If you feel that something is not right with your infant, trust your instict and take for a second opinion. First time parents worry all the time, but its always better to err on the side of precaution. I have a doctor that answers the calls when you call his office. You should definately take it for an evaluation and express your worries. God Bless and hope everything goes good with your 9 week old infant.

Plenty of sunshine is said to be good for jaundice. Your wife also needs to ensure she is eating all the right food, and getting plenty of sunshine herself. As for your son's mucous, you could try a steam vaporizer, however, if he isn't in any discomfort, and he is breathing okay, then there's no need to panic. If you are at all concerned, then talk to a doctor or mothercraft nurse.

Whilst we as parents often worry over every cough or cold a baby gets, they are actually good for the child. It helps to trigger the immunity system and every small cough or cold helps to build that system.

Although your son is breastfed, you can still offer boiled (and cooled) water, either through a bottle, or from a teaspoon. I recommend the teaspoon since bottles can cause 'nipple confusion' and create problems with breast feeding. They handle a little water from a teaspoon quite well.

Always talk to a doctor if you are concerned.

My two week old son woke up with some mucous that concerns me a bunch due to a cold that my wife and i are running presently. We are first time parents. We are very concern that it will develop into something more serious. He is being breast fed. Also he is jaundice and his billirubin levels have been high and dropping to slow. He already went through phototherapy and it help alittle bit but his levels still remain high around 13. I appreciate any tips and thank you

My 9 week old has some congestion and a mucusy cough. He is losing his voice as well. He does not have a fever, nor does he have diarreah. He is smiling and not too fussy, just sleeps a lot. His feeding is normal, about 5-6 oz every 4 hours. I'm just concerned about the mucus going into his lungs. Isn't this what causes pneumonia? I called the dr and the nurse told me to call if he gets a fever or if the cough gets more watery. Wouldn't mucusy be watery? I'm a first time mom and a bit nervous. I don't want to call the dr again because the lady who takes the calls is very rude and makes me feel like I am being ridiculous. Perhaps I am.

My husband and I took our daughter Journey to the childrens hospital this past sat and the sad to just use the saline drops and nebulizer even though there is no way to know she would even have asthma . I just dont feel confortable giving my 11 week old daughter something that might not even help . She sounds horrible ! She is losing her voice . I'm thinking about taking her into the local ped . tomorrow to make sure she isnt getting strep .

If there is no fever and the chest is clear then I shouldn't worry too much. If it doesn't go away within a couple of days, then take her back to the doctor to get her throat checked out. There may be some irritation in the throat. If she is breast feed, give her as much as she want - breast milk will soothe the throat. If she is bottle fed, give her cooled boiled water in between feeds.

Let us know how she gets on.

my 3 weeks old daughter has really bad tickly cough,,any tips??dr says her chest is clear n nothing to wory......

If she is eating less try to give some cooled boiled water especially since she is sweating. If she is being breast fed then keep offering that to her. It is hard to tell with a three week old if they have diarrhea since their nappies are often thin and watery, especially if breast fed. Keep going back to the doctor if you are worried - a breast fed baby will generally shake off a cold fairly quickly. It's hard being a first time mom but you'll get through this - and the next, and the next - coughs colds flu - this all part of being a mom.

First time mom ..my three week old has a cold she has a stuffed up nose and troubble breathing. I use the saline and the nasal siringe also I bought a vaporizor. It has been three days and nothing has changed the doctor said it was just a little cold. She doesn't cry that much she is just a bit fussy. She is eating alot less about on ounce or to every to house. She is also sweating with no fever and has some diaria! Has anyone experienced this when dose it get better im so worried.

It can be really difficult since as parents, we worry about our children. Doctors and nurses take a more realistic approach I guess, and can tell when a child is really ill. As for pneumonia, she will have a very high temperature and become quite listless with her breathing fairly labored, so I wouldn't worry to much about that at present. If the cough sounds dry then I suggest a vaporizer of some type. You can use these with just water, or you can add drops which help to ease breathing. A dry cough is generally caused by dry air and the cough can really sound awful.

There is one thing I can say, your kids are often the best guide when it comes to illnesses. If she is happy, eating well, then don't worry too much. Add some moisture to the air and let it run its course. Whatever you do, don't start sterilizing everything - read these posts first - Are We Becoming Too Clean and Cleanliness v Sterilizing

Let me know what happens :)

Les

I am a 2nd time mom and my 1st child did not get a real cold and cough untill a year after winter. But my soon to be 4 month old has a horrible sounding cough, greenish/yellow mucus. She is still happy and eats as usual. She usually sleeps through the night but lately she is waking up hungry and stuffy. I have taken her to the doctors and called the on call nurse over at Childrens Hospital and they both tell me that unless she is caving in at the colar bones when she breathes, turns blue (obvious) or coughs up blood to bring her in. But I am still wondering if I should get xrays and tests done for pneumonia cause the cough sounds so dry and rough for a 4 month old. Do I demand it even though the doc says there is nothing wrong?

Hi there! If your baby is 5 days old and has a cold, you should take her to the hospital now! That's very dangerous! Mine is 8 weeks with his first cold and I'm scared to death. I can't imagine 5 days!

my baby is 5 days old and she has a cold and a watery pooh its hard for her to sleep cause she wakes herself up by coughing or sneezing i breast feed so its a struggly for her to breath when shes eating i feel helpless and just want to take it away :(

My oldest didn't get her first cold til about 9 months. My 2nd and 3rd children didn't get sick til a year old. Now here I am with a 3 week old and she has her first cold. We went to the dr and it's only a cough, but it's nerve wracking bc you constantly worry. She's a January baby and being as my other 3 are in school (16, 7 and 8) it's really hard to keep germs away even though the kids have been keeping their distance. I just wish I could keep her in a bubble. :-(

I would suggest you take him to the doctor. There are many different reasons for coughing. With diarrhea it could be a lactose intolerance or an allergic reaction to other factors. There is a simple rule I follow for little ones under 12 months = when in doubt scream and shout - straight to your family doctor or the local hospital.

Thanks for visiting - let us know what the outcome is.

Les

My son has been coughing alot especially when he sleeps. He doesnt have a runny nose but he sounds congested when he coughs n when he sleeps at night. He hasnt had a fever yet but has diarrhea, sweats alot when he sleeps (in just a onesie) and wakes up crying most of the time. He doesnt drink his formula as much as he use to and he's about to be 4 months. I tried the humidifier, baby tyenol, baby vicks, and proping him up with a bobby pillow to help him. It seems like nothing is working. He's coughs up his formula and has been like this for 4 days now. HELP! What is wrong with him? What should i do?

I have an 11 year old and 4 week old newborn. The eldest attends school and I was hoping no bugs would find their way home but they have. My 4 week old has a stuffy nose and seems to be laboring at breathing (the pediatrician said that newborns breathe using their stomach muscles more) and to be concerned moreso if the baby is using her ribs and chest muscles to breathe. This is highly stressful to monitor since it's hard to differentiate. I am thankful to read one part of this article however because I had been worried about the nursing or possible lack-there-of. She is nursing and now that I know she doesn't have to be 15 to 20 min straight per breast, I know she'll recover under both my and the doctor's watchful eye.

I hope they don't read as haha comments. A young child with a cold is no laughing matter, especially a two week old. Some parents do get lucky and their children are cough and cold free early on. Breast fed is supposed to provide some protection but that is not always the case.

Our eldest was virtually free of coughs of colds for her first few years - now she is at school she brings every bug home with her. Our 14 month old seems to have had a cough or cold of some description every two months since birth.

What is important is how we deal with each cold that comes along, not the why or hows. I hope my article helps out in some way.

thanks for your comment and I hope your two week old gets over the congestion quickly.

Les

your right on the button about them "haha" parents writing that...my 2 week old baby had a bit of nasal congestion last night that was worrying me at 1 a.m. and reading that made me a bit more stressed thinking Im not doing something right...am I alone here?? hopefully not...so thanks for saying something :)

good write up, very interesting read
Your blog looks great... I liked it a lot.

Parents with children that are showing symptoms of a cold are referring to this page for help. Why on earth would you post notes about your kids never getting sick on this page? Thats great to read at the end of the article... it is almost a Ha-Ha, my kid never got sick. Go post this somewhere else!

My eldest didn't really get sick until she started school - then everyone had it. That's school for you.

Guess I was lucky, my kids never got sick for the first 2 years :)