Hi mommas! Finding relief for a congested baby can be a little difficult. There aren’t many options if your child is under the age of two. “Natural” medicines and remedies are basically what’s available. And to be completely honest I kind of thought they were just a hoax for companies to make more money. (How can peppermint on your temples take away a headache? It’s strong enough to cause a headache!)
But, when I gave “natural” a chance, I was surprisingly impressed!
Disclaimer- I AM NOT a professional therapist, doctor, or scientist. These suggestions are simply ideas that have worked for my children. If you are looking for professional help, please discontinue reading now. But if you are interested in some helpful tips I encourage you to read on!
No relief for baby (or mommy)
My youngest always seemed congested from about the age of one to a little over the age of two. Sleeping on our reclining couch with him on my chest was the only way to get him to sleep and stay sleeping. Every time he slid sideways I was waking up to sit him upright again. (I do not miss those nights!)
The cough wasn’t going away so I finally took him to the doctor. The doctor said his lungs were clear, it was just your typical congestion and would clear up on its own. (But she was very sympathetic to my predicament being the mom of a baby herself!)
I wanted to cry! I couldn’t do one more night with 2 hrs of sleep! So, I did what most moms do when they need help- I searched Google! There had to be another mom out there with some advice on how to help my son breathe easier…and there was!
Looking for relief
I bought a warm AND a cool mist humidifier, I put Vick’s on his feet, warm steam from the shower, I even put a small amount of Vick’s mixed with equal parts water in the wax warmer (this did help a little)! But none of these things fully helped the situation.
Then one day, when my body was ready to shut down, a light bulb went off in the brain! Zarbee’s Naturals!!!
Finding relief
I had used Zarbee’s Naturals Baby Cough Syrup once when my twins were babies and it seemed to work for them, though their congestion wasn’t near as bad. But I was willing to try just about anything at this point! To my amazement after just a day of it, he was coughing less and that night he slept a little longer. And after about three days he was back to sleeping in his own bed (and so was I)!
Just to be clear it did not take his cough and congestion away completely, it remained for awhile and he still struggles with it now and then (for some unknown reason). Cough medicine should never be used for long periods of time and if you are unsure about your childs cough or congestion you should see a doctor. I am not a doctor, this is just a tip on what worked for my son!
finding relief in more ways than one!
I also found an actual “chest rub” for babies. Most people recommend putting Vick’s on the baby’s feet. (That method never worked on any of my three kids.) But Maty’s All Natural Chest Rub works great! It’s made with Eucalyptus, Lavender, and Chamomile. It smells lovely, and super soothing. My school age children even like it and it works well for them too!
Another little trick for relief I like to use for the entire family is a spoon of honey! (Small spoon for the kiddos of course.) There’s those times when you have a slight tickle in your throat that just won’t go away- this is the perfect remedy for that! (Plus it tastes yummy!)
I sincerely hope these tips and information helps your baby feel better soon!
P.S.- Sometimes us mommas need a little pick me up after those sleepless nights with a sick baby. So, check out my post You Are More Than Just Mommy!