Need advice.. To cancel or not to cancel

[lei8809]

So, I've been thinking about whether or not to cancel our trip this week... DS is nearly 3 and has had a bit of cold the last few days. I was hoping that it would have cleared by today and had decided today would be decision day as to whether or not to go. I've been thinking positively and been assuming we would go because like I said I hoped he would have cleared everything by now.

He hasn't been that bad and has only had a really low grade fever of 98-100 without ever reaching 101 (His doc apparently doesn't even consider it a fever at all). He's been perfectly fine during the day and has been energetic and jumps around and sings and makes funny voices while playing (I say this because I don't think he would do that if he had a sore throat). He only seems sick at around 4am when he gets so congested that he can't breathe and wakes up crying. He's had a runny nose on and off throughout the day (He only needs to blow his nose about 3-4 times in the entire day with no continuous run).

We went to the doc today and he said he might have caught a virus and says he's probably at the worst of it even though it's only at night. His throat is clear (they did a strep test) with no redness or swelling at all. His ears, nose, and lungs are also clear. We even asked him about our trip and he said he's perfectly fine to go and just do a nightime routine of vaporub, saline, and ibuprofen so he won't get so congested.

I guess my issue is whether or not it's right to take him at all. I'm not entirely concerned with him spreading anything because he (oddly) does always cover his nose for a cough or sneeze and will use hand sanitizer whenever I ask him to. Like I said also he doesn't sneeze much if at all and only has a cough at night.

His doc, DH, and my mom all say it'd be fine but I don't know if I'd feel like the worst mother in the world for taking him like that. To be honest, with the way he feels during the day I think he'd still have a blast because he's still jumping up and down and running around playing like nothing is bothering him at all.

What would any other parents do?

Also, if he were worse off I wouldn't hesitate to cancel but it's just that he's so on the fence that I feel so conflicted. We also likely wouldn't be able to go again for at least another year if not two and of course we already pre-paid everything...

 

[hlbtimes2]

I would go. Have fun, but allow extra time to rest.

 

[AnneUCSB]

I'd go! Load him with some ibuprofen at night, and take some to the parks just in case he needs it during the day. I bet he'll be fine soon and you'll regret sitting at home instead of being at Disneyland!

 

[Geemo]

Back in the early '80 my son had chicken pox. He was past the contagious stage. Same as you we were to go to Disneyland. I was for staying home.

When I took him to the doctors, the pediatrician said to go and have fun at Disneyland! He said there are more germs on a supermarket basket to expose people. Not to worry about it.

Your son will do just fine I'm sure.

Geemo

 

[lei8809]

Thanks so much for the reassurance. DS really does seem fine and I guess I just had some of that mom paranoia/over-protectiveness feeling. DH even says that worse case scenario we just hang out in the hotel room because it'd be better to attempt it and take care of him if he for some reason gets worse than to cancel and he be completely fine here at home.

AnneUCSB, I think you're right... Knowing our luck, I'd cancel and he would get completely better and we'd regret it.

Geemo, I was pretty surprised that his doc said to go also. I was prepared to officially cancel assuming he'd say the same but it's definitely comforting knowing that he's about to get better and is past the worst.

hlbtimes2, We'll definitely be going at his pace now more than ever. Although, if he's anything like he normally is we'll probably have to slow him down..

I'm so glad now that DH wanted to go for 5 days because now we might have to cut down on the time in the parks depending on how DS feels. And to think I tried to tell DH that we didn't have to go for so many days.

Thanks again for the reassurance and super quick responses. I LOVE this board

 

[DLmama]

I would go too and just keep an eye on him to see when he needs to rest.

We leave on Thursday and DS4 got a cold this week. We're still going and I'm planning to follow his lead and bring the Tylenol. Have fun!

 

[disney4cam]

I say go, but bring saline drops and any other cold meds you normally give. If you can take a humidifier, that would be good.

Have fun!

 

[klmrph]

I wouldn't think twice about it, go!

 

[ducky_love]

I came down with a nasty cold before our trip last year but nothing was going to keep me away. Disney has magical healing powers!! I felt much better there than I would have at home.

 

[Rebekkap]

You could try a saline nasal spray at night - obviously he's too young for a decongestant, but salt water is surprisingly effective at clearing out the nose!

I wouldn't cancel

 

[AshleeH]

I would go and keep OTC meds on hand.

Last year on our way to WDW, DS9 developed a horrible cold and was miserable on the trip down. After one day in Disney, I believe a combination of the meds and a lot of fresh air (and a lot of praying from us and others at home) had him completely well.

I hope your situation works out the same way! Go and have a wonderful trip (but plan on resting if the little guy needs it!).

 

[Poohforyou]

Honestly you'll be waiting a good long time for this trip if taking a toddler with sniffles is a deal breaker.

 

[junmatno]

Go and have fun!!! My now 5 year old had been sick with an ear infection, we were in day 6 of antibiotics and we went. He was under 3 at the time and he had fun looking at everything! A cold is something i see that if they can go to school, they can be in vacation! ENJOY!!

 

[L1l1y2]

You could try a saline nasal spray at night - obviously he's too young for a decongestant, but salt water is surprisingly effective at clearing out the nose!

I wouldn't cancel

I second this idea...you may even want to consider a neti pot. My kids started them at about that age. Especially before bed. Neilmed makes a "kids" one. But mine just do the grown up size bottle, they just don't use all of the solution. I NEVER travel with out one. The idea of them is way yucky. But better out then in!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Congestion at night and a somewhat runny nose...you sure it isn't allergies to something? That sounds like me when we first run our heater. We rent and never clean our heating ducts, so dust is blown out the first week or so. And those are my symptoms.

So you know, 98 has never been considered a fever. When I was growing up, normal temperature was 98.6. About ten years ago they revised that to 99. When your son is at 100 then it's a low low fever. Not something to worry about, and I'm glad your doctor recognizes that, but sad that he hasn't explained it to you.

As for giving him something for it, WHY? He barely has a fever, and that's only some of the time. I'd rather KNOW if an actual fever started, and you won't know that if he's taking one of the drugs that reduces a fever.

ANother idea...does he have all the teeth he "should" have at this time, or is he missing any molars? Because that's also what happened with DS when he gets new teeth. Although the fever was always higher then. I'll never forget the vacation when he was working on his canines...three nights of 104 fevers, joy oh joy. Wake up, get in tepid bath with him to cool him down, dry and redress, sleep until he started heating up again... He was perfectly, fabulously, most excellent during the day, but right around midnight it would start. And when we got home, all four came through almost at once.




ALL that said, we took a trip when DS was at the end of a cold, and he came back home with a HORRID case of strep (not the quick test, but the more accurate test), which I blame on the lowered immune system and falling on a chain, mouth first, where some kid had no doubt been smearing germs shortly before. Ew. So you know him best, and how he does when sick and getting over sickness.

 

[lsulindy]

I would go. I have 3 kids. 98-100 is not a fever. We'd never be able to leave the house if we stayed in for runny noses.

 

[lei8809]

Hey everyone.. Thank you to everyone who responded because you all really helped calm me down and encouraged us to go. And the great news is.. We're on our way! We'll be arriving tonight and tomorrow is our first day.

I've definitely got the saline spray going and he's finally accepting that it helps and doesn't fight it. I think I'll try getting him a netipot when we get home for next time. I didn't know you could use them that young and I'm sure he'd like the grossness of anything involving his nose.

I don't think it's because of a heater because we haven't even turned it on (we live in Tucson, Arizona and people are still in shorts and tank tops). I did think it was allergies when he first started but doc thinks it's a virus and he was around some kids who were sick.

As far as medication, his doc said to give him ibuprofen for the inflammation in his sinuses at night. I haven't even given it to him during the day with a steady 100 temp.

(Sorry, I normally respond to specific things from each person but since I'm on my phone I can't see the messages and respond at the same time)

 

[BecBennett]

Another thing you could consider of a night time is either a steam bath or one of those room steamers with eucalyptus or similar in it. If he breaths it in it should clear him right up. When I was little and had a cold I used to sleep with one of those room steamers going all night to keep my nose clear. Works wonders