Its me again!

I could use some advice. Olivia is 8 months old and has come down with a fever AND a cold. There are words in the english language to describe my past 48 hours...none of which are forum appropriate.

Any advice on how to soothe her? Get her to sleep? Right now we're using Tylenol and Advil (the baby versions) to keep her fever/aches & pains at bay. She is having such a hard time sleeping though.

Last night my hubby and I were up every 1-2 hours. Sleep training while she is sick is not the most brilliant plan...so we're in her room trying to calm her. By 7:30am this morning I gave up and she slept directly on me for 3 hours.

Everyone is exhausted in this house. We have elevated her crib mattress slightly. I've put a few drops of saline in each nostril to clear it so she can breathe a bit better...otherwise any ideas? I'm at a loss.

Most of today she was inconsolable. Irritable and crying. I can't blame the gal, but have no ideas for solutions!

Oh Dear poor little girl and equally poor parents. It is so hard when the little ones are ill and can't really tell you where it is hurting the most.

Not a lot of advice I can give you as things have changed considerably in the last 50 yrs since my 'kids' were small. Certainly if she still has a fever 24 hrs later I would be phoning the GP's (local doctors) surgery at least for advice if not an appointment. Do you have a phone in nursing service at all? They can often advise what to do.

I sure hope that she soon settles down again and you can all begin to relax - and get a good nights sleep.

My best advise would be to try and get her in to see a dr. or nurse--the sooner, the better. She may have some type of infection and she should be checked for that. Other than that, it sounds like you are doing about the next best thing, and it looks like Sally has pretty much posted the same as what I was saying. I hope she gets better soon

Not much you can do for a cold, but if the fever is a problem, my SIL used to give my neice a lukewarm bath, that seemed to releive the high fevers. Other than that, all you can do is ride it out. It's brutal having a sick child, poor thing. They don't know what to do with themselves. Hope is goes soon so you all can sleep again.

I agree with Linda- give her a bath. It works for me and I'm in my 30's!
First thing I suspect in a baby with a fever is an ear infection- and your elevating the mattress should help some. But only antibiotics will get rid of. Ear infection would explain nose stuffiness as well. Ear, Nose and Throat all sort of work as a team- when ones not working, the others don't either.
This doesn't have anything to do with the fever- but is she also cutting teeth?
And well, if sleeping on you is the only way that both you and her get some sleep- do it! With sick kids its whatever works.

I also was going to say ear infection as it sounds the same as what my son went through for years. Finally got a doctor to take his tonsils out (17years old) and he has never had another ear infection.

The fever could also be caused by teething and all that helps with that is patients and an iced cloth to suck on. Even if it is not teething an iced cloth was a god send when the kids had a fever.

I remember the lack of sleep well and know its the worst form of torture so I do feel for you at the moment, I really do hope she gets better soon.

I found a steamy room would help if children were ever congested, also some olbas oil drops in the room somewhere.

hugs and get well wishes

I'm not a mother, but my rule of thumb would be, if there is a fever that doesn't go down in 24 hrs, go to your GP or A&E/ER as no good doctor minds checking a baby out in theses cases, better safe than sorry.

Poor baby, as for the cold symptoms, get used to them I'm afraid! whenever is see my many friends with kids they always seem to have colds....


Niki xx

Definitely get to the doctor if the fever doesn't go down. I've found baby ibuprofen works better for my son in reducing pain and fever; not sure whether that's what's in the Tylenol and Advil as I'm in the UK and we have nurofen or calpol. Also keep fluids up- plenty of milk and water.

Steam is great for congestion - run the shower hot for a bit and keep her in the bathroom to get the benefit. Also olbas oil/karvol on a hanky tied out of the way somewhere near her cot helps.

Otherwise, afraid it's a case of whatever works whilst she's ill to get her to sleep, whether that's with you or in her cot. Not much comfort I know but at least she isn't throwing up too with it - we once had to change baby's sheets twice and our sheets once in one night.....

Poor baby! They're so pitiful when they don't feel well. It sounds like you're pretty much doing all you can if it's just a cold. If her fever has lasted more than a day or two, especially since she's under a year old, definitely give the pediatrician a call this morning. Like the others have said, she may have an ear infection. If her nose is really congested you can get Baby Saline (I think that's what it's called), a saline nose spray designed for infants (we got it at CVS, but I'd think any drug store would sell it). It's designed to fit baby's nose without hurting it and will spray a fine saline mist so it will coat more of her nasal passages than just using a dropper. My girls hated having their noses sprayed, but it did help loosen up the congestion so they could breath better.

Oh, and throw out the sleep training while she's sick. It won't work at all because her sleep patterns are disrupted by the illness anyway (we learned that one the hard way, at least someone might be able to learn from our mistakes). We found that when the kiddos are sick, anything we can do to get them to sleep is worth it. Sometimes we did have issues, at that age, with them sleeping alone once they were better, but it didn't last long and was still better than trying sleep training while they were sick.

I hope your little one gets better soon.

mechie

I agree with the teething or ear infection but it is always best to call a doctor. Ear infections are not something to be messed with at this age. I have 3 (5,3, and 13 months) and the best piece of advise I can give a parent with a sick kid is give them what they want when they want it. Espically when they can't communicate what is wrong or what hurts. Let her sleep when and where she wants to. I've spent many an evening with a feverish baby stuck in a rocking chair because that's where the baby wants to be. Just keep a damp washcloth handy to use on her forehead.

You have my sympathies its so hard on the whole family when a little one is ill, I would suggest that you run a hot bath (or preferably shower) for ten minutes or until the room is very steamy take Olivia in and sit with her for as long as you can stand! The steam will help alleviate the cold symptoms and is completely natural, you can do this as many times a day as needed too.
hope little one is better soon.

Lulu x

Thank you all for the advice!

Her fever cut out yesterday at some point thankfully and she continued with the cold symptoms.

Today she broke out into a rash. All over her body. I called up our GP (family doc) and they slotted me in for the afternoon. Turns out, she has baby measles.

Fun times. There isn't anything I can do for her. We have to wait this one out unfortunately. Doc said it will take about a week for her to get over it all. I guess the measles can cause the cold (runny nose, etc). So for right now I have a very cranky, clingy, irritable child on my hands who doesn't like napping when she's healthy let alone sick.

Last night did go better then the previous nights thankfully. I was only up twice and my hubby was up twice or so. At least I got some semblance of sleep!!

You poor thing and poor Olivia too!! Baby measles is NOT at all fun and I hope that she gets over it quickly. Try and get as much rest as you can!!! Hope that you and your family are soon back to normal

Poor Olivia I hope she is much better soon and you get chance to rest up a little

Oh my that is not a good thing to have to deal with so young.

For mom and dad

For poor baby

Poor Olivia, and poor both of you

No wonder she was so miserable - its not fun at all for everyone concerned. Hope she soon comes right.

Poor Olivia. Hope she makes a speedy recovery.

Poor Olivia and poor you and your DH. The only good part of this is that Olivia is too young to remember how miserable she feels when she finally gets well again. Sending to you all and hoping that she recovers quickly.

Carole

Thank you all!

So far we're doing "ok". Sleep is still a little frustrating around 4am. Her appetite is poor, but coming back VERY slowly.

I think we're finally on the mend. *knock on wood!*