HJ1981 - Don't use eucalyptus oil in the bath water if bub has very sensitive skin. 1 drop is usually ok, but best to avoid. a drop on her clothing should do the trick.

Yes, try not to use the aspirator each time because you want to dilute the mucus enough to be able to "suck" it out. Vicks is ok at 4 months, as long as applied to chest only not nostrils etc. You can also use it on a bib.

Otrivin is actually a decongestant (unless they make a saline one that I'm not aware of!). Saline drops dilute the mucus to make it easier to clear. These are ok to use as often as required to give relief. Even every 5-10 minutes. They are surprisingly good at clearing stuffy sore noses.

Decongestants dry out the mucus and reduce further mucus production and therefore "decongest" the nose. Look at the active ingredient on the bottle. Decongestants will by xylometazoline or oxymetazoline. You should use these sparingly 2-3 times a day and for no more than 5 days at a time. If used longer they dry out the nose too much and you get "rebound congestion", which basically means that the nose "thinks" it's too dry and will produce more mucus, hence more congestion!

Snacks - Nurofen is a great drug for some people and in some instances, but under 2yr old can do more harm than good. Paracetamol is a far safer drug to use. Reasons:
- upsets stomach lining and can cause gastric bleeding
- can cause allergies. These can be severe if the child also has asthma and can lead to breathing problems.
- Viral infection/fever can lead to Reye's syndrome which is a serious condition that affects the brain in under 15yr olds
- can upset kidney function , especially as bubs kidneys as not well developed to handle the drugs.
- It doesn't actually last much longer than paracetamol ( the 8hr versus 4hr for paracetamol is a bit of a marketing gimmick!)
- Has no added benefit over paracetamol in reducing fever or pain unless there is marked inflammation (injuries that cause redness and swelling such as sports injuries)
It can be useful for infections like middle ear where there is redness etc.

MotherGoose - great tips!