Baby Is Sick

I would say to continue to comfort her. My daughter is the same way when she is sick. She has been that way since she was a little baby. I just try to cuddle her extra. I let her sleep with me too. Just love her. Also, its interesting you mentioned the teeth grinding. I noticed the last time my daughter was sick a few weeks ago, she was grinding her teeth too! Very interesting. She hasn't really done it since.
Good luck.

She may be teething. Either way, a good way to handle the coughing is to use Vicks Vapor plug-ins at night in her room.

If she has been sick for that long, I would go to the doctor to rule out numerous other things....pneumonia, RSV, ear infection or brocholitis.

Hi M., it sounds like your little girl has the same cold my boys have (23 months and 3 yrs). Their doctor said it can last 3-4 weeks. It seems like they go up and down, feel better and feel worse. When I can tell they don't feel good I just give them some motrin and that seems to help a little, and they like to like around and cuddle and watch movies. The grinding her teeth could just be teething on top of it all, or maybe here ears are clogged up and she doesn't know how to pop them (mine have been having a lot of pressure build up with this cold). If she has a croupy cough try some warm steam (shower) and the cold night air is supposed to help also. Hope she feels better soon.

Sorry you both were so sick! Sometimes when colds seem to be getting better, then come back with a runny nose and cough - it could have turned into a sinus infection. If you ever had one they are miserable and need antibiotics to go away. Take her in to her Ped.

My daughter (20 months) had been sick off and on for two weeks, even been to the ped where they thought she had an ear infection. But after a week on antibiotics she still wasn't better--runny nose, slight fever, cough, etc. I took her in fully expecting them to tell me she just had a cold and it would be fine, but she had walking pneumonia. Definitely take her to the pediatrician. You never know and better to be safe than sorry.

Time to take her to the DR. Could just be a nasty cold, but could turn into pneumonia, as someone else said, and it could be RSV. Try to get pedialyte into her. Keep her hydrated the best you can.

Hi M.,

I suspected an ear infection as well, and it wouldn't hurt to take her to the doctor to find out for sure. If she does have an ear infection, I would recommend some very good homeopathic remedies, before trying the antibiotic. I say this for several reasons. Most ear infections aren't helped by antibiotics, they are viral, so by giving her an antibiotic, it is just wiping out all of the good bacteria that is in her system and leaving her open to a whole bunch of secondary infections. Also if you are giving her tylenol or motrin to combat her fever, it is also crippling her body's defenses against the bug that is making her sick. Also they are hard on her liver and kidneys. Every drug has a side affect and make no mistake, they are drugs.

I found a really good ear treatment at a healthfood store in bellingham on the corner of lakeway right where it runs into Holly st. It is called mullien flower oil and it also contains garlic oil, which is a very powerful antiviral and antibiotic. Another thing that works well is to put breast milk into her ear. Does she prefer to nurse on one side over the other? When she nurses, the mild flows over one of her ears from the inside, so make sure she nurses on both sides. To help with fever, try cool compresses and just keep nursing her as often as she will. Don't worry about pushing solid foods right now, breast milk is the perfect food for her. My daughter got an ear infection when she was teething and the above methods worked very well for her. Also it enabled her body to build up immunity, and she never got another one. I am so sorry she is sick, it is so hard to watch our little ones be sick and it feels so powerless. Just hold her when she is awake, and get her to sleep as much as possible, it will pass soon. Good luck and good health to you.

A general rule of thumb is that if child gets better and then within a week or two gets worse (fever, etc) it's time to go see the doc. My first son had pneumonia with one instance of this, and my 2nd son just went through this last month and it was an ear infection. There is never any harm in checking it out with the ped!

M.,
Hi!
My advice is to keep nursing her if she is still nursing and ride the cold out just as you would if it were you. Nursing has the best nutrients and is so comforting to your child so don't give that up. If her nose is all stuffed up she may nurse for shorter spirts because of her discomfort.
Watch out for temperatures that don't go down, especially if they go over 100 degrees or if the cold lasts for more than several weeks. By all means then bring her in to the doc!
When my kids were "cutting teeth" it seemed they always had a little cold or runny nose. Run your little finger over her gums and see if you feel any little teeth that have broken through.
It's so hard on the mom when you have a sick baby or child because they are just so helpless. If you could you would want to be able to take their discomfort away and have it yourself.

I am just going to echo the other advise already given. Time to go to the doctor. If she still has a fever after a few days...she probably has some kind of infection...sinus, ear, etc.

I would take her to the doctor - there are some bad colds this year - also I'd rule out allergies - since it sounds like she started up again after going out.

As for coughing - a steam in the bathroom at night helps. Do you use a humidifier?

It sounds like she might have developed an ear infection with the grinding of her teeth. Any cold that lasts longer than a week with nasal discharge, fever and a persistent cough should warrant a trip to your pediatrician. Take her to your doctor and have her checked out. The flu has been going around, and many of the symptoms you have listed are consistent with the flu. The flu needs to work it's way through her system, but the upper respiratory infections or ear infections that might come along with it, need a doctor's care. Provide her lots of fluids, nursing, water, clear juices. Offer her solid foods, like her fruits and cereals, whatever she will eat. Her nose running maybe allergies to tree pollen, but a trip to the doctor will help determine that. I wish you both well!!!

It so hurts our heart when our kids are sick..
I agree with all the other mama's time to call into your dr tmw morning and have her seen tomorrow.
They will rule out any infections.

But if there is no ear infection,. don't be concerned if they say she has caught a new virus while still recovering from the old one.

A lot of times if it is just a virus - one tends to feel like - why did I even go to the Doctor. However,. it's important to have young children checked out.
Infections can be soo helped & then your little one is on the quick road to recovery.

all the best,
mk.

Well, first of all, don't panic. The cold that has been going around this winter is nasty, and seems to have this multi-wave, bad cough, approach. Something simple like teylenol and lots of fluids may really help out - well, along with time.

However, when you are concerned like this, please call your doctor. They may very well say its nothing, but better to get a professional to consider the symptoms than rely on the internet!

she may have developed an ear infection which would cause her to grind her teeth and be cranky even after she seems to be getting better. I would give her infant tylenol to ease her discomfort and call the doctor on Monday to get her in. it's very easy for these things to turn into something bigger so get her seen by a doctor. After 14 days she should be getting over her cold. She may just be developing another cold, but it's best to see the doctor. good luck!

Hi,
I would either call the nurse line or take her in.. Maybe she has an ear infection or broncitous.. I always take my kids in if it seems like they are not kicking the cold.. One of my kids gets ear infections after a cold.
Best of luck,
Lenc