He has had a terrible runny nose for over a week now. We were all sick with a cold about a week ago, so I'm sure that's what it is. But this is the awfulest thing. He has this super thick yellowish and clear snot, and his head is so congested he's breathing through his mouth and having trouble eating because he can't breathe while sucking! He rattles in his sleep and has been snoring something awful.

I suction him with the bulb 3-4 times a day (which really pisses him off), have been using a humidifier, got some prescription decongestant meds from the doc (which I can't give him before bed because it has pseudoephedrine in it and it wires him up where he can't sleep, so he still has trouble sleeping because he can't breathe), using saline drops, and nothing seems to really be helping at all except for the meds which help for a very short time, like 2-3 hours. The thing that worries me is that lately he's had a little bit of bloody mucous. Could that just be from irritation of his nasal passages?

Is there anything else I can do? We've both been miserable and snot covered for a week. When should a cold run its course in a little one, and when should I take him to the doctor? I know their immune systems have to build up.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I feel bad cause I have to make him scream several times a day while holding him down to use the bulb thingie, and it sounds like I'm sucking his brains out. I'm afraid he's going to hate me for it.

You could be irritating his nasal passages with the bulb syringe and saline. But to be on the safe side, you may want to go to the doctor. Went through the same thing awhile back with my baby. He's only 6 months old and has already had TWO sinus infections. The second time one of the doctors had him go through an RSV antigen test -- sucked out his nose and tested the contents for the RSV virus. He didn't have it. From what I understand RSV can cause lots and lots of mucus.

I it a good idea to have him checked for RSV. My 7 month old just got over it and he was miserable. You can also elivate the head of his crib a little that might help a little. If he starts weezing get him to the doctor asap. You can also use vapor bath, Johnson's baby vapor cream, and also get a warm mist vaporizer and put the vapor steam in it. I hope he gets to felling better.
Jenn