We leave Monday, DS has croup today!!!

[goofygal531]

He's never been sick before and has this seal-like barking cough today! No fever. Doctor said it should be fine in a matter of days. No need to cancel trip. Anyone ever gone through this??? Vacation with a sick toddler? He's fine during the day, just coughs at night which wakes him up.

Ugh! The timing!!! That damn playgroup!

 

[fran99999]

My DS76 has this right now also. He has asthma so it is somthing he gets each year. Did the Dr prescribe abuteral? My DS uses this when he gets it and it helps him sleep and clears it up in a few days. Opens his airways. Also try to have him sleep on a slant with his head higher. My DS gets it whenever he gets a cold.

Oh U said toddler. Put a few pillows under his crib matteress or under one end of his crib/bed. This will help keep the mucous from clogging the opening to his lungs. the coughing is actually good it clears the passage ways.

 

[Servants of Evan]

Cool mist vaporizer.. he'll be fine in time, provided he can get some sleep...

 

[Kaybee]

By all means don't forget to pack cough syrup!! My DS developed a croupy type cough right after getting to DW and I had to buy a bottle of Robitussin from the resort hotel store at AKL...Yikes!! I paid $8.98 for a small bottle that would have cost me less than $4.00 at home!!

 

[indigoxtreme]

Rub his chest with Vicks Baby rub, site attached, This will help so much. I suffered with croup as a baby and bronchitis as a child/adult, my son also had this trait and this is the type of thing that was used. It helped so much. http://vicks.com/products/baby_rub.shtml Also the pillow build up is a good idea.

 

[alisonbestford]

As well as the Vicks, and propping up the bed, do you have a humidifier to moisten the air?

Failing that let the kettle steam up his bedroom to help loosen the cough. It should help him get off to sleep at least

 

[pjshaff]

Also, seeing that you live in NY, my Drs told me to bundle up DS at night and take him outside into the cold air to breathe it in and that helps as well.

Good luck, we also use the albuterol inhaler when it's needed. It's so tough to hear them like that, you feel so helpless.

 

[goofygal531]

Thank you all! I feel so much better!

At first I felt like such a bad parent for still going on vacation!

 

[thelionqueen]

On our vacation last May all of us were sick! My 2 boys had the croupy cough and sounded terrible. I went to the doctor and she told me not to worry that the humidity would actually help. HOW TRUE!! We got there with this ugly sounding cough and within 36 hours, we all felt great and our throats were moist and nice. You're not a bad mother!

 

[kdtwiss]

when my first son was very little - maybe 6 months he developed croup. The dr at the ER said to expect it to get worse before it gets better over the next few days. Well, we actually see a homeopathic dr. (who is also a regular md) he suggested the homeopathic remedy - Aconite once evry 15 minutes three times, then as needed for coughs. Next day - croup was gone. Give it a shot - it can not hurt. I would avoid any kind of cough suppressant as a cough is a body's natural defense mechanism to rid itself of the virus/bacteria whatever. Maybe a cough expectorant if needed. It seems either cold brisk air or hot staemty air (close the bathroom door with hot water running) helps loosen the cough a bit. Try to avoid tylenol unless fever is high or your little one is prone to febrile seizures as the fever will help your ds get better. I would also try elevating the head of the bed with pillows under the mattress. Good luck!

 

[MamaLema]

By all means don't forget to pack cough syrup!! My DS developed a croupy type cough right after getting to DW and I had to buy a bottle of Robitussin from the resort hotel store at AKL...Yikes!! I paid $8.98 for a small bottle that would have cost me less than $4.00 at home!!

Please don't think I'm flaming, I'm not.

But you NEVER give cough syrop to a child with croup

 

[Dina]

My youngest DS gets croup all of the time. I know how you feel because he had it right before my husband and I took our anniversary trip on our own last year (we do a weekend by ourself every year, and a week with the kids in the summer). Do not give cough syrup-- they need to cough. Best thing for croup-- humidifier (even bring it down to the living room when your child is down there), steamy shower, bundling them up in the night air. My nephew had it so bad, that my sil was told to actually stick his head in the freezer (I know that sounds crazy and mean, but the cool air really helps-- and it wasn't cold enough here yet). Sometimes extended croup can cause wheezing if the child has asthma or reactive airway (which mine do), but albuterol really doesn't do anything for croup by itself (the dr told me that, because I would always start him on the nebulizer when croup started, and dr said it wasn't necessary-- doesn't really help croup itself)-- so, I wouldn't worry about asking for that. We go through this all of the time, we only start Danny on the albuterol once the croup has gotten so bad that the wheezing starts (that's only because he has reactive airway disease). I hope he's feeling better really really soon. If he has croup when you leave, I would actually grab an extra suitcase, and pack a humidifier for your hotel room. Croup is usually much much worse at night. Sometimes my kids are absolutely fine during the day.

 

[sweetpeakaris]

Sending well wishes your way

 

[macmahony]

my middle daughter, is the croup queen, never fails, if we are going away, she either gets croup the day we are leaving, or while we are gone. We don't do cough medicine, or albuterol, we steam up the shower, sit with her for about 15 minutes, then if it is cold enough run her outside quickly. Then she sleeps the rest of the night, she never runs a fever, or has any signs during the day. It does get worse before it gets better, with her, it is usually three nights, the first night is okay, the second night she sounds horrible, and the third night it is not so bad. Good luck, it sounds scary, but as long as they are not wheezing my doctor says not to worry.
Have a great trip!

 

[disney-super-mom]

Oh geez, the croup! Been there many times with my two little guys. That seal-like barking cough does sound just awful!!!

Besides the Vicks baby rub, which you can take with you on your trip, you could also pick up some Suda Care Shower Soothers to take with you too. It's a little tablet that you put on the floor of the shower, and as it dissolves in the water, it releases vapors of eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor, to help relieve congestion. Let me tell you from experience, they really do work quite well. I though that since it would be difficult for you to take a humidifier on vacation, the Suda Care Shower Soothers would make a great alternative. They also make a SudaCare Vapor Plug that you plug into an outlet, which could also help for sleeping at night, but those Shower Soothers with the moist steamy air in the bathroom can really help to loosen up the congestion.

Here's some pixie dust for a speeding recovery for your little one, and a wonderful time at WDW!

 

[Tink215]

Last year my DD4, got croup right before the morning before trip tp Naples, Florida...I was so upset but I took all the medication and went anyhow, She did fine, I hope yours getd better soon, lots of the vicks rub at nite really helped.......make sure you know where the walk-in clinic is or the Er just in case.......

 

[daisyduck123]

Hope he feels better soon.

My DS7 became sick the Tuesday after New Year's and missed school the rest of that week. This past Monday he was still sick...we took him to the doctor.

The diagnosis...pnuemonia!! Well, he finally went back to school 3 days ago.

I was nervous...we leave for a 10 day Disney trip this Saturday.