Early this morning I could hear some barking coming from downstairs. We don't have a seal or a dog, so I knew it had to be a croup-y cough.
A few minutes later, John came wheezing up the stairs, crying about a lost car. I wrapped him up in a blanket and we went to sit out on the porch for a few minutes. His new race car from MickeyD's was lost under his bed, and the crying was not helping his breathing. So we sat outside, breathing the cold air. After a few minutes rubbing his back and a few promises to search for the car, he calmed down, and started to breath a little easier.
Croup is always a little scary, but, from the American Academy of Family Physicians, Most children with croup will get better with treatment at home. You can give your child a mist treatment at home by:
Having your child breathe through a warm, wet washcloth placed over the nose and mouth.
Running hot water in your shower with the bathroom door closed. Once the room has become steamy or has fogged up, sit with your child in the room for about 10 minutes.
Cool air may also help reduce the swelling in your child's airways. In cooler months, taking your child outside for a few minutes may bring some relief.
*I should just mention that I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, and if your child is not breathing you should seek medical care....
But, it is that time of year, and the trick of going outside in the cool air, or making a steam bath, has save us several late night trips to the ER.
8 comments:
Croup is weird! Both Isabel and Caleb have had it. I thought it was one of those things happened only long ago (long in Anne of Green Gables....when Anne saved Minnie Mae!) It is scary when you don't know what it is. It's a good thing you know can recongize it and know what to do. Yes, you have saved yourself some trips to the ER.
btw...Caleb has one of the cars from McD's and loves it! Our boys would be buds!
D
Croup is scary, at least it was the first time we experienced it. We have done the outside thing and the bathroom shower thing. Both have worked very well.
I hope John gets feeling better soon.
It's that time of year. It seems like everyone is starting to get sick. We have colds at my house right now.
Thanks for all those tips! They sound much faster and cheaper then going to the emergency room.
Good tips, is John feeling better? We haven't had that yet, but have had pretty much everything else. If you want tips on taking care of a kid with diareah, I'm the girl to talk to :)
Yikes! Croup is kind of scary. Our first experience with it ended up with my daughter having to stay overnight in the hospital. It happened while I was visiting my in-laws. The shower thing helped out a great deal the night before I took her in. She woke up crying because she couldn't breathe or sleep. Her little chest was caving in she was trying to breathe so hard. After about 20 minutes in a steamy bathroom, she calmed down and fell back to sleep. I was terrified though!
Anyway, those are good tips because it doesn't usually get that bad. You are probably a pro at being doctor mom. I'm still learning...
You are right, Jessica, it can get really bad - a friend of our in TX spent a few days almost every year with croup. Scary.
That's pretty scary. I haven't delt with croup yet... acute asthma attacks, yes. Croup no. The steam showers work for the asthma as well.
Maybe you'll see less of that in Hawaii. :)
I agree croup is scary.
Like my mom always says: most of the time part of the battle -for the parent- is remaining calm and using one's head.
Hope he's feeling better. :)
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