4mth old and Extreme Congestion

[jifnif]

Hi all!!  My son has had a cold since he started daycare.  Well, our dr did give him an anthihistamine/decongestant to be taken at bedtime but I dont give it to him all the time because it messes w/ his sleep patterns.  He has been on and off of this since early December.  I dont want to give it to him too much but I do when the congestion gets so bad that he is gagging.  This is my question, "what can I do to relieve his mucous and what do I do during a gagging episode"...we already use a vaporizer and I do pick him up and hit his back and I suck out his nose and mouth when I can get to him.  Sometimes I am driving and it scares me.  Can he choke on his own mucous???  My dr could offer no advice.  It worries me so much that I don't sleep even when he is sleeping.  Please any suggestions would be of help.

[ima1]

Both my kids were born in Israel, so it could be my info is a little off, but I know that there they do not give any anithistamine to a child under 12 months.  What they do there is give a saline soultion that can be inserted into the nose.  It clears out the congestion and makes the baby sneeze when it is sprayed into the nostril, and can be used as often as needed.  I dont know iff such a think is available here though, but I certainly understand your reluctance to give your baby the meds every night.  Good luck:)

[girlybuff]

Little Tummies makes a saline drop for noses and you can try using a nasal aspirator after you use that.
Good luck.

[jifnif]

ooo thanks I have the lil tummies stuff for gassy.  I will give that a try.  Thanks!!

[Crritter]

That's what our Dr. had us do for our son.  We would use saline and then suck it out.  Really made the little guy mad, so be prepared, but it works.  Also, check with the nurse about the medicine, but maybe you can give it to your little one a little earlier in the evening and it may get time to work still so thry can breathe when you lay them down.  Don't think they will choke on mucous, but I know that the gagging is scary.  Hopefully your little one will do it at the Dr. office next time.  Mine did and the Dr. yanked him out of his carseat and flipped him on his back and pounded (not too hard) on it to help.  He had problems with his lungs though and ended up with pneumonia, but it helped to loosen things up.  Pretty common to have congestion in little ones though, but it breaks your heart.

[jifnif]

thanks, i think i will be looking for another dr..you girls have offered me more advice than they have..:)

[have 2 kids]

Yes, babies can choke on their mucous.  If your DR is offering you no advice I would think about switching Dr's.  
Our Dr had us use a nasal aspirator and saline drops.  Works pretty good but the baby hates it.
Our Dr also advised against antihistamines until 2 years of age.  
It dries up there secretions too much and can cause nose bleeds.
If your son doesn't have any drug allergies you could try using eucalyptus in the vaporizer to ease his congestion.