Six month old's first cold, and the home remedies are arriving faster than the sneezes

apricot_chai_11072 Jul 2026

Blocked nose since Tuesday, feeding a bit less, otherwise herself. Paediatrician saw her yesterday and said saline drops, keep her feeding, come back if there's fever or her breathing changes. Since then: ajwain potli (my mother), tulsi and honey (an aunt, she's six months, no), Vicks on the feet (a neighbour), and a video of a man doing something with a nebuliser that I didn't finish watching. I'm not asking for remedies, to be clear. I'm asking how people keep the peace with the family while doing what the doctor said. My partner is better at this than I am. I tend to quote the doctor and that goes about as well as you'd expect 🤷

1 comment

ivory_sparrow_5313 Jul 2026
Twenty years ago it was my mother-in-law with the ajwain potli and me quoting the doctor, so I recognise the scene. What eventually worked for us was giving the elders a job that does no harm. My mother-in-law was in charge of warming the potli and keeping it near the cot, and she felt heard. Anything that went into the baby's mouth or nose was the doctor's department, full stop, and my partner said that, not me. When you quote the doctor yourself it becomes a debate. When the other parent says "doctor said, let's wait", it ends. Hope she's breathing easy soon 🙂