Poor Payton has had a bit of a runny nose for the past week or so. I've given him some saline drops to help clear it and they helped a bit, he was acting like he was getting better then last night he got a bit of a cough, I'm sure from nasal drainage, and his drainage from his nose is now green :( I'm not one to give meds on a whim and was wondering if any of you had any ideas on what to do/try that is more natural. Also, if you have any websites or other resources on more natural treatments/remedies please share! TIA

Hmm.. I am like you. I do not like to give medicine unless it is needed. But when they are so miserable, I do give some Tylenol Cold or Robitussin nighttime. I hate to see them feeling so bad. You could try vitamin C...found naturally in foods or even the vitamins themselves. Peppermint is good to help them breathe. Other than that, I'm not sure. But I will be watching this thread. My kiddos are sick atm too.

Do you have a humidifier? That might help a bit with the cough. Especially if it is keeping him awake at night. I always tried to avoid meds too, but if I gave in, it was usually at night. Hard for those poor little babes to get better if they are not sleeping well.

put Vicks vapor rub on soles of feet & cover w/ socks (since he is so young though, you may wanna ask dr first)
also, 2nd the humidifier

Sit in a steamy bath with the baby. The steam will help open his nasal passages. Echinacea for children helps boost the immune system. I saw some in a organic store. vicks on the feet and cover with socks at bedtime. Hope your wee one gets well soon. My dd is coughing a ton as well and Josiah's been congested. I think from the Washington weather.... No fun.

Humidifier [whatsmack] why don't I think of these things when I need them?! I have one so I'll have to dig it out. The Vick's idea is good too! And Esther, I agree with the bath. It works well for sure. :)

ETA: If I were to give him something at night what would I give him. I have baby Tylenol, is there something that would be better?

Humidifier [whatsmack] why don't I think of these things when I need them?! I have one so I'll have to dig it out. The Vick's idea is good too! And Esther, I agree with the bath. It works well for sure. :)

ETA: If I were to give him something at night what would I give him. I have baby Tylenol, is there something that would be better?

baby ibuprofen would last a little longer.

Thanks Skunkers!

put Vicks vapor rub on soles of feet & cover w/ socks (since he is so young though, you may wanna ask dr first)
also, 2nd the humidifier

Jesse, we did this. My DH heard this somewhere and we started laughing cause it sounds ridiculous...but it worked for our son almost immediately. We did it for two nights while he slept with us.

Jesse, we did this. My DH heard this somewhere and we started laughing cause it sounds ridiculous...but it worked for our son almost immediately. We did it for two nights while he slept with us.

Thats good to know. We will try this tonight. :) I'm desperate for a bit of sleep ;)

I've never heard of the Vicks on the feet thing. How would that help?? We always use Vicks on our chests or directly on our nose (as adults) to breathe. Seems silly to me..

When we were kids my mom or granny would always put vicks on feet with socks as well as the chest....I don't know what it does but it does work....I do the same thing to my girls now and it helps....

Well, we put Vick's on Payton's feet before bed and we haven't heard a peep...YET ;) but the last week he has been wide awake from coughing by now so we shall see how it goes, so far I'm impressed!

I would stay away from the tylenol (hope I'm not too late here). I read (can't find it at the moment but I saw this a few days ago cause we have colds here too) that it can actually decrease your immune system and make congestion worse.

I would stay away from the tylenol (hope I'm not too late here). I read (can't find it at the moment but I saw this a few days ago cause we have colds here too) that it can actually decrease your immune system and make congestion worse.

Interesting, Chrissy. I haven't given him any but I haven't heard of that either. I might look into that some more. Thanks for the heads up!

Vicks also makes a shower soother tablet...it just goes where the water from the shower can hit it and it makes a vapory steam in the bathrom. This is great for our boys.

Maybe it's not the same, but all baby oral cough medicines have been pulled from the shelves in Canada. They said that there was no proof that they actually worked and some babies had died from OD's on them. FYI