Wallowing in the Cold Season
I originally wanted the title of this post to say, "Beating the Cold Season," but that would be a lie, as our little house seems to be SO INFECTED with runny noses, coughs, snot, sneezes, and fevers that I fear we may NEVER beat it.
I have however, thankfully found some peace, refuge, and solace in some cold busting products. These opinions are completely my own, so is the trial and error use of them. I also wasn't asked to test any of the products either. I found all them by myself after scouring the web, blogs, and stalking other moms with sick kids. I compiled a list of products to try in hopes that they would at least alleviate the storm in my house. Thankfully I found several that worked - and though they aren't miracle workers (in that both my kids are STILL FREAKING SICK!) they have done wonders to make them being sick, at least bearable.
First up is the Dock-A-Tot.. Which cold or not, is a miracle sleep worker. When pregnant with Linus I was out of control paranoid that he was going to be a terrible sleeper. Ruby was such an AMAZING sleeper when she was a baby I knew that it was only fate to have one that wasn't. And so in my uncomfortable, sleep deprived, pregnant delirium I took to the internet researching anything that would aid in making baby number two a great sleeper. Enter - the Dock-A-Tot. Ten comments in on an Instagram post and I knew I had to have one. (Definitely on my must have baby list - more on that later...) Best money I have ever spent, and worth every penny. With the breathable material, and enclosed padding, he has slept like a champ in that thing since he was little (little..HA! I use that term relatively). And I haven't stressed or worried about him bumping in to the side - bonus. The enclosed space helps him to feel secure, like someone is holding him, and reduces those crazy infant arm spasms. I was a little worried about having him sleep on the bed, and the effect it might have on my sleep, or my husbands - we didn't co sleep with Ruby. But truly it hasn't disrupted anything...(wink, wink, TMI? Yeah, well...) If anything my husband is secretly grateful he's on the bed because then it forces me to snuggle with him on our king sized bed, which he loves. With Linus being sick it has been super easy to prop up one end of the Dock-A-Tot allowing him to be slightly elevated and breathe better. Pretty much at this point, he's sleeping in like his own sleep number, memory foam, reclining bed. (Lucky!)
I love Aiden and Anais swaddle blankets. They have been my favorite since Ruby. So when I discovered that they made swaddle sleep sacks I was sold. Yes the Dock-A-Tot helps to reduce his crazy arm flapping, but my son, like my daughter, and my husband, is a restless sleeper. Constantly tossing and turning and twitching. Ruby didn't like being swaddled as a baby, in fact she down right HATED it. So I just didn't think to swaddle Linus either. But between his snotty nose, and his sleep spasms he was waking himself up, which caused him to be grouchy and tired and irritable ALL DAY LONG (not happy Bob. Not. Happy). Since we have started swaddling to sleep it has made a world of difference. He'll grumble and fuss for like the first 3 minutes, and then he's out like a light. Dock him in his Tot and we're getting about 6-7 uninterrupted hours in the night. Which has done wonders for his little cold I am sure since sleep is the only time his body has to fight off whatever the heck is going on. We've pretty much taken to swaddling him anytime he seems remotely sleepy. It has improved nap time, and the sanity within our household.
His little nose is like a running faucet. Between him and his sister I feel like I am drowning in buckets of snot. (Eew... Sorry.) But the old bulb syringe just wasn't cutting it. I wasn't getting ANYTHING out of his nose...EVER. So I took to the internet to see if there was a better option, and their was... The Nose Frida. Now, let me start by saying that everything about this little gadget FREAKED me out! It's like a giant straw hooked up to a containment container that sticks in to your kids nose and the idea is you are LITERALLY sucking the snot out of their nose. EEEW! But I was desperate, and tired of waking up to him choking and hacking and unable to get a breath. So I did what any desperate mother would do, and I caved and bought it. Let me tell ya'll - GAME CHANGER! Yes it still creeps me out. Yes I still find it next level nasty. BUT! At the same time, I have never seen so much snot come out of a little tiny nose, that now it's like a weird kind of game... How much snot will I get this time?! (I know.. I need help..)
To aid in the snot sucking party I have a bottle of saline spray/drops in every corner of our house along with several packs of Boogie Wipes that I use on both kiddos. Ruby is pretty good about making sure to grab a tissue (only Puffs Plus with lotion in this house!) But every now and then I'll look over at her, and her face is a glossy, crusty mess. Mama's, you know what I'm talking about! The Boogie Wipes have helped to keep her little face, sleeve, and arm clean when a tissue just isn't cutting it. They also help with Linus because they're damp instead of dry which is easier on his little skin, plus they have saline built right in to them so that's a huge plus.
The last product I snagged was a portable cool must humidifier, and it makes me so ridiculously happy. I love the giant cool mist animal humidifiers from Crane, because they're just so cute! But currently, with our tiny living situation, and Linus sleeping in our bedroom we just don't have the space. (Plus I absolutely HATE cleaning those things out!) When I saw this at Target I was equal parts intrigued (it's tiny, it doesn't take up much space) and skeptical (is it really effective, will it work the same as a big one?). I have been nothing but satisfied. It's compact design allows it to be closer to him without taking up a lot of space, and their is a decent stream of cool mist steam that comes out of that thing it's amazing. PLUS! It's travel size, so I can take it on trips with us if the kids get sick, or we're headed to the desert etc. The ONLY downside is that it doesn't go all night long. Which I don't necessarily see as a downside. If he's still struggling to sleep I'll get up and refill the cup in the night (I'm usually up anyways helping with or taking my own potty break) but if he seems fine then I'll just let it be. I don't have to clean the darn thing (WAHOO!) And! It came with three extra filters!
Obviously we also have an endless amount of Lysol wipes and spray. At this point, if I could bleach the whole darn house I would! But that's not practical, and thankfully with all of these tools, and some serious prayers I am hoping that this too shall pass, and that by the time my kids are 10 they'll have rockstar immune systems and hardly ever get sick! (That's how it works right?!!) Well.. I'm back to the snot mines! Hopefully ya'll are staying healthy, or finding aid and sanity in some cold busting tools too.
CHEERS Babes!
PS. All of these products except for the Dock-A-Tot can be found at my favorite store, TARGET! In the baby aisles. The humidifier is over by the pharmacy section. The Dock-A-Tot can be found here! Ya welcome!