My daughter has been seek for the last week and a half. Took her to the doctor and they keep telling us diffrent stuff what's wrong with her. She won't sleep at all she has been up for almost 24 hours. She has a slight fever, a cough, docs say she has an ear infection, she has this weird eye discharge the doc said it was from her sinus build up. I wish I knew what to do as a father I feel bad cuz I can't help my only daughter get better even with docs. Anyone have an idea on how she could get more sleep so she could sleep this off.
They didn't give you any medication at the doctor's office for her ear & sinus infection?
I would expect that they'd give you antibiotics, plus ibuprofen & Tylenol, to start clearing up the infection and relieve the pain from it in the interim.
It's really great that you care and want to help your little one but there is very little that you can do to help. She has a virus and it takes time for it to go away. Placing a humidifier in her room might help with the cough and congestion. Putting a dab of Vicks on her chest might also help loosen the congestion. Raising her head so that she's sleeping more upright might help. Put folded blankets and/or pillow under the head of her mattress.
Or she might sleep if you hold her or put her in bed with you.
What everyone says plus use a warm wash cloth on her ear. It will sooth it. Don't lay her down, that puts pressure on the ear and is painful. Find a comfy chair and rock her. It will take a couple of days but she will be better.
In addition to what everyone else is saying, don't lay her down to sleep. Sit up in a chair with her either seated on your lap or head on your shoulder, and let her find some comfort in the arms of her parent. Just from what you're saying here, that's not a bunch of different things wrong, just one big nasty thing.
Rub Vicks or mentholatem on her little feet at night and put her socks over it. I do this with everyone in the house and we swear by it.
I second the humidifier. I have a regular one in the living room and cool mist in the bedrooms.
My mom also bought us a hot water bottle with a Teddy bear cover. I fill that up when they're sick and let em rest they're little heads on his warm belly. Great for ear infections. I don't let em sleep on it, more of a day time thing.
If she doesn't want to lay down and sleep it might be painful to her. Her sinuses are full and the goo has to get out somewhere. Out the ears causes ear infections, out the eyes causes eye infections, down the Eustachian tubes causes tonsillitis, it only has a few routes it can take to get out.
So to me having the doc give her a decongestant would be the first step. Even with and antibiotic she is going to need that goo to be thinner so it will drain out easier and faster. That way she'll feel better sooner.
Then she'll need meds to treat the infection that is showing up. I'd call the doc this morning and tell them about the not sleeping. If she's congested she does NOT NEED to sleep a lot. That can contribute to pneumonia. Sitting up, moving around, coughing, breathing deeply, etc...will all help her to not get a lot of congestion in her lungs.
Try a vapor bath. Get some Johnson's or store brand soothing vapor bath (in a green bottle) that helps clear sinuses. Also, but a humidifier in her room. The moisture will help her breathe. You can also rub her feet and chest with vicks vaporub at night and that will also help. Elevate her head when she sleeps- put a large pillow under her crib mattress.
Also, if it has been a week and a half, it may be time for antibiotics, since most cold should be gone in 7-10 day.
great answers from everyone, just want to add one thing. When they are all full of mucus, (cold, ear infection) you don't want to give them cow's milk. It simply adds to the problem and makes more mucus gunk. Give oat milk, rice milk, something else until they are better, I promise it will go much faster that way!
I agree with other posts. The doc should have given antibiotics for the infections and told you the correct dosage for tylenol. Don't use ibuprofen on a kiddo so young.
And let her fall asleep with you holding her semi-upright.
Discharge from my daughter's eyes was my first sign that her cold had gone into her ears and she had an ear infection. So, eye drainage and ear infections go hand in hand. (My pediatrician knew this was typical for my daughter....but on two different occasions we saw different doctors and both told me it was pink eye and prescribed antibiotics...it was NOT pink eye just typical drainage for my daughter with ear infections.)
A cold can last up to 14 days...and with a ear infection anytime your daughter lays flat the pressure in her ears can become very very painful. So you can either put a wedge under her mattress or sleep with her upright in your arms.
For my kids Motrin seems to always work better than Tylenol. Just follow the dosing instructions very carefully. You can always call the office back and ask to speak with a nurse...if you have questions. But you guys just might have to wait it out. One great online resource is www.askdrsears.com look up the page on colds.
Good luck!!
