What do we do when our kids are sick?

It began late Thursday night. 

The sickness.

Starting with Adelina, and passing from myself, to Jude, to Tori. Adelina is the only one of us who had a fever and the only one of us who has vomited. I can’t help but wonder if Addie had picked up a bug at her daycare that started all this. We are slowly recovering, we all have the sniffles, an overload of mucus, and slight coughs. But no more fevers. I personally can’t wait for this sickness to run its course and all of us to be well again.

So, what do we do when our kids are sick?

Initially, if you’re like me—now a father of a 20 month old and a 1 month old—you freak out! Especially with Adelina in the beginning. Every rash, every sniffle, any abnormalities, I over analyzed, researched, called our midwife, our pediatrician, and any family members who had recently had children. Always to be reassured that our child was going through a common thing, one that would pass after some TLC.

I still freak out when our kids are sick, but the severity of these freak outs has diminished.

Fevers

We've come to realize we almost always can tell when Addie has a fever. She is noticeably warmer. However, fevers usually don’t affect her energy level during the day, but fortunately for her own good, they do make her sleepier at nap time and during the night.

Addie also tends to run a slight fever during teething and will produce excess saliva and mucus. It took us some time, but we now can tell the difference between when she is teething and when she has a cold.

Our first pediatrician was big in letting fevers run their course and not medicating with fever reducing drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen. He explained that the fever is helping fight off whatever bug is affecting them, because most bugs thrive at body temperature. Of course even without researching this methodology it seems like the most natural plan. Our current pediatrician recommended medicating if the fever is high, but not to be alarmed unless it surpasses 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Our ear thermometer is our best friend to monitor fever in our toddler, but with babies we trust the axillary (armpit) temperature of a standard thermometer.

Other than that, we give lukewarm baths, try to keep cool fluids in their systems, and don't bundle them up too warm at night, a sheet usually is fine.

Stuffed Up Babies

Mucus-y babies get me upset. We've learned that young babies only breathe through their noses, which can be difficult when they’re stuffed up with icky mucus with no way to blow their nose! When they’re younger we keep a nasal aspirator handy because we can’t physically squeeze the mucus from their little noses. When Addie was little we had a standard one, with Jude we've invested in the NoseFrida, better known as “the snot sucker”. Saline drops (we prefer Little Remedies brand) and Boogie Wipes also are helpful and always in our Infant Sick Bin.

When they are congested we try to keep them upright when sleeping. During these times they tend to sleep better in their swing or in the car seat. It helps to sleep with a cool mist humidifier (we have Elliot theElephant), and sitting in a steamed up bathroom with some Baby Vicks on the shower floor before bed helps to loosen up stuffed up kids as well.

As our children grow we learn, and we discover little tricks and tips that work for us when they're sick. Do you have anything you do at home when you’re children are sick to make them more comfortable? Feel free to share here!