How do you soothe an ill 4 year old?

[sugarplumfairy28]

DD is 4 and is very rarely ill unlike her brother. DD has come down with the most awful cold. She hates hates hates taking any medicine and am shocked that she has had any at all. She has a temp of a 101f, red eyes that have been watering all day (probably tired), runny nose, a horrible cough, she says everything hurts, including her head. Every time she has a coughing fit she ends up crying.

She hasn't slept all day which I can't understand as she was up half the night. Tried laying down in bed with her with something boring on telly (which normally sends her off), cuddles on the sofa, we did have to go out this morning and she nearly went off in the car but that didn't work, and she simply doesn't want to go to her bedroom.

It breaks my heart to see her in pain and so upset, what can I do?

[queenofthepirates]

It might be 'flu which might explain the severity of the infection. I think you're doing everything right but if in doubt, call 111 and get advice. Lots of drinks, tonnes of cuddles, gummy bears, ice cream to cool her down and plenty of calpol to lower that temperature down so she can sleep.

[ChoudeBruxelles]

Bribery. Is there anything she wants? If she takes medicine you'll go to the shops together when she's better?

[IguanaTail]

Stir medicine into a drink?

[Nonnainglese]

Try a cool bath to bring her temp down?
Ribena hides the taste of medicine, ice cream or lollies. Tuck her up on the settee until she falls asleep?

Poor little girl

[sugarplumfairy28]

She got a little box of Playmobil by way of an apology for having to take her out this morning, but hasn't been out of the box. Got some ice cream which she said she wanted but then cried when I gave it to her.

The medicine thing is a nightmare, tried before now holding her nose which was a last resort thing, in her milk, bribery, the lot, she has however actually had some off a spoon today, she can have 2, 5mls it says and she's maybe had 5ml -7.5ml, she had it off the big spoon on the proviso it wasn't a whole spoon, some is better than none I guess.

She hasn't drank a lot today, but the more I ask or offer anything at all, milkshakes, carton juice, warm juice, even my tea (please don't judge) the more upset she gets.

She's on the sofa atm with her kitten, pillow and a blanket but doesn't want to go to bed. Hubby is offering to sleep on the sofa so she will come to bed with me, but is this something I should steer clear of?

[IguanaTail]

No let her snuggle up with you if she's not well. Just do what works.

[IguanaTail]

Maybe try saying when she's finished the ribena you're going to carry her up to your big bed to snuggle up.

[PiccalilliSandwiches]

Sounds like she has the flu but please watch out for rashes. High temperature and headache should always ring alarm bells. Check she's not shying away from bright lights and that she doesn't have a stiff sore neck. Any doubts, off to a&e.

DS hates medicines, even calpol. He finds it easier to have a chocolate button (or an olive bizarrely) first as a strong taste, then the medicine, then more chocolate immediately to take the taste away. He only has it if very poorly so I don't care about the chocolate need.

Yes, definitely let her stay with you tonight, poor thing. Much safer too so you can keep an eye on her.

I have no rules in the house when they're properly ill. Bed share, snacks all day, chocolate, ice cream, iPad, movies, anything goes. Back to tyrant afterwards.

Hope she's better soon.

[sugarplumfairy28]

No rashes or problems with light and I think the headache might be sleep related, this is her at present. although she's not settled in the slightest. She's not interested in anything other than my bed, so I guess Daddy will be on the sofa.

[KatyN]

I am in my son's room as he sounds to have a similar think to your little lady. Was in with him last night too so I'm hanging!
He is fabulous at taking medicine but maybe because we pretend to be paso from the octonauts and claim it's made of kelp.. Depends on what telly your daughter is into!!
We have watched a lot of telly and read a lot of stories. And done quite. Bit if him just sat in my knee cuddling in while I chatter about gentle things.

It is rubbish when they are sick!

[justgoandgetalife]

If she gets any hotter please get her to a gp.

As for sleeping arrangements, my DS12 slept with me night before last when he had a 'sicky migraine'. He was fine but I was freezing - never known anyone so wriggly! Helped him to sleep, but then Daddy was away so not sure if he'd have been so lenient!

[sugarplumfairy28]

Well had her in my bed, was up several times with her just crying, lots of tossing and turning, she was hot, so obviously that meant I couldn't have the duvet either lol, she wasn't very settled as every time I got up, to go get something or to the loo, she sat up and waited for me to come back. Her eyes look better, but still got a temp although it's not gotten worse. She must be feeling a bit better because we're back to no medicine at all. Feel awful but she's currently eating Pringles for breakfast, but she hasn't eaten since Tuesday.

[PiccalilliSandwiches]

Pringles are a great breakfast for a poorly hot girl. Plenty of salt to re balance things!

Hope she's had a better day and you both get more sleep tonight.

[sugarplumfairy28]

OK we're coming up on night 4, hubby has been on the sofa for 2 nights after hanging on the egde of the bed on night one and DD is still in our bed.

She's not so bad during the day but of a night she sleeps for no more than an hour and wakes in a coughing fit almost being sick, and then up for about an hour before she falls asleep again. I'm beyond tired and so is she. She's fighting sleep, probably because of the constant waking and distress it's causing, but there is nothing I can give her to stop the coughing. Cough medicine isn't effective, it's a chesty cough she has, and is seriously reducing my chances of getting Calpol in her for the temp. She won't touch honey and lemon. Does anyone have a longer lasting suggestion?

[PiccalilliSandwiches]

Please take her to a doctor.

If she's still ill she may well have flu or a chest infection. Or even viral induced cough that an inhaler might help.

Time for professional help.

For fluids, try black currant made with some hot water so it's just warm and soothing. But please get her to a doctor.

[ExitStageLeft]

Has she been to the doctor?

[twirlypoo]

Oh poor little love, I think it's time for the doctors too, does she still have high temp? Id want her checked out at this point just to be sure no underlying infection. As for medicine / sleep, do whatever it takes to get both. Ds hates calpol and I bribe him to have some. I let him sleep in my bed too. It's just survival to get through it - I hope she is on the mend soon. Poor you lot!

[sugarplumfairy28]

I am starting to think she might have a chest infection, nothing else matches up with the flu. Her temp now goes back to normal with Calpol which Thursday it wasn't, she's had breakfast and dinner today, yesterday was Pringles and 2 mini pizzas. But the minute she tried to sleep this cough just won't go away.

We're actually in Germany and in the sticks so if it doesn't improve by Monday we'll have to go. That being said antibiotics for kids here are absolutely disgusting, I'm having enough problems with sweet pink Calpol, although obviously I will try as much as I can, I can't see me being able to get antibiotics into her, which is making me panic somewhat. For a culture that are mad about kids how they don't have medicine that's not repulsive is beyond me.

[Brindler]

I feel for you and your dd OP! My dd is also 4 and was ill throughout half term - sick bug followed by a horrible cold/cough. We ended up at the docs and she is now on inhalers ??. Seems to be a lot of similar things going around. Have you tried a calpol plug in? They really seem to help dd at night

[PiccalilliSandwiches]

Have you considered suppositories OP? Very easy and certainly much more commonly used on the continent than in the uk. Paracetamol and ibuprofen or diclofenac certainly will be available over the counter for kids. Not sure if there are antibiotic suppositories for kids in Germany.

[sugarplumfairy28]

We do have one, but no refills. Over here though Calpol doesn't appear to exist (my stock comes over from the UK) plus all and any medication must come from a pharmacy where nothing is on display so no browsing the Tesco shelves. Have read that humidifiers works quite well so giving that a go in the form of bowls and wet flannels on radiators.

[GreenWalls]

She needs a doctor ASAP.
Untreated chest infection can get serious fast.

[sugarplumfairy28]

Suppositories are a no go, she's had a very bad experience which delayed potty training and she is mega touchy if she even needs help wiping. We can get paracetamol and have some ibuprofen but without sounding like a snob, they really taste wrong, very sour, made me gag. Those aren't so much of an issue as I have a supply, but I can't stock on on antibiotics though.

[PiccalilliSandwiches]

You can get paracetamol and ibuprofen melts too, which may be easier than liquid, they just melt on the tongue. Antibiotics may be tricky though. Amoxicillin is the best tasting of all. Mix with something strong tasting - Nutella works well for us.

[Greebosmum]

If it is a chest infection humidifiers are absolutely brilliant. If you can get your hands on a proper one, please do. I never thought they would make any difference, but DD1 had a 3 or 4 chest infections a year and the humidifier my Mum bought us eventually was like a miracle.

Also, has she tried sleeping while sitting up? May help the cough.

My DC are grown up with their own babies so I am wracking my brains trying to remember what else was good.

We never got round the taking medicine problem until they were able to take tablets instead of syrup.

Hope she is continuing to improve. x