Need to Dry up Mucous - Any Suggestion?

I've not used Benedryl, it makes my kids hyper. The better choice is the children's version of non-drowsy Guaifenesin (Mucinex). You can get a generic brand almost anywhere now that works just as well as the Mucinex brand. It dries out the mucus super fast and the kids feel better.

Good luck, sick kids are no fun.

i doubt this would help. Benedryl is an antihistamine, meant to dry up kids' sinuses when they run due to allergies. I don't think it would solve anything with a cold, which is caused by virus. Plus it makes the kids so groggy. Ask the pediatrician what's most likely to help. i would think over the counter cold medicine rather than Benadryl.

Our ENT recommended a stronger saline spray. We use ENT SOL. You can get it at a drugstore but not all have it so I would call in advance. It is just a higher solution of saline to dry them out more. We only use it before naps and bedtime but it works great. Benadryl gives my kids nightterrors.

There is also Children's Claritin... it is a liquid. But I forget the age specifications on it.
But it does NOT make a child drowsy. Like Benadryl.

But if he is sick, these Antihistimines may not work to "dry" it up. It does not always work for me, as an adult... to dry it up.

Check with your Pediatrician... it depends how old your child is.

All the best,
Susan

i have given my daughter benadryl since 10 months (with a dr ok). she is 3 now and gets 1 tspn when needed every 4-6 hours. i use it when she is sick to dry up the nose and when its just allergies. also i use saline and a nasal asperator to get the snot out.

Hi,

Benydryl does not dry up mucous. You need to give your child a cobination of sudafed which dries up mucous and benydry to make sure he is not completely dried out from the sudafed. Benydrly helps the mucous loosen up. So, both are very essential to making sure your baby feels better. Make sure you consult your doctor or and advice nurse to confirm.

Keep it flowing... I am assuming he is a baby, so put him to sleep in his carseat to keep his head elevated. That will keep him from choking. Also, I used to stand in a steamy shower with my kids until the hot water ran out before bedtime. that really keeps it all loose and runny, so I can suck as much as I can out, then put him to sleep sitting up. use baby vics vapurub if you want, some people put it on babys feet, I never tried that but they swear it works. make sure he gets plenty of fluids, too. It is a real drag. Sorry your little man is sick.

My doctor gives me Ron-dec as a decongestant. I LOVE it!

For helping the breathing at night, (as directed by our homeopathic Dr.) we cut onions and place them next to the bed (at times we have also put some in a sock and tied it to the other side of his bed). It does wonders for clearing their sinuses for an easier sleep. Be prepared for his room to smell like a kabab restaurant though, but it is worth it.

You don't say how old your son is. If he's an infant, make sure what you give him is approved for infants. For older kids, we've used Benadryl or the generic equivalent with all 4 of our kids. With some people, it makes them very sleepy, but with some it doesn't. Good luck, and I hope he feels better soon!

Check with your doctor on what you can give him and the proper dosage- you don't mention how old he is, but if he is little, you will need to double check before you give him anything over the counter. I do use benedryl for mine who is 2 and if they are over 4 you can give mucinex. But like I said, check with the doc first.

Our ENT told us absolutely NO benedryl! I had been using it for almost 2 years when he told me about a study that shows it may cause lower IQ and in adults it increases the risk for dementia. I don't know much else about it but I have switched to Zyrtec and Singular.

Mucinex for Children works well for my 3-year old. db

I have but it's not really for colds more for allergy symptoms. If it works use it. I give it to my one year old with no problem. I suggest this thing you plug into an outlet by vicks that emits a eucalyptus and a humidifier and then they have baby vicks vapor rub and I put that on their feet with socks and on their chest. Works great.

yes, Benedryl does work. We used it. It was the only thing that we could use, that and saline nose spray would help a lot too.

L.,
I use the Shaklee children's products. You can find them at http://www.shaklee.net/healthforlife
Using the children's vitamins will help prevent the colds. Alfalfa and Defend and Resist ( if he is old enough to take D&R) are great for recovering from upper respiratory illnesses. When my boys were small, I used a mortal and pistal to grind them up and put them in a little juice.
Victoria

Updated

L.,
I use the Shaklee children's products. You can find them at http://www.shaklee.net/healthforlife
Using the children's vitamins will help prevent the colds. Alfalfa and Defend and Resist ( if he is old enough to take D&R) are great for recovering from upper respiratory illnesses. When my boys were small, I used a mortal and pistal to grind them up and put them in a little juice.
Victoria

Like so many of the Moms said, you really don't want to dry him up even though it is awful to be dealing with a majory runny nose! When you use a drying agent like Sudafed it can lead to sinus infections and once they get one they are more prone to get them with any cold :( Children's cold medicines can also have this effect and can lead to ear infections because nothing is draining! The vapor suggestions and using the hot shower steam are your best and safest bet!

the say no benedryl or meds before age 4. let the cold run its natural course and expect 2 weeks of coughing/sniffing. run humidifier, put vicks on feet. how old is your son? if he's older, they you can give him stuff.

I put my son in the tub with Vick Vapor bath and let him play it helps with the breathing and it also help the mucus flow faster. I find it is always better to get it out
of the system.
C.

I would not use any of that stuff. Try a good honey at night before bed. The mucous is needed to bring up stuff from the lungs. If you dry it up that process will stop and the body will not heal itself as well the next time.And makes the germs stay in the lungs! Have him breathe through his nose as much as possible among many other things that will bring up the mucous and clear the lungs and congestion which is really inflammation.

I just bought the nosefrida nasal aspirator at whole foods and it works great. You get all the snot out so they can fall asleep.,

There is a saline 'mist' spray that is over the counter that works GREAT! Spray it in each nostril and then suction it all out. It's the best thing to get that mucous out and keep that bacteria from harvesting! :) We have used benadryl on our children. You did not mention how old your son is but you CANNOT use it under the age of one and must use with caution. Ask your pediatrician. They can tell you whether it's o.k AND what the correct dosage is.
I also use the warm mist Vicks humidifier. Good luck! :)

Try homeopathic Allium cepa, 30C or 6C. If your son is an infant, you can let it dissolve in his formula or juice before giving it to him. Completely safe.