We have our first cold...

...and I'm freaked out! Okay - so we've gotten this far w/out any major sickness - other than a stomach virus....and I have no idea what to do. I called the Pediatrician - and they talked me through everything to look for, what to give, how to keep them comfortable - but I want practical advice...do I keep them away from each other, stop using the same spoon when feeding, not let them play together, keep them quiet, bundle v/s not bundle up w/clothes, do you give them tylenol for abnormal fussies or just for fever, when does a fever warrent tylenol, how do I know if it's turining into an ear infection (something the dr. told me to look for, do I run the heater??? HELP please. Not to mention I am so afraid it's going to turn into RSV (we didn't qualify for the shots :O )

Okay so reading this over I sound totaly crazy but these were my very very sick 29weekers and first babies and I am worried!

Thanks guys - I figure if anyone else would understand it would be you! Their symptoms right now - constant sneezing, runny noses (clear but thick and some white), coughing, whinning, clingyness, eating but not as much as normal, fussies, low-grade fevers.

 

I so now how worried you must be feeling. I too am mom of 29 weekers and remember their first bad cold. I was a wreck. I am trying to think back when mine were that small. I don't think I kept them apart from each other but I did stop using same spoon to feed them. I continued to let them play together and was just careful if sick one put toy in his mouth to wash it. I let them call the shots if they felt good enough to play I let them play. I was never one to give tylenol just for fussiness unless you think they may be teething too? I would call the pedi to ask actual temp that would warrant tylenol.

It sounds like overall they are doing well, still drinking and eating are the biggies. I hope they are feeling better soon.

 

How are the guys feeling? Any better yet?



I linked this to FY hopefully so you can get some more ideas

 

Hope ya'll are feeling better! I can relate. My girls are 2nd and 3rd and have been sick numerous times, thanks to big sister (who was never sick as a baby)! We have also had RSV, which was really just a very nasty cold.

When they have colds, I haven't kept them apart, but I do stop feeding them with the same spoon. I do give them tylenol for abnormal fussiness regardless if they have fever. As far as ear infections, when my oldest DD has had one it is much worse when they lay down do to the pressure. So if you see that they are having a hard time sleeping or pulling at their ears then I would take them in. Also if you see them wheezing (which my girls did w/ RSV) I would take them in too. Also - my girls are on breathing treatments 1 X a day and when they are sick I do it 3X a day. It seems to help so that is an option too if they seem to have trouble breathing.

Hang in there and hope you boys are on the up and up!

Kimberly

 

We have the crud right now too. I will give tylenol for fussiness. Trust me this crud has body aches with it too, so they may honestly be in some minor pain. As for ear infections each child is different. My DD NEVER had symptoms with an ear infection. At one point anytime she would have congestion, I would wait 3 or 4 days and take her in because 95% of the time she would have an ear infection (a common secondary infection with upper respiratory infections). The one time she fussed about her ear hurting I jumped for joy thinking she finally could associate the infection with letting us know (she was 3). Turned out both her ears were so infected they had almost ruputured. Brandon on the other hand won't sleep and will consistantly want to nurse when he gets them. We will all probably head in next week if the symptoms don't let up before then (sooner if I think any of them have an ear infection). My pedi says that if the cold seems to be hanging around longer than it should (after 7 days the symptoms don't seem to be getting better), to bring them in to check for a secondary infection. HTH

 

Thank you all so much! I really appreciate it. At this point the boys fevers have been fluctuating - going up as high as 102 - still runny noses, still really fussy - and now I have it too DH had been away for work - so it's been a really fun couple of days

I figure if it's still around on Wednesday (5 days) then I will take them in - or if their fevers continue to go up...

I have been listening to their chests like a crazy woman - for fear of RSV - but so far haven't heard any wheezing or rapid breathing.

 

I bet the fevers will brea soon. My girls usually had a fever for 4 days or so with colds when they were little. Hang in there, not too much longer now and they will be over their first cold.