Should I be keeping DD off school tomorrow? Please help!

[PFB1]

She's my eldest so I'm not entirely sure what the protocol is with this sort of thing.

DD has had a bad cough (only at nighttime) for the past couple of weeks. I've been sending her to school each morning as she's been her normal self in the day although admittedly more tired having been up coughing through the night. She's been fine at school but when she's got home she's been tired. Particularly tonight.

Anyway, I've put her to bed and she's having a coughing fit every 30 seconds. It's awful for her. I know that tomorrow morning will come and I'll need to wake her for school as I have every morning for the last couple of weeks. She'll be tired but will get on with the day at school. In my heart of hearts I feel it's unfair on her if I send her again tomorrow and think she'd benefit from a day of resting and possibly a visit to the GP.

My mum would only keep me off school if I was at deaths door so I'm not sure if I'm being too cautious in considering keeping her home. She's already had 1 day off since starting school in September for a sickness bug which came on one weekend. Really grateful for any advice. Thanks.

I would give her a day to rest. She won’t absorb much learning if she’s been up half the night anyway. And I also grew up in household where you just didn’t have sick days.

Which year is she in? Year 10-13 at high school I’d send her in, any other year I’d keep her off.

If it were me I would keep her off and let her rest.

She's in reception. Is it wrong that I'm already considering giving her Thursday & Friday off? I'll take her to the GP's also but if she's still coughing this much, I think a long weekend at home would do her the world of good.

Oh god. She's going to be exhausted. Definately a day off.

Is she asthmatic?

Not what you've asked, but is she asthmatic?

Is she asthmatic? I am wondering about this... she had a spell around a year ago when she was persistently coughing in the night for about 6-8 weeks. I'm wondering if it could be asthma.

Is there mould or something in her room? Have you pulled the bed away from the wall to check there's no mould or mildew?

What about her bedsheets etc... clean? I would be more concerned about why she's having coughing fits once she gets into bed.

I definitely think a visit to the GP is in order. Calpol, Vicks & Olbas oil aren't even taking the edge off.

Day off tomorrow and take her to the drs, and then take it from there. Poor kid.

Reception?? Bless her little heart keep her off and give her time to rest and get better

At that age, yes I would keep her off. Have a duvet day, hot bath, chicken soup, snuggle on sofa and rest.

We're in a new build. No mould. Clean bed sheets. I assumed the coughing once in her bed was to do with her lying down?

I'd definitely keep her off. A good few days test will give the best opportunity to get better.
If she keeps soldiering on, she's not going to have any opportunity to recharge her batteries.

Reception? Bless her! Definitely keep her off. I would get her checked for asthma if the cough is a night time cough.

I'd definitely keep her off. A good few days test will give the best opportunity to get better.
If she keeps soldiering on, she's not going to have any opportunity to recharge her batteries.

This was exactly what I was thinking but didn't know if I was being too relaxed about the whole keeping her off school thing. I think maybe I should go with my gut.

It throws me off because she's a proper trooper. She'll get up tomorrow and no doubt want to play but I think I'll need to insist on her taking it easy. It's awful listening to her just now. The coughing is relentless.

Think it's definately worth a trip to the Drs then.

Keep her propped up in bed. Lying flat is the worst.

Tell the Drs abiut her history of night time coughing

Hypoallergenic sheets, duvet and pillow?

It's likely something physical, but you want to rule out environmental for your GP chat.

That was me between the ages of 7-11. Coughing and wheezing at night and especially the winter months. It turned out to be asthma.

It was exhausting. I’d keep her off.

and I second gileswithachainsaw to keep her propped up in bed.

I've tried propping her up in bed but she's obviously half asleep and is getting distressed that she's uncomfortable 😩 I've tried to explain it will help her to feel better but she's just getting upset about it. Wish I could do something to help her more.

I would keep her off to rest.

Yep day off, lots of sleep, gp visit and a duvet and Christmas film afternoon. Especially at that age she is gonna be exhausted. I'm 34, coughing all day and night and want to hibernate until December lol!

Try and put something under the mattress to elevate it a little. Rolled up towels or spare duvet.

Try and put something under the mattress to elevate it a little. Rolled up towels or spare duvet.

I'll try that, thanks.