Help for Sore Throat

Updated on February 20, 2008
B.P. asks from Fredericksburg, VA
15 answers

My 30 year old daughter has a 5mo old daughter. She and her daughter do not livew with me, however she's a single parent so I try to help out by keeping the baby overnight at least once a week. Bryce is a very good baby. Last week my daughter came down with the flu and asked me to take the baby for a few days, because she didn't want to infect the baby. I picked her up from the sitter on friday and just as I suspected Bryce had already been infected. Pediatricians do not give cold medications anymore to infants. But I noticed when she coughs or tries to suck that she has a sore throat. Are their any suggestions on helping to soothe a sore throat in a 5 month old? When my kids were small their pediatrician always gave them perscriptions for symptoms? But, now they tell you that these perscriptions don't work. No antibiotics, no cough syrup, no dicongestion, nothing? What's the infant to do?

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So What Happened?

Erica took Bryce in to the pediatrician this morning. She had RSV before and we didn't want to take chances. Thank God the doctor did a thorough exam and declared that Bryce only has a cold. He advised using the motrin and the vicks vapor baths along with the saline solutions which we keep on hand. I now have the flu, so I didn't go along with them to the doctor. But apparently Miss Bryce is laughing it up, cooing, and making us look finatical. I want to thank everyone who took the time to be concerned about Bryce and send in their helpful advice. A lot of the things I alrady had left over from a previous illness, so I just pulled them out. She does not have the flu or RSV but I can still administer the motrin, saline, and vicks vapors baths and creams. Thanks guys! Bryce and Erica also appreciated your advice.
B.

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C.P.

answers from Washington DC on

A cool mist humidifer would probably help. If you don't have one, sit in the bathroom with the baby while you run a hot shower. Let the bathroom get good and steamy and stay in there for about 10 minutes. I would also try some baby tylenol drops. You may want to ask the doctor if you can get some popsicles for the baby to suck on. It can be very frustrating with a sick baby and no way to comfort them. Good for you for helping out as much as you are!!

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T.B.

answers from Norfolk on

I have to agree that a humidifier might help. I would however, if this persists for more than 3 or 4 days and does not seem to be getting better, take him to the doctor. I have seen several of the small babies in our day care come down with strep, and show only signs of a sore throat (no fever or white pustules in the back of the mouth).

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J.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Try cooler than normal bottles. When my son had a sore throat I did pain medicine (Tylenol at that age), assuming it's already been ok-ed by the pediatrician for that medicine to be used. Good luck tonight.

Oh and dido on the vaporizer, warm mist would work too if it's all you have in the house.

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A.L.

answers from Roanoke on

Tylenol has helped my son when he had RSV and a cold. He is now four months old. We give him 0.6 mL (halfway between the 0.4 and 0.8 mark on the dropper) every four hours as needed. Good luck. I hope that your granddaughter feels better soon.

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D.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Do exactly what your mom did for you and you did for your children. If it worked for you and your children, it will work for this child. They are saying all kinds of things these days. I don't think they know what is what.

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C.T.

answers from Washington DC on

The new research out is that the medicine in cold medicines, is too dangerous for babies, but that doesn't mean that if it is a bacterial infection that the doctor wouldn't perscribe antibiotics. Take the baby in, have it checked out. If it is just a cold/flu and they don't give you antibiotics (or even if they do) you can still give the baby Tylenol, that would help with the pain. I had one pediatrician ask why I hadn't given pain medication to my baby for the pain, honestly, it hadn't occured to me. For babies, we think of Tylenol or Motrin for fevers and forget that they are pain relievers as well. Good luck.

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K.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi B.! I know how you feel. Unfortunetly we live in a very litigious society. People give their children the wrong dose of a medication, the child is injured, and somehow that becomes the fault of the manufacturer. It is so sad. When tylenol and all the other companies pulled their products for infants off the shelves they said it wasn't b/c of the medications it was b/c of people having trouble giving the correct dosage. I'll tell you what I did for my son, you can decide what's best for your grandson. My son is 16 months so I was able to buy the infants meds before they pulled it off the shelves so I still give him that stuff with no problems. Vicks makes an infant rub 3+ months that is still available in stores. Try that to help her breathe etc. It's safe. Also herbal tea is safe. At least my Dr. said it is, so do the books. I give him herbal tea that is unsweetened ( no honey) or sometimes I put a tiny bit of sugar in it. That always helps him. Peppermint tea worked for me. I hope this helps.

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J.C.

answers from Lynchburg on

Hi B.. My name is J. and I'm 31 and a mother of two (3 and 1). I understand your dilema with Bryce b/c I've been there with my own! It's hard to watch the little ones struggle. I have something you may want to look into that might offer some relief. It's a fruit juice called Xango...made with the mangosteen fruit. I had never heard of this product until the end of this past Dec.. I have since joined the company and have both of my children taking it and myself as well. They haven't had a cold since being on it (knock on wood, I'm not bragging!!!) This particular mangosteen juice is amazing with the wide variety of health benefits it covers and it's safe for newborns through....adulthood! :)
I was a little skeptical at first, however, I can now honestly say that I've seen many close friends and family members have amazing improvements with their health from simply drinking it. I'd love to share more about this with you if you're interested. You can check the product out on my website if you'd like www.cheers2yourhealth.com or feel free to call me. My cell number is ###-###-####. I teach school during the day but I'm free from 4:00 on.
I hope Bryce feels better. I know it's tough.
Sincerely,
J.

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S.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi,
Johnson & Johnson makes a vapor bath wash that works well if you rub it on the baby's chest/neck during the bath. Also, Vicks Rub works well on the baby's chest/neck/nose and a humidifier or vaporizer.

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C.H.

answers from Washington DC on

You sound like an awesome grandmother! I am a mom of three - 6, 4, and 10 mo. Now that they've pulled all my tried and true over-the-counter remedies, I've resorted to the basics. My son has a runny nose and cough right now. I use a humidifier in his room and turn it on every time he sleeps. I will even put him in the bouncy chair in teh bathroom while I take a shower for the warm steam. I squirt a few drops of saline solution (I buy the inexpensive bottles from Target) into each nostril and that will keep down the runny nose. I do this as needed - it absolutley can not hurt the child (just salt water) but he puts up a good fight. :) I also dose him with infant ibuprophen (I use generic) to keep down the swelling if he has a sore throat and certainly to help with the pain. I try to make sure he drinks as much as possible and sleeps as much as possible. He usually takes two naps, and this week he has been taking three. I also have him wear a onsie inside all of his pajamas and outfits to keep his chest warm. Good luck! It's never easy when they're sick.

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A.H.

answers from Dover on

Tylenol will help with the pain. Cool Mist Humidifier will help with the other symptoms. I will pray for the little sweet pea.... Good luck!

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B.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Always have the child checked with the pediatrician first, but consider giving some tylenol for the sore throat. If it is indeed the flu, the pediatrician is right- antibiotics will not help, the flu is a virus and antibiotics only work against bacterial infections (ie strep throat). Cough medicine, decongestants, etc...have NEVER been proven to help cold like symptoms in children under the age of two years,and now are "off the market" due to the adverse side effects from them.

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M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Have you tried a cool mist humidifier? I know it really has helped my kids. Also, I know this sounds crazy, but if you rub baby vicks on the baby's feet and cover with socks at bedtime, it really does work to help with the congestion and really relieves a cough. That for some crazy reason has worked better then any cough suppressent. My 6 year old even told me once that I must be a wizard for putting magic medicine on his feet that made his cough go away. I hope I have been of some help.

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S.O.

answers from Washington DC on

My husband and I give our babies (just 2yrs old and our daughter became 1 year old yesterday)liquid Vitamin C when they have sore throats or we think their immune system is getting low. I think it helps keep on top of it. Or if it's too late then it helps them to recover much faster.

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A.S.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi! I am A. and I have 2 wonderful boys, Jacob 7, and CJ 5. I operate my own in-home daycare business and my advice is to take the baby to the doctor for a strep test. The initial strep test takes about 15 minutes. They should also do an extended test at the same time (just a swab in her throat) and it takes 24 to 72 hours to culture.
No matter what, give that baby some motrin! The ibuprophen in the motrin will relieve her pain better than acetominophen, as the ibuprophen is an anti-inflamitory. The infant's ibuprophen bottle I am reading to you (Equate brand from Wal-mart) says that for a 12-17 pound baby she should recieve 1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) of the suspension liquid. An 18-23 pound baby gets 1.875 ml (1/3 tsp). It is concentrated at 50 mg per 1.25 ml - I like the Equate brands dosing the best because it's based by weight and not age. Definitely take her to the doctor and quickly! If she has strep, and it's left untreated she could get scarlet fever, (red full body rash) which could damage her little heart. I have had 2 children in my daycare that had to be taken home with strep and missed a week because they ended up with scarlet fever. It wass easily treatable for the two boys but they were also quite a bit older (3 and 4 years). I will be praying for your family! Good luck and God Bless!

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