Dr. Lynn Cates
Specializing in pediatric infectious diseases and childhood immunizations.
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 Ask Dr. Cates
Six-Week-Old Too Congested to Take Her Bottle | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Cates,
My six-week-old baby has a cold, with a very congested cough. She is having trouble sucking on her bottle and breathing at the same time. My mother-in-law suggested adding less powder or more water to her formula to thin it out. How do you feel about this— Amy in NH | | | ANSWER |
April 18, 2002 | | | Dear Amy,
I'm glad you asked this question because it comes up every time a little baby gets a cold. Normally, a young infant breathes through her nose when she sucks, so if her nose is blocked up, she literally can't breathe and eat at the same time and her natural reflex is to opt for air over food.
Rather than thinning her formula, you need to try to get to the root of the problem by clearing her nose. The best way to do this is with saline (or salt-water, available over-the-counter) nose drops and a nasal aspirator (be sure to use a "nasal" aspirator with a clear plastic bulb instead of an ear aspirator because the nasal version will be more effective). If you aren't sure how to clear her nose, ask her provider to show you.
If the air in your home is very dry (e.g., if you have forced air heating), a cold mist vaporizer may help loosen her congestion and make it easier for her to breathe. If you do get a vaporizer, be sure to point it away from her, and keep it out of her reach. Also, get a "cold," not "hot," mist vaporizer because of the risk of burns.
— by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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