Baby Sleep Help - Natalie's Response

Mum Zone's resident Sleep Expert Natalie of Sleep and Settle is available to answer some of your questions about settling your baby and more.

Topics include: Sleeping and settling, moving from bassinette to cot, cot to bed, breastfeeding/formula, solids, floorplay for babies and play for toddlers/children, wrapping/sleeping bags/dressing baby, behaviour/tantrums, what's normal? bedroom environments, music, lights, entertainment, mattresses, mattress protectors, sheets, unsettled babies and the 0-12 week afternoon arsenic hours, reflux/colic, teething, worms, toilet training, night terrors/nightmares, the older child issues 5-10 years and single parenting/separation/divorce.

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Reader's Question

I have a 5 month old son and he has just started teething, he is usually a very good sleeper however his got a runny nose and a cough, and he isn't sleeping, his routine's all over the place. How can I make it more comfortable for him?

Natalie's Response

Hi,

Yes it is very hard to comfort a baby with a cold, especially when they can’t blow their nose and tell you how they feel.

Try the following:

• Raise the head of the cot to help the runny nose run down the back of the throat instead of straight into the ears (causing an ear infection/ ache).
  
  
• Watch for signs of an earache, it can happen quickly. Look for a red ear and baby pulling at it frequently along with general whinging or unsettledness. Antibiotics are not automatically prescribed for ear aches, it depends on the severity and whether outer or middle ear in location. Offer Panadol if baby appears in pain or has a fever. Discuss with your doctor the appropriate temperature for offering Panadol.
  
  
• If offered too early the body cannot fight the bacteria the way it was designed to by increasing the temperature to kill the bacteria.
  
  
• Use a vaporizer in the bedroom for all sleeps. These can be rented from your local pharmacy and help to keep the air moist and help baby breathe. Always open the windows in the day when baby isn’t asleep to ventilate the room and prevent moisture building up and mould growing on the walls and curtains etc. The room will be hot so dress baby appropriately.
  
  
• If constantly wiping baby’s nose apply Amolin or Papaw Ointment straight away under the nose to prevent chaffing from all the nose wiping.
  
  
• If the nose is really congested you can buy a pipette from the pharmacy to gently suction the discharge out.
  
  
• If baby is having trouble feeding properly with a blocked nose, try feeding in a steamy bathroom.
  
  
• Try infant Vicks lathered on the soles of the feet and cover in socks for a dry persistent cough.
  
  
• Of course cuddles on demand and encourage milk feeds.
  

Happy sleeping,

Natalie

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The opinions expressed on these pages are of a general nature and are by no means a substitute for professional advice. Therefore neither Mum Zone or Natalie Ebrill of Sleep and Settle are liable for any actions pertaining to the use of the supplied information.