Now that the initial pumpkin spice hoorah is over, and the 1st day of school photos have been taken, we mommas are left waiting for the first of fall's wonderful sicknesses to strike. (If we haven't been hit already.)
Because even if our kids aren’t old enough to go to school, even if they don’t attend day care, and even if they rarely interact with other kids their age, the second our children's chubby cheeks feel the first sting of autumn, we know what’s coming. The common cold, flu, RSV, ear infections, and croup have all lined up knocking on the door; and are just waiting to be let inside with one contaminating sneeze, cough, or impulsive lick to the grocery cart.
We all know that our mischievous toy hoarders cannot help but share germs. So we hastily don hazmat suits, sporting messy buns the size of Mr. Clean’s biceps, as we Windex, Norwex, or Essential oil every surface. Yet no matter what we do, we cannot protect our children from everything.
They will inevitably get sick.
My son has contracted croup multiple times. At ten months old, he came down with his first bout of flu, and a month or so later, he contracted a sinus infection that turned into his first case of viral croup.
As my son’s breath hitched and groaned, my heart squeezed.
Several cases of croup and a couple years later, my husband and I have learned a few tricks.
Here are six ways to care for your croup-stricken child.
1. Don’t panic.
As awful as it is to watch your child struggle to breathe, you need to take a deep breath first. Flight attendants instruct passengers to first put on their own masks in an emergency before attempting to help anyone else because it enables parents to have enough oxygen to better help those around them. (azcentral)
This concept translates into other scary circumstances as well. Pausing will enable you to think clearly, trust your instincts over your fears, and make sound decisions with how to proceed in helping your child. As you take that deep breath, let go of the guilt and the what-ifs. Focus on the now.
Remember you are not a bad parent. It is not your fault, and you can handle this. Furthermore, “Comforting your child and keeping him or her calm are important, because crying and agitation worsen airway obstruction.” (Mayo Clinic) The first step in being able to comfort your child is calming yourself.
2. Outside air.
Bundle up your sweet baby. Tuck his head beneath your chin, hold him to your chest, and go outside so he can breathe the cool night air. It will soothe the rasp and quiet the ache in your heart.
The first time my son developed croup, I took him to the emergency room where he received a steroid and a breathing treatment. But by the time we got there, he already sounded better. The ER doctor shared that most children get better during the drive because of the outside air. While sometimes it is absolutely necessary to take your little one to the emergency room, hovering in the open window of his bedroom or cuddling outside on the porch are tools you can employ to assess how manageable your child’s croup is, and whether or not his symptoms merit an ER visit.
My son and I have spent hours snuggling in the cold. It has soothed his barking cough and irritated throat every time.
3. Chest creams.
Using a chest cream to help clear your son's sinuses is a wonderful tool, but please DO NOT apply regular Vicks Vapor Rub to your baby’s chest. The warning label says for children 2+. (VICKS) They have a separate non-medicated option for babies, and there are many other natural brands that also use lavender and eucalyptus. Make sure what you’re applying to your child’s skin is appropriate for their age; as with all other medication dosages like Tylenol and Motrin.
If you’re an oil user, consider diffusing lemon or lavender. Rubbing diluted R.C. on your child’s feet is also beneficial. (For more information oils, read Debra Raybern's Gentle Babies)
4. Showers and humidifiers.
Mayo clinic and the ER staff I spoke with additionally recommend steamy showers and the use of a humidifier. AAFP Foundation (American Academy of Family Physicians) says “You can help your child breathe easier by exposing him or her to moist air. This can be done with a warm, steamy room (let the shower run in a bathroom with the door closed) or a mist humidifier.” (familydoctor.org)
In my personal experience, taking a hot steamy bath before bed helps drain my son’s sinuses, and then transitioning our humidifier from its day time living room location to his bedroom helps his sinuses stay clearer while keeping him breathing more easily throughout the night.
5. Hold your child in an upright position.
Once the steamy bath and humidifier have lessened the symptoms, you can aid your toddler by propping him up with a pillow. “Sitting upright may make breathing easier.” (Mayo Clinic) For younger children, especially, skin-to-skin contact can help regulate their temperature while comforting both of you. Eventually, getting back to sleep will help your child fight off the infection. (Mayo Clinic)
Those sweet snuggles really are one of the most beneficial things you can be doing.
6. Keep them drinking.
If your child nurses, use that booger sucker and try to keep nursing as much as you can. If you have a toddler, a cold drink will help his throat. “For babies, water, breast milk or formula is fine. For older children, soup or frozen fruit pops may be soothing.” (Mayo Clinic)
Keep offering fluids, keep employing all the sick tricks you keep tucked away in your Batgirl belt, and know that it will pass.
Sometimes you may need an ER visit. Sometimes you may need to schedule a doctor visit. Sometimes calling the nurse's advice line and treating from home is just fine.
Trust your instincts, pray, and call a family member or close friend if you need help.
Pour yourself a cup of coffee, or ask someone to bring you one of those delicious pumpkin spice lattes.
Breathe in the sweet hair tucked under your chin as you sweep your finger across his rosy cheek.
It's gonna be a long night.
*Disclaimer: I am not a medical practitioner and do not hold any medical degrees. This was written solely from my experience as a mother.*
Sources:
Comentarios