17 Month Old Sick Baby Need Advice

Please do not give unnecessary antibiotics. My daughter is now 15 and has immune system issues. I think it was caused by antibiotics and the MMR vaccine. Antibiotics are only for bacterial infections. I agree with the Mom about spreading the virus. It is not fun for elderly folks to get sick. If you can you go and leave child behind with spouse.

A virus can last a looooong time. Think about times you've been sick....it's been longer than a few days hasn't it?

I would just rest rest rest as much as you can. Start giving her some probiotics with maybe pedialyte (unless you are still nursing, then just nurse nurse nurse) and you can go to a health food store and get some echinacea or Kick it Immune for kids and just dose her up to build her immune (these herbs are safe for her age).

There is a product called Temp Assure that will help her control her temp....I would hesitate to keep her on acetaminophen or motrin long term....a low grade fever is good to cook out the bad stuff (yes, I know they make them feel bad). Maybe just give the hard stuff to her when the temp peaks in the afternoon/evening?

Put some eucalyptus oil in a humidifier at night to help her coughing...

Are you taking a good rectal temp which is the most accurate?

My 31 month old is going on 3 days of a nasty tummy virus and it's the longest he's been sick. You need to ask yourself...what is a doctor or ER going to honestly do?

Dehydration? Yes, go. Fever OVER 102.5 that you CANNOT control or bring down under that? I would go. Lungs don't seem clear? Go. If she is tugging at her ears leading you to think she has an infection...okay. Do you get my drift?

Other than that, you can care for them at home. If you have a doctor that is hesitant to put her on antibiotics, I would listen to him. If her lungs and ears were clear 2 days ago and she hasn't gotten worse, just stayed the same or had glimpses of getting better, just ride it out.

The hard part with these guys is they feel better, they go play and then they feel worse. Think about when you have been sick and you over do it and then are feeling rotten again.

Good luck mama, these are never easy times with a sick kiddo!

A reminder: Ibuprofen is great for a fever, but needs to be taken with food because it can hurt her stomach....so, if she is throwing up at all and has a fever that is low enough not to worry (I wouldn't stress about 102), then I would recommend acetaminophen)...or try the Temp Assure. And follow the dosing on ALL bottles! They all have limits....don't just dose every four hours. Remember, a higher temp means the body is NATURALLY fighting what's going on...let it as much as you can. If it gets too high or they are too miserable, then bring it down. But don't don't don't over-medicate for a low grade temp!

Hi L.,

Viruses are much more difficult to get rid of and last a lot, lot longer than a bacterial issue. Viruses do NOT need antibiotics. They don't help plus they weaken the immune system. There are anti viral supplements at the health store. Make sure you go to one that sells pharmaceutical grade supplements and talk with a sales person. If they don't know which one is best, they will tell you. If the fever is not to high, it is actually helping. Tylenol and Motrin can mask symptoms so you really don't know what you're dealing with.

Traveling is miserable for a sick little one. If you have to go, make sure you keep her hydrated. Also remember that viruses are very contagious and because they are so virulent others DO NOT want to be exposed to them so a family wedding may be out. Better to not go than have the entire family mad at you.( What if the bride gets sick on her honeymoon??? What if Grandma or Grandpa end up in the hospital???)

My two cents!

God bless,

M.

Yes they can have a virus for a few days , sometimes a week , keep the motrin/tylonol up , give it every 4 hrs and don't let her fever come back , it's probably the fever and her crying that causes her to vomit , so you need to keep that at bay , and make sure she has plenty of fluids and don't worry so much about food if she does not want it.

My 18 month old had this exact same thing going on just a few weeks ago. His fever was as high as 103 and it lasted forever... by day 4 I took him into the doctor and our pediatrician told us that colds/viral bugs like this last at least 5 days, and to stop giving him so much medicine. I was instructed to let him run a fever up to 101... at 101, I was to give him a small dose of generic ibuprofen (NOT Motrin - recall... and not Acetominophen) so that his fever would not get too high.

He was perfectly well and back to normal by the weekend... which was a total of 9 days. It was weird, but fairly easy and pretty much took care of itself.

yes.. my kids have had viruses for 5 days .. just a virus.. I alwasy wait 72 hours to take them to the dr for a fever..as the $25 per child x 2 kids.. and then the dr. says.. virus please..

if the dr has checked her ears , and breathing.. llikely it is a virus and she will get better.. it takes time.

My eight month old had the exact same thing last week. It was the first time she has been really sick. There has been a virus going around, and the fever lasts 3-5 days. I was pretty nervous at first too when I took her to the doctor and they said there was nothing that they could do. The fever ranges from 99-102. If it gets up to 103 or 104, be sure to take her to the emergency room. There is a cough that goes along with it, and my daughter couldn't keep anything down on day 3 and day 4 because the cough was so strong. We replaced her food/formula with Pedialyte to make sure she stayed well hydrated. She ended up with an ear infection on day 4, so hang on to the antibiotic just in case. Good luck! Hang in there.

Make sure she is drinking a lot of pedialite, so that she does not get dehydrated. It may take her a long time to get better. The fever thing can last a few days, as well as not eating much. As long as she is still having wet diapers and is getting plenty of rest she should be ok.

hi L....;;hugs:: you seem to need one right now. :) your Dr is probley right, sometimes these viruses can last for up to a week or more. She is responding to the aspirin, that is good...remember to try and keep the fluids in her, Pedialyte, alil gatorade, if she has a mucusy cough, alil ginger ale is good, the fizz from pop helps break it up alil. But with all your plans, i understand you don't want her worse when you's go, and yes your trip is important, did you consider taking her to the ER at home, or a urgicare center? nothing wrong with a second opinion, specially since you are getting ready to travel over 500 miles. well Good Luck, and God Bless..

i agree with mimi virus will not respond to antibiotics. and sometimes they just need to run their course. do keep her well hydrated(if you can) and give it a couple more days. sometimes the body id trying to get rid of something and it needs to do everything it can to get rid of it, that's what the fever is for.

Antibiotics are for proven bacterial infections only (strep throat for one). Viral infections cannot be "cured" or "helped" with them. Viral infections last about 6-7 days with treatment and 6-7 days without treatment-get the drift of the message? Fluids, rest, acetaminophen or ibuprofen for temps over 101 are the best advice anyone-medical professional or professional parent-can advise. If her fever is down and has been under control 24 hrs, you're good to go out into public!

there is a recall on Tylonal and Motrin. Stop giving her either of the meds and return them to Walgreens for a full refund.

There is a sore throat sickness going around. Both my kids had it and I did and it lasted 10 days. Both kids had a fever for a day.

There is also a stomach bug going around too. if she is throwing up all the time, she probably has that.

Why not bring her into see an Immediate Care facility? it's cheaper than going to the hospital and you can get another opinion..