Help Sick Little Ones?

[dlrhine]

I'm a little worried. I have two sick DDs and we are leaving for Disney on Sunday. I know that is still 6 days away but these colds can hold on and turn into ear infections. Has anyone else here taken sick little ones to Disney and does any one have a good suggestion for a Decongestion Medicine? I am going to call the Ped today however I know what he is going to say "It's a virus and antibiotics won't do anything we just have to let it take it's course" UGHHHHHHHH!!! I'm so worried and this is the baby's first flight she is 18 months old.

 

[Zephyr]

Oh, We leave on Thursday and I am in the middle of a cold and my son hasn't gotten it yet - I know how you feel! He is with his Dad today and his family has a cold too, so it will be pretty miraculous if by Thursday he doesn't have a cold too.

But, your little ones should be over the worst of their cold by the time you leave though. Just keep their head's elevated at night so the nose can drain out and if they are too young to blow their nose then use a nose cleaner yourself to keep that nose clear of mucus. Plenty of liquids too really help to clear things up. Oh, and I really like Zicam swabs - they seem to have kept my son from getting my cold so far (I've had it for a week now)

If they are still congested when you fly you should perhaps get them ear plugs (earplanes) so their ears won't hurt on the plane.

 

[twinmomplus2]

We have gone on the advice of the Pedi, That they would be fine, And wound up really sick at Celebration ER. Mine were on antibiotics when we arrived, This is what I learned do not take somthing they haven't been on before. In my case it was Zithromax and did not work for my kids at all, thats why they got sicker. Funny when I read your post. we also leave on Sunday...And all 4 of the kids are ill. We go to the pedi at 11. And all will be put on antibiotics, we went last week and they all had the Viral throat deal. However it has settled and become ear infections and Bronchitis. If you have one of those Doc's. That says wait and see.... Just be very forceful you are going away and want them on something. I firmly believe you know your children and it's likely to wind up into something else. I am lucky my pedi has had to call AKL so many times. He know checks my kids before we leave for every trip just as a precaution. Good luck it will be fine just roll with it! And if you have an unexpected problem Celebration ER is wonderful. DR. Mansur in the ER is so nice we get him every time.

 

[deb305]

Are you flying? Then definitely (sp) get a strong decongestion for the landing. You don't want sinus fluid forced in the ears. Ouch. DD got strep throat the Monday before a Wed drive to Disney. Pedi gave her an antibotic, and one for DS in case he got it. We filled both. Pedi said as long as we were driving kids would be okay. They slept both driving days , and I got sick down there.
We don't get antibotics for every cold, but the cold virus can lead to secondary bacterial infections that the antibotics can help with. Make sure they take Motrin and drink lots of fluids in the park. As long as they don't have a high fever,hopefully they'll be okay. We always get antibotics for ear infections.

 

[Shelly D.]

Can you schedule an appt for your kids on Friday so the dr can take a look at their ears before you go? That's what I'm doing with DD. Just a quick head to toe check prior to our trip.

My dr suggested children's benadryl for my 13 month old if we need to give her something for the flight.

Also, when she had an ear infection a few months ago, they did give us a antiobiotic (amoxicillan, I think) & a prescription for some ear drops to numb the pain. So, if your kids go into an ear infection, ask for those drops because they really helped DD sleep.

Last, I came down with a horrible sinus infection during a WDW vacation a few years ago. There was a # for a minor emergency clinic on our resort newsletter and that worked out perfectly. They took my insurance, sent a van to come get me, and there was an Eckerd drugstore in the same building. Just an fyi in case you do need medical care while you're at WDW.

Hope everyone stays well!

 

[Gretchen]

One word: BENADRYL! Man I love that stuff. It drys ya up, keeps ya from coughing and lets ya sleep. Best stuff ever made. When my kids get sick, they get the chest-respiratory thing going on. We get out the benadryl, start the shower to steam them to get the junk moving and start the nebulizer. My DD is 7 and she is finally starting to grow out of the whole reactive airway thing. My DS is 20 months, as soon as he gets a drippy nose, he starts coughing. We wip out the neb, and start him on Orapred. We wait a few days for the antibiotics. Oh well, they couldn't have gotten their mother's constitution...darn those allergic genes! We are going to WDW ove MLK week and I am worried they'll get the Flu! I have to worry about something! LOL
Gretchen

 

[Jordan's MOM]

We leave Friday , and my sister and her family leave a few days later. On the way home from school today all three of our kids were "judging " which of them were coughing the worse!!
DS has that asmatic cough that he gets every year but the DNs were both running fever by tonight!! That's the big worry with winter vacations. We went last year about this time and DS's cough went with us. He felt ok, and we knew he was not contagious, but he sounded awful. Good thing was, no one wanted to get close to us. Easy to keep our space at parades and on the bus!!!! Prayers that all the little ones get better before they leave.


jordan's mom

 

[llp479]

I've lost track of how many trips we've taken to WDW with at least one of my 3dds on antibiotics. Seems they always get an ear infection or step right before we go. I've had success with wrapping the antibiotics in a cold pack and putting it in the insulated diaper bag to keep it cold on the trip down, then keeping it on ice in the ice bucket in the room.

One trip I got my dd up at 4AM to leave for the airport and she was burning up. Pumped her full of motrin, stuck her in a cool bath, dressed and left for the airport. By the time we got to the airport her fever was gone and never returned while we were there - thank goodness!

Hope everyone is healthy by the time you're ready to go!

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Don't forget that lots of antibiotics come in a crewable tablet now that does not have to be kept cold. Ask your doctor, it is so much easier for travel.



Jordan's mom

 

[dlrhine]

Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement and the support you have given me. Honestly I have read these over and over again just to keep my spirits up. If any one has any more stories keep them coming it is the only encouragement I have right now. I will say when we took my oldest she got sick our first day there with a fever of 104 and we had to take her to the clinic so if push comes to shove I've done that before when she got an ear infection down there. At this time Motrin seems to be working on the fever howeve as the Motrin wears off the fever is back. The dr. wants to see them tomorrow to get them on antibotics for the trip. UGH..... If it isn't packing it is worrying about who is healthy. I really just pray that the baby's older sister who is almost 3 doesn't get it, the baby is 18 months so not exactly a baby anymore. Well thanks again and I'll be reading these daily until I leave.
Love you all!!!

 

[mousefansmom]

I hope that everyone gets to Disney happy and healthy. I just want to lend a word of caution to this thread, though. A few years ago, we flew to Denver with our then 18 month old. He was congested and had an ear infection that we were treating with antibiotics. I gave him Benadryl on the way home, after his antibiotics had been gone for two days, just in case he still had some inflammation. When I got back and told the pediatrician that I used Benadryl, he flipped out and said that antihistamines should never be used for children under two years old, it can cause seizures. I don't know if he is right or wrong, I just want to suggest that you each check with your own pediatricians for what is best for YOUR child and situation. I do know that some of our local family practitioners still prescribe Benadryl for the young ones, so philosophies must vary.
Good Luck!
Mousefansmom

 

[Zephyr]

We are leaving tommorow (Thursday) and my son (4) still has not caught my cold yet (which still lingers)! It's amazing as he's been around me and his Dad's family (who have colds too).

I think it helps that he drinks alot of orange juice and I have been giving him the Ziacam swabs also.

Hoping everyone has a very healthy, happy trip!

 

[pjlla]

took our first family trip to WDW in Jan 2002. At that time DD was 6 and DS was "almost" 4. I did bring one course of children's antibiotics with me, but didn't need to use it. I was the only one coughing when we left. Luckily we all stayed healthy. We are going again this coming Jan and are praying for health again. It has been a terrible fall for my family, illness-wise. DH had pneumonia in September that really lingered, DD has had several minor illnesses, resulting in about 6 missed days of school in Sept and Oct and then got bronchitis in November, after which DH got the bronchitis, followed rapidly by DS getting pneumonia!! All of these required antibiotic. When I started coughing three days before Thanksgiving I went to the M.D. (a RARE thing for me) and stated my case (i.e. recent family hx of bronchitis, etc) and requested an antibiotic. He said I just had a virus, blah, blah..... Well anyhow, I ended up calling the on-call doc on Thanksgiving morning and he was not happy. I ended up with the bronchitis (told ya so!!) and a sinus infection. AND had to find a pharmacy open on Thanksgiving!! But we are all finally mended (I hope!). Anyhow..... enough of my soap opera!! Hopefully we have all built up great immunities to all the germs out there and will be fit as a fiddle for Mickey!! If you decide to take you kids to the Pedi before you leave, don't let them play with the toys in the waiting room and wash their hands immediately!! Those waiting rooms are full of sick kids (ha, ha!)... Have a great time!!.....P

 

[ladypoo]

We used Tylenol cold chewables in the daytime for my 3 yo Granddaughter in the daytime and then benadryl at night. Keep the motel room temp around 68 degrees will help with congestion, keeping the nasal passages from swelling, making it easier to breathe. Motrin works wonders for ear pain. It can be given between every 4 and 6 hours. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[twinmomplus2]

For all of us with sick kids that are traveling soon. I don't know about you but, I swear by my Vicks vaporizer. I add alittle of the vapo steam to the water and it chugs away all night long and the little ones can sleep. Of course it's not practical to lug it to Disney However they have a new waterless vaporizer it's no bigger than a walkman and uses little vapor disks also very tiny, Like Gum size packets. Mine is already in my luggage it should work great for the hotel room. I have used it as home and it works. It might be something worth picking up! I got mine at Walmart. And I think CVS has it as well! Good Luck! We are leaving this Sunday with now 9 prescriptions amongst the 4 kids and myself.

 

[dlrhine]

Well last night the fever got to a scary 105 so off to the Pedi we went first thing this morning. He advised that she has roseola(sp) and that the next thing we see should be a rash...when we see that it is at the end. He told us not to worry however she does have a little fluid in the ear and gave her amoxicillan just in case as a preventative since we are flying. He said by Sunday the roseola should be gone and the chance of the older one catching it is slim since she has had it herself many times plus kids over 3 don't normally catch this. YEAH for good news there. The fever was down to 101 this morning so I'm hoping this is over. It looks like we are on the way to see the mouse!!!! And a bounce for each member of the family for good health!!!

 

[Familymoon]

A lot of this advice posted here depends on the childs' age.

Your best bet is to call your regular pediatrician and ask for his (or her) input on what to do, voicing your concern about travelling.

We prefer homeopathic rememdies and echinacea for the whole family when something is coming on. I definitely think the earplanes (ear plugs) for the kids is a good idea, if you are concerned about fluid in the ears.

 

[leopardspot]

I personally think that if your child is sick then you should cancel your trip. It is NOT RIGHT to expose other people to a cold/virus. Especially with the way the flu is responsible for the death of atleast 11 kids right now.

 

[twinmomplus2]

I agree with you on that one to a point. As for mine they have all been medicated for 4 days now, So they pose no ill effect to anyone. 24 hours on the antibiotic, is the criteria for the pediatrician. So It is going to suffice for me. I thank my stars it happended before the trip and not during the trip at least it can be headed off. Good luck to everyone thats traveling this weekend from the east coast with all the predicted snow. We are off!!!!!

 

[dlrhine]

Well I guess for me and everyone else in Disney I'm glad that everything is better and we won't infect anyone while we are there. I do agree I'd hate to think you take a healthy one down and come back sick....we just have to do our best as parents to wash hands etc. DD's fever broke on Wed night into Thursday morning and all is good. She did have roseola the Pedi said that after the fever breaks she'll get a rash and that she is only contagious while she has the fever. We have been fever free since Wed night Thurs. morning and good to go for Sunday. However she is on Amoxicillian for a slight ear infection the pedi just doesn't want it to get worse while we are there. So we are on our way....now if we can just get out of the snow!