Thursday, February 24, 2011

Old Wives Tales

I'm not a huge believer in many of the old wives tales floating around. I don't think that you can tell the sex of an unborn baby by the way you're carrying. I know for a fact that going outside with wet hair is NOT how you catch a cold. I am also pretty sure that chocolate doesn't give you acne or my face would look like a hormonal teenage boy's. That being said, when you are at the tail end of 2 weeks with no sleep because both of your children have been waking up multiple times a night, either coughing or because they couldn't breathe through their nose, you are willing to try anything to get some rest. Enter my MIL.

My hubby told his mom that the kids have been really sick and we are dying over here from lack of sleep. She gave some advice that I was sure had to be one of these old wives tales. She said, right before we put the kids to bed, we should rub Vicks VapoRub on the soles of their feet and put cotton socks on them. This is supposed to stop their coughing and let them sleep through the night. I admit I was skeptical but willing to try ANYTHING short of voodoo to get Nate to sleep. He was coughing as we were getting ready for bed and I didn't hold out much hope for this trick to work, but I did it anyway.  Ten minutes after I put the Vicks on his feet he was out like a light and sleeping soundly. He did not wake up 1 time last night!!! I wish I could say the same thing for baby girl, but she wasn't waking up coughing. Her sinuses are so stuffed up that it is coming out of her tear ducts.  Poor pitiful baby.

I have to say that I am a firm believer in this trick and will do it again tonight. I'm pretty sure Vicks doesn't endorse this application of their product, but I work for a pharmaceutical company and know that off-label applications of some products are often more successful than their originally intended use! Case in point, I have been rubbing the Vicks on his chest for days with no improvement in cough or sleep. It just goes to show you that not all old wives tales are bunk!


*Not a sponsored post. Do not use regular Vicks on children under 2 years old. Use Baby Vicks instead*

18 comments:

  1. Yep. Totally works. But, when I do this with Mads she has to wear footy jammies. Otherwise, I'm changing/washing sheets the next day because she's not a fan of wearing socks to bed.

    I hope that everyone in your house is finally on the mend. Feel better soon.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ah good old Vicks Vapo Rub to the rescue! Get this "old wives tales" from my mom and "vickvaporu" as we say it Spanish, all in one breathe!

    Rub Vicks Vapo Rub and back for a really bad chest cognestion. Then take a sheet of newspaper and warm it over the flame of the stove and apply on to your front and one to your back. Sleep that way and your congestion will feel better. I resisted forever but in the last few years I caved and it works. Something about the combo just helps the chest cogestion.

    Hope you little ones feel better. I like the rub/sock idea will try it too next time I'm sick.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh I love this one! It totally works like a charm! Our pastors wife told me about it - I make my hubby do it now.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I totally buy this one! It works in our home. After Mr. Daddy scoffed at me doing it to Itty Bit, I caught him putting it on his own feet when he was sick :)

    Hope the kiddos are feeling much better soon!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, very interesting! I will have to try this next time there's a cough in our house! Thanks for sharing! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow, very interesting! I will have to try this next time there's a cough in our house! Thanks for sharing! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. LOL, works every single time for me! EVERY SINGLE TIME!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pei pa koa is pretty decent cough medicine (from herbal as I remembered), great non alcoholic medicine, some western cough medicine are more effective, but this is non drowsy.

    You can access info online @
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nin_Jiom_Pei_Pa_Koa
    ninjiom.50webs.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is funny because my hubby's family are firm believers in the vicks-on-the-feet method and I always joke about how ridiculous it sounds. Now you are making me question myself. I might have to try it next time one of my kids isn't feeling well...

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wish I'd heard of that sooner!! I'VE been coughing all night, all week. Chad even slept in the CLOSET one night ('cuz my Dad was here all week and took the couch.) At least the kids have been sleeping, but I can't say the same about myself!

    Glad your kiddos are better. Having sick kids isn't fun.

    ReplyDelete
  11. My parents bought my boys some last week! I think it was a hint.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Add me to the list of believers of this one!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've heard this one worked, but never have tried it. Next cold, I think I will have to.

    ReplyDelete

What you talkin' bout Willis??