hetal, i read many messages answered by you were excellent & exact to the point. i have to tell you, you catch things very nicely.

i am facing problem with my 8month old. he is having stuffy nose most times,now even at all times of day. he gets up at night very often because of this reason.he asks for bottle because of this. this problem he is having eversince his birth. but because his health is in good shape and so is his growth, my dr isnt worried about it. but this is worrying me alot.also the stuffiness of his nose has become so bothersome to him also that he sometimes struggles his best to make himself sleep but it makes him wakeup from deep sleep. i talked to dr, last month, when i couldnt see him getting enough rest.
he gave an allergy medicine. and this week he gave another allergy medicine. he keeps trying all allergy medicines samples and this is really worrying me.my dr is experienced dr and is a cardiologist too.but i am not satisfied with the trials and errors every week.

also, my baby was not good in eating,esp the texture wise. i am worried about that. i tried many of your recipes, he is eating them well but only when i puree it for him or mash it for him.
but i am afraid that when will he graduate to foods and start finger foods.i understand babies take things differently but i am afraid about that part.at 8months i have seen many kids picking finger foods and trying to eat them.

hetal please adice something about his stuffiness and as to how can i graduate him to finger foods. He is very active boy and learns things very easily, he has achieved all his milestones on time and lately i didnt face problems weaning him to sippy cup, but this is really making my nights sleepless.i am afraid he is having some internal disease or anything.also,i have mild sinus probs, could that be heridity.or does it pass on to child from mother.

please advice,i am really worried and i dont know what to do. Hetal replied. hi,
from birth to 3months, stuffiness in nose,dry mucus,runny nose - all is common, so lets eliminate that first.
so then your baby is not having this prob since birth...

now from 4th months onwards, answer my ques below -
1. did you or ne one in your family had viral attack /flu in your last phase of pregnancy,or when you delivered or when your baby was upto 6months ?
if so, there is a 50% pssoblt that your baby might have caught the viral effect and is not able to get rid of it, as he was not given ne medicine to cure it !

2. how often you clean your carpet. i recmend it cleaning every 3 days,try steam vaccum weekly or 10 days,,they can be rented from your local stores on per day basis..or buy one.
3.how often are your ac filters replaced ?? when did you last replace ?
if not in every 3months, have them replaced immdiately.
4. how often you clean the lint in your washing machine,,clean it after every wash.esp b4 baby cloth washes.
5. give your baby at night before sleep to clean off all the possible allergens.this will further help him to sleep better,,,,also alternately,give head bath,,dry it nicely,and give a good massage with ne light oil,,,..he will feel good.
6.after bath, apply vicks baby rub on his chest,on his back of chest,on his feet,,,apply very light and rub it nicely but gently..after every bath, clean baby nose, with suction pump.and his ears with earbuds.

7.eliminate ne use of scented detergents for babies. also, make sure their clothes are washed in mild detergent(les than recommended on detergent pack),and are washed in warm water, always.if whites,go for hot water.
8.change your baby more often, after every meals,feeds,or whenever you think he rolled alot with those clothes..as you mentioned your baby was uptodate with milestones, i assume that by 8months, he must be sitting well and trying to crawl..
wash his hands or face whenever they touch carpet or floors..for their safety, put some good tight comforter or a good blanket and let them rocknroll on them..
your sinus problem is yours, has nothin to do with that to baby as far as hrdty is concerned..but yes, if you are suffering from chronic sinus, that gives you alot of sneezes,often,,its quite pssble.if so, everytime you hold your baby, sanitize your hands with some good sanitizers, in India, purell or wash your hands. dont kiss baby on cheeks or forehead...our breathe shouldnt touch babies area of breathing,not good if you are having sinus or even tiny winy cold..for baby its more than enough to fall sick..

use of coolmist humidifier,in hot weather or hot temperature places,,and warmmist humidifier in cool weather or at cool room temperatures will also soothe your baby. go for some easy to clean & managebale humdifier..and replace their filtres, if ne, weekly or acc to models you are using.

and ask your dr to check his ears..stuffiness shouldnt last this long and some babies have shown mild earr infections, with signs of stuffiness only..
when you think, its not letting him breathe, spray some infant saline drops,and he will be better,,if mucus comes,or you hear it, remove with suction.
also, at 8months, offer him more fluids,,like diluted juice,water feeds between meals or feeds,,etc..this will help his body remain well hydrated,,reducing stuffiness. some babies have shown stuffiness when their water/fluid intake was lesser than needed,,esp in summers ! dont consider fluid to be milk or formula or bm...it has to be in addition to total intake of milk/formula or bm.

other than that, i want you to take second opinion from other dr, the reason being if the stuffiness is due to allergy, ne ordinary allergy medicine would have cured your baby in just 4-5 days,,if not, he is surely in need of other medications..and since your this dr is still not able to figure out in 15 days, its better to ask another dr.and it doesnt bother about dr degree..no human being is perfect on this earth,,possibilities of minor mistakes,little setbacks are pretty normal in ne field that is mastered by ne human !

so please note that.
good luck, i dont c neother possibility of stuffiness in infants below 9months.