Long Term Runny Nose for a 1 Year Old

My son (3) has had a runny nose for most of his little life. He has only had 1 ear infection at 2 1/2. My pediatrician said that he could have enlarged adnoids which could result in congestion, runny nose etc. When I was a kid...they removed the adnoids (mine included)...but the thinking has changed...and unless it's affecting their sleep to the point where they are sleepy throughout the day, can't concentrate etc...they leave them alone. The adnoids (from what I am told) will decrease in size as the child ages....and become no longer a problem. I know the constant runny nose gets really old really fast. Hope you find some answers.

My little guy is 17 months old and he had a runny nose most of last winter and he just started up this winter already! He is in daycare and from what I have heard it is pretty normal for daycare kids to have constantly runny noses. He doesn't seem sick and he doesn't have a bad cough. I just keep wiping it! As long as he is running all over and in a good mood I don't worry about it and I don't give him any medicine.

When he did have a bad cough last winter the doctor gave him a nebulizer with medicine for that, but nothting for the runny nose.

It could be an allergy . . .food or environmental. My son had a lingering cough for a long time which made us look at foods that he might be allergic to.

It turned out that he was allergic to things we were giving him almost every day.

I read Dr Doris Rapp's book "Is This Your Child?" and he had several symptoms of food allergies. And we ended up doing a food elimination diet on him. It worked and he eventually out-grew some of the food allergies (hooray!).

But, you're right, it could be teeth or anything that our kids pick up (literally and figuratively).

If you have any questions about the elimination diet, send me a message.
B.

My one twin has had running nose for 2 months. (First of all my twins were born very early, so they have a very weak immune system). But we ended up taking them in the doctor last week because to me this was way too long. We find out they both had a double ear infection. I had no clue, since they had no fever, they were sleeping and eating and not pulling on their ear. But it makes sense with all the fluid. So yes I would go to the doctor.

At around 9 months old, my also has a runny/stuffy nose that would not clear up for a few weeks. Luckily his 9mo checkup had come so I talked to the doctor about it then, and he determined my son had sinus infection. One round of antibiotics and it was gone. The doctor also said he probably has allergies, and to give him Benadryl when he gets bouts of the sniffles. It works pretty well, though like everyone else says, if you give it to your daughter, keep the dosage on the low side so she's not sleepy/zoning out all day!

Even if you are reluctant to take your child to the doctor for every little thing (me too), there's nothing saying you can't give them a call and ask their advice/opinion if there's something you are concerned about. That's what they're there for! At the very least they can give you reassurance that there IS nothing more you can do but let it run its course.

She could have allergies. I don't think they will test at that young of age, unless it is life threatning.

Hi. My youngest son is almost two, and from about 6 months his nose was constantly running. He had other physical delays, so it wasn't my top concern, but everyone, and I mean everyone was telling me that he had allergies... I talked to my ped. about that and they said that he would be having other symptoms besides a runny nose if it was in fact allergies. Well, long story short, we ended up at an ENT to have his ears checked, and she said that his tonsils and adenoids were enlarged. So at 18 months (after other testing also since they usually don't do this until they are 3) he had his tonsils and adenoids removed, and he hasn't had a runny nose since! Of course this was after almost a year of runny noses... So if it continues, I would suggest looking into this...

M.

My 1 year old has had the same thing...a runny nose and often a cough basically since late September. I've taken him to the Dr. and all they suggested was lots of fluid, dress warmly, etc. Not really helpful. The Dr. mentioned that the length of the cold was most likely because it was back-to-back colds...super! I have some people in my play group who all have the same thing with their kids. A few of them have had temporary respirators to help their kids breath when they've been coughing badly. From what I can tell from talking to other moms, this is just a "sick" season...

When one of my 9 yr olds was a year, even before that, it seemed i was always cleaning out her nose. I even have a video from their first Christmas where I am telling her she has a yucky nose again. When she was 4 she had her tonsils and adenoids taken out. The Doc said that normally the kids outgrow the issue since they did not bother her but since hers sontsils were almost toching, we got them taken out. He also told me that a constantly runny or stuffy nose can be a symptom of larger adenoids. Kids usually do grow out of (or rather into) them so I wouldn't worry about that. It could be teething and a cold or just growing up. Drops may not even be necessary. Maybe just use a saline solution and the bulb thing to clean it out so the babay can breathe.

My little guy (turning 1 this month, YEY!!!) has a runny nose every time there is a new tooth coming in. Sometimes also for couple of weeks at a time. I never give him anything cause my Doctor said it is due to the teething. I would still check with your doctor just to make sure it's not something else-A. ;-)

i guess im wondering if the nose is bothering her as much as it is bothering you... i know as mothers we hate to look over and see a stream of snot falling all over the place, but i really hate the thought of you medicating her with that tylenol unless this is realllly causing her a lot of problems otherwise. i didnt think these medicines did much for children that small (or older actually) and if she has had it this long.. it isnt really fixing anything. i wouldnt be giving her that... but thats my opinion. i have used the little bottle of Little Noses or whatever saline things they have for babies... i would only try to relieve it if it is causing her to not be able to sleep or eat well because of the breathing trouble. I just think all those chemicals cant be doing anyone any good... do you have a vaporizer you can use over night in her room? I would look at the allergy thing and for sure take her to the Dr when they get back... I wouldnt keep up with the tylenol unless they tell you to, and i would be surprised if they do. Good luck :o)

I am in your exact situation...we just switched doctors and he asked why our son had not had a CT scan....our son's nose has been running out of one nostril since birth. I have not given over the counte meds, my last Dr and the new one both agree it is not a good idea. We just started our son on sigular...this has helped. We will see the Dr. again after he finishes his 4th antibiotic for a chronic ear infection. My guess is, we are off to an ENT to see the cause of the runny nose, which is causing the ear infection!

Good luck!
K.

Hi D.,

My granddaughter who is 16 months gets a runny nose with teething and sometimes it lasts for weeks. She used to get ear infections along with the runny nose, but she's been seeing a chiropractor since she was 4 months old, and that seems to be a key to keeping her from getting ear infections. My daughter also eliminated most dairy from her diet. She's okay with some dairy on occasion, but she seems to do better without it. She also takes some Shaklee supplements - a multivitamin, chewable vitamin C and a probiotic. At one point she got lots of teeth at the same time, and her nose was continually running until you thought it was going to be permanent. It finally stopped, and she had 4 or 5 new teeth. Hope this helps.

HI D.,

Your baby might have allergies. I understand not running to the doctor for the slightest little thing, but this one might be worth the trip to have her tested to find out. Administering meds over a long term for a one year old can't be a good thing. Think about how aggravating a runny nose is for an adult for that amount of time. It's got to be as bad or worse for a baby. Better you find out now than letting this thing draw out into more weeks and months.

It may also be the effects of the types of cleaners being used in your home. If you have not switched to non-toxic, natural cleaners that are environmentally friendly, the cleaning solutions currently in use could be the culprit. How about trying all natural cleaning solutions for about a month to see if they make a difference? The website for Better Homes & Gardens has some wonderful suggestions for natural alternatives.

Good Luck!

Myself and my husband are both teachers hence the carriers of some fantastic cooties! If it were me, I'd hold off on the Tylenol and opt for Benadryl. Based on research, Benadryl has few long term effects. Likewise, it will dry up the boogies.

My 3 year old son we found out had 12 undiagnosed food allergies - even after going to an allergist - who only tested him for two (just happened to be two he DIDN'T have).

We took him to an NAET specialist - its an allergy elimination technique that not only tests (through the parents if a kid) for MANY MANY more possibile allergens - my son tested 90 different food - but then ELIMINATES it. It is pretty amazing.

My son would always get a runny nose - and then it would turn into an asthmatic reaction. Since he has gotten rid of many different allergies - including corn, wheat, gluten, yeast, corn, sugars, food preservatives and coloring - he doesn't even need to be on allergy meds or the nebulizer anymore.

Also my niece - same age - has had a runny nose since birth, and she got tested through NAET and she is allergic to eggs, wheat, yeast, sugars, corn, and several other things. She is currently getting her allergies eliminated through NAET and it has already helped her chronic runny nose.

Go to naet.com to find a practitioner in your area. We go to Dr. Tam in Lombard - he is fabulous.

What a blessing to have more flexibility with your diet and to help eliminate symptoms like chronic runny nose, etc.

Good luck!

Our child was what I called a 'snot faucet' last winter. Since you are a full time teacher, I'm going to assume that not only do you come into contact with many students on a daily basis and can bring home germs/illness but your child also receives some sort of care either in-home or center.

A quick trip to the pediatrician where you ask all your questions and get answers may be just what you need to determine whether this is normal (sure sounds like it to me) or there are other underlying issues.

D.,
STOP GIVING HER THE MULTI SYMPTOM COLD MEDICINE. They are dangerious for all children under the age of 2. They don't even make a multi symptom cold medicine for children under 2 anymore (read the bottle). Studies have also found that multi symptom cold medicines are not effective for children under the age of 12 (they are effective for teens & adults). You should only give Tylenol or Motrin if they have a fever & never the multi symptom formula. You need to take her to the Dr. when they are back from vacation. I'm also not a big fan of going to the Dr., but when something lasts more than 2 weeks you have to have it checked out.

Unless there is a fever or ALOT of discomfort, please stop giving her meds. If she is in a daycare situation this may be back to back colds for which a baby under the age of thirty six months the only treatment for is fluids, cool mist humidifier and maybe nasal saline to loosen things up. It could be a sinus infection. Benedryl should not be given to children under age 3 unless allergic reaction occurs. The runny nose may bother you more than her. Also when you go to the doctor ask about allergies as this can be the cause of a chronic runny nose and RAST testing may be in order. If a child has a fever more than 3 days, symptoms for more than 2 weeks, change of how they act either sleepy, whiny, unable to sleep call the doctor right away. I know you don't want to run to the doctor, but it will prevent your child from something getting to far. Kids have an approach to illness sort of like a hill leading to a cliff, it may come on slow, but when they start to deteriorate it goes over the cliff and they go down fast. Use Tylenol and Motrin carefully as you need to make sure it works when you need it and that you don't hurt the developing liver or kidneys.

You want to get to the root of the problem. The medicines are just a band-aid. One year runny nose screms allergies to me. Allergies are a sign of a weak immune system. What could she be allergic to? I find that many times it is the things they crave. EX: A lot of apples, a lot of fruit, a lot of things with sugar, a lot of milk products. ?? ( That would be one arena to investigate)

The other would be the cleaners in the house. I had a friend whose girls were sick every weekend. She finally realized that a cleaning lady came every Friday afternoon and the children had adverse reaction to the toxins.

I have worked with adults with constant runny nose and it was all three that I mentioned. They got on a better nutrition program, eliminated the toxins in and around their home,and they got well in the process.

Really scutinize. It would be an automatic response to be defensive... ( BTW, many don't know that the State of Illinios put a law into effect about using safe, non toxic cleaners in schools.. Nursery thru 12th. you might notice that there will be less illness within the classroom this year as well) Many children go home to TOXIC homes. I know of several different videos available on line that addresses the toxins in the home. The things we thought were safe and can't hurt us are very harmful over the long haul. Maybe this will help. Let me know if you want to view the videos. I'll take the time at that point to locate the URL's as they are connected to sites.

Try children's benadryl instead of the tylenol products. The benadryl is for will dry up the runny nose and help stop whatever is causing it if it happens to be due to allergies. Plus it has been around forever and is completely safe. Sometimes it is hard to get dosing charts, but I know that I was told 1 teaspoon for my 20 pound four month old son - although I never gave that much because it would put him to sleep for hours. He is 1 year old now and weighs almost 24 pounds and 1 teaspoon works well. My two year old daughter weighs about 33 pounds and does well on just over a teaspoon. I tend to hand out benadryl before any other cold medicine...it seems to work on about everything - including helping them sleep when they don't feel good!