeah this sounds the same, did it just pass in time then or did docs give anything for it?

It just passed in time and tbh, she's only just getting over it completely (although the sleep/crying passed within a week) - still has spots on arms and legs and the runny nose is just about away

As huntsman says above...noise is good. Although the constant crying can almost make you cry with frustration when I think back I'm glad she didn't just lie there in pain/discomfort. I can't really put this into words very well, but by going through it with her, in some way, has built a stronger bond between the two of us

[breamster]

We had similar. Baby couldn't sleep due to be so congested. Calpol helped a lot. Plug in vaporiser like this one...


http://m.boots.com/h5/cat_hub?unCountry=uk&pat...

...helped massively. It was the difference between the baby sleeping and keeping the whole house awake all night.

Check its safe to use with the age group though.

If in doubt speak to the doc.

[Huntsman]

breamster said:

If in doubt speak to the doc.

Ah yes, good point, our surgery are excellent with the little ones, just ring up and you'll be in that day.

[KamSandhu44]

At 8 months, are you sure he is not going through sleep regression as well?

8/9 months is usually when it starts (for the 2nd time).

[PostHeads123]

Thanks for all replies and advice, we took him down the docs this afternoon and they recon chest infection now so prescribed anti-b's, said he was hit hard with it after the HF&M. I do think there is some sleep regressions and teething involved as well, so the perfect storm really.

Agreed as well as it not being nice experience it has been a bonding experience, the last few nights when I have held him on my shoulder and he has managed to rest a bit I've looked down at him cuddling me and all I is see a mini me . The trips out in the car to try and get him to sleep we have covered a lot of ground, showed him all my houses, areas I used to live, the houses with the big xmas display, the local millionaires row, 24hr Mcd's drive throw, many, many junctions of the M25.

I'm off to Argos shortly to get a humidifier.

cheers

[BoRED S2upid]

Do you have a snot sucker?

[mr mac i]

Vicks Vapour-rub on the feet with socks for bed, you get kids versions.
Put it on at first sign of a cough or cold, don't know how it works but has been known to stop them dead.

Edited by mr mac i on Friday 9th December 23:02