Gleaned over the "years" (really only 4 years) of raising multiple children (in other words twins gave us a crash course) here are some useful tip for dealing with sick kids....
- Best advice my older sister ever gave me was that if a child has a fever but is acting normal don't worry too much but if a child is not acting normal (fever or no fever) then worry.
- Children can run pretty high fevers so around here we don't panic (though we are watchful) until we get close to 104.
- Best tips for knocking out a fever....use Tylenol or Motrin (my kids do okay on Tylenol but always respond to Motrin so that is sort of our default med), strip the child, cool wash clothes on the back and/or head, a luke warm shower is great, and Popsicles are a must to have around for bringing down fevers.
- Viruses can last 7-10 days....that means that the puking/diarrhea/fever can last that long if that stomach bug is viral.
- Kissing a forehead is a better indicator of knowing a child's temp then feeling with your hand. I also once met someone who reportedly could put her temple to a child's temple and predict the temperature pretty accurately...but I have not striven for that kind of skill.
- Get to know your child's illness pattern. Doug and Andy I can always feel the fever on their forehead. Josie I have to watch it because her temples will get hot but not the front part of her forehead. Doug will stop puking and go to diarrhea, Andy will go straight from puking to normal. Andy will run a higher temperature than Doug and Andy's behavior is directly related to how high the temperature is. Andy handles snot better than Doug.
- Call twenty advice nurses and you will get twenty different opinions about how to deal with the illness.
- Kids throw-up. For a great variety of reasons that do not all involve being sick.
- Handling your own child's puke/diarrhea is much easier than dealing with someone unrelated.
- Water proof mattress pads are a must and while you are washing those mattress pads you can put a towel under the sheet to protect the mattress because children often do not know they are going to throw up until it actually happens.
- A warm shower is a great way to get the snot out. If children are coughing due to post-nasal drip put them in a warm shower before bed or if they are coughing too much in the middle of the night.
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1 comment:
I'm so honored I made the list!
We've had the continous cough around here as well (runny noses aren't as bad as they get older). William is occasional but Rachel's still really got it. The dr. here said decongestants - Sudafed or Benadryl for little ones. I've also been giving guafinesen - Mucinex or Robitussin. We've had mixed results with cough suppressants. They don't help a lot. Wish I had a better answer for Rachel, she's still wiped out and coughing a lot.
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