Can someone reassure me about croup?

[littlelamb]

I'm pretty sure ds has croup, he has such a sad little barking cough Is there anything I can do to help? We have been co sleeping but for the last few nights he has been in his room in his cot (he is almost 6 months) Is there any reason to think he'd be better in with me? I feel he'd be 'safer' somehow? (I don't know from what exactly, he's in a sleeping bag so nothing to wriggle under, but he does move around a lot) We are seeing the health visitor tomorrow to get him weighed, will they be able to do anything? Does he need medication? And is he contagious? We go to baby group on Wednesdays, where there are a few babies with immune issues, should I keep him away?

[giraffescantdancethetango]

Hope he is better soon. There are mixed opinions on whether steam helps but sitting in a steamy bathroom with him could help, but one of the big warnings is to make sure it obviously doesntget so hot that the steam scalds.

[TinkerBellesMum]

I don't think it is contagious, all the children in my family spend a lot of time together and only ever one gets it at a time.

TBH, I would be going up to A&E as they can give you a drug that will clear it up straight away - it's two doses 12 hours apart and the first one makes a massive difference. I'm probably on the cautious side though as Tink is chronic asthmatic and we've had some bad attacks.

[littlelamb]

Thanks Tinksmum. I can remember having croup as a child and it was horrible I'll see if I can nip in to the alk in centre tomorrow (its next door to the health visitors so no trouble) and see if he can get the medication. Would you leave him int he cot do you think? He seems to be sleeping soundly, which is odd in itself as he is usually a very light sleeper, rooting around for the nearest boob

[CharCharGabor]

I would bring him in with you if it makes you feel better. I always bring DD in when she's ill as I feel comforted knowing I'll hear if she gets worse. Not that I won't hear her in the cot, irrational mother stuff eh? DD sleeps better next to me when she's ill too. Hope he's better soon, poor mite.

[TinkerBellesMum]

If he's happy there and you can hear him. Keep an eye on his breath rate, count them for one minute, if it gets to 60 then you need to get him seen quicker. If you can see the gaps between his ribs or he has a dip at his throat or the base of his breastbone then those are also reasons to get him seen quicker. Croup is so easily treated these days that I think we can easily become quite complacent about it, Tink will literally just drop down be seriously ill when it comes up, she can change from running around to very bad in minutes.

We coslept in the early days and do when she's not well but that's her choice - TBD is currently in the single bed as she's not feeling well and having a Daddy's girl day! She was in with us last night and I'm glad she's in with him tonight as I'm too pregnant to cosleep lol.

[LolaLadybird]

DS had croup when he was about 5 mo - we saw the GP, no medication but he did get better within a couple of days and didn't have any really severe attacks. We were told to try and keep the room humid/damp - bowl of water near the radiator. We kept him in his own room and I found putting a damp towel on the radiator at bedtime helped.

[vesela]

I hope he's better soon!

I wouldn't take him to baby group, though, especially given that there are babies there with immune issues. As far as I know, it's contagious.