Any tips for helping a 10 month old and a 2.5 year old clear up chest congestion? They're over the active sickness but feels like the congestion lingers for weeks.
Our kids (4.5 & 3) and most at school have the same thing. I had something similar a few months ago, went to a doc-in-the-box and ended up getting an inhaler which helped. Might run it back.
Pediatrician can help determine if it's normal, or treatable with meds. If it's been a couple of weeks (as opposed to 3-4 days), they should encourage you to come in to be seen
you can try chest PT, it worked for us in some situations https://www.cff.org/managing-cf/chest-physical-therapy we also use nosebot regularly to reduce post nasal drip.
Maty’s Chest rub for both Local honey for the 2.5 year old
Mucinex is a good way to loosen the phlegm but use during the day and an essential oil work rosemary or eucalyptus is good to rub on the chest and saline spray to clean the nose 2x a day. Ours had this every winter.. Cleaning the nose during the season is a good preventative as well. Bon courage
Perhaps a humidifer in the room? There are room-temp-mist models and they help coughs and loosen things up. I’ve used one with all 3 of my kids during persistent congestion (and for myself!)
Grew up in rural England, quite cold so often had chest congestion — cheapest and most effective method mum always did was; boil a pot of water, add 2 teaspoons of vick’s, towel over the head and pot, slowly inhale the vapor
Mullein tea is a natural expectorant and helps clear respiratory infections It’s a normal tea so afaik safe for kiddos. Just steep it for 15min to leech out all the good stuff 👌
Saline nebulizer treatments have worked great for us. You can pick them up at most CVS or Walgreens
Re: 10 month old - our pediatrician said at that age they don’t have the reflex to clear their throat so if it’s possible congestion doing the nose Frieda 2x a day + humidifier might help.
Nose Frieda before bed and if it still isn’t going away, you can get a kids nebulizer and albuterol from the pediatrician. Has a 100% effective rate for us. An inhaler generally doesn’t work for kids that young.
@tam is an actual doctor — she can give advice!
albuterol with a nebulizer, at least for the 2.5 year old.