My dd and I caught a nasty cold from the doctor's office on Monday. She is miserable and not sleeping soundly like she usually does.

Any suggestions on what to do to help us through this?

Oh no Trooper! I just signed online to post the SAME thread. DD has a bad cough and it is affecting her sleep too. She is sleeping now but she coughs every couple of minutes.I felt sick too but I think it was allergies.She might have allergies too but her cough is now sounding like she has something in there to get out.

The thing is, this is the first time she has EVER been sick and I don't know what to do to help her. I hope you get some good replies to this thread. She doesn't have a fever and seems okay besides the coughing and runny nose, but I don't know if I should take her to the doctor tomorrow anyway. I want to bring her in so they can help her, but I have a feeling they can't do much.

When do you know it's time to bring them in? I mean is a cough enough?

Hey Jonanner - crazy our dd have the same thing right now!!! I know what you mean, this is the first time DD has been sick and I feel stupid not knowing what to do!

I'm NOT going back to the doctor's office because that's where we got it from!!! (really long story but JJ had a bad reaction to her shots last week and we ended up in the ER with her Fri/Sat. So I went to the doc's on Monday for the follow up and that's where we picked up the cold from).

Poor DD has been thru enough. We called the nurse at the pediatrician's office yesterday and she said .8ml of Tylenol Cold for infants every 4 hours. Which is fine, and is helping with the fever, but she's still coughing. And if she has what I have, then this is a major CHEST cold. I feel like I have a ton of bricks on my chest. DH said that she doesn't seem as bad off as me though.

But still, what do you do? She's coughing, her nose is running constantly, she's cranky, can only sleep for 30 - 45 minutes at a stretch and just plain miserable.

I know there is nothing the doctor can do, but what can we do at home to make waiting it out easier for both of us?

DD has asthma and can get very sick when she has a cold. Her Pedi has us give her warm baths with 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and rosemary essential oil. Then, we roll up towels and place them at the head of the bed, underneath it so that she can breath easier. We make sure the room is cool as that aides in easier breathing as well. A squirt of Xclear or Ocean mist can help to drain the nasal passages which can cause a lot of coughing as well.

Humidifiers work well too, especially ones specifically designed for nurseries. I got one for DD it is a Vicks. Yes, saline spray is good, as well as lifting up the mattress. Also, a little Baby Vicks under the nose and on the chest and back works wonders for coughs!! Colds in children last 10-14 days. If they start draining green mucous, for more than 24 hours, take them back to the doc. This is usually a sign of an infection. Also, vomiting, diahrrea, fever, etc. warrants a visit. My DD usually ended up with an ear infection from all her colds as a baby, so we took her to the docs a lot, and had to improvise for them at home as well. Good luck, and I hope your DD's feel better!:)

Don't you just love colds!!!??? My one son who is 2, just got over yet another ear infection. We always use a humidifier and I raise the mattress. This will help with the coughing some. We use some cough syrup as well. Talk to your doc and see if there might be anything you might be able to give or suggest for them to help relieve it if it really seems bad. I will usually wait about 3-4 days to see if everything worsens before taking them to the doc. There is usually nothing they can do for them until an infection sets in. Good luck!

Just wanted to post an update - the cold turned into TWO EAR INFECTIONS! My dh took my daughter to the doctor on Friday and I'm sure glad we did. Poor thing. So she is on antibiotics and a decongestant.

I also was sick with the same 'cold' and mine turned into bronchitis, two ear infections and a sinus infection. I went to the doctor on Friday and Saturday as well.

Not fun when both of us are ill!!!

I'm making a mental note in the future - take baby to the doctor right away!!! Regardless if I think it's just a little old cold!!!

Thanks for all your suggestions!

Ear infections are such a pain! My youngest gets them every month. We are actually going to see the ENT on Wednesday to have his hearing checked b/c of possible fluid. They will decide then if they should put in tubes. I have lost a ot of sleep over the last 2 years b/c of ear infections. We use Simalasen (not sure if I spelled that right). It helps to dull the ache in their ear They are drops that my Doc had suggested and it helps take the pain away enough to help them sleep. Of course I usually have to get through 3 to 4 days of a regular cold before his infection hits. I can tell when an ear infection has begun because he moans a lot at night in his sleep. Hope your baby feels better soon!!