AIBU to by see GP about baby’s cold

[HKAB18]

My 11 moth old baby (5 weeks prem) has a cold. Started a few days ago. He is bothered by it particularly the runny nose so I’ve been suctioning and also he has a fever of 38.3. This comes down to 37.5 with calpol and/or ibuprofen. He has a cough also and when he coughed this morning some white mucus came up. He is quiet and his cry is quite weak compared to his normal one he has a high pitched scream usually but he’s very bunged up.
I told my friend who told me to get him to the Gp/A and E ASAP. I just don’t really think he needs to go. He’s tired and quiet but he was still crawling around the living room
This am. He has eaten some yoghurt and taken all his morning milk. AIBU to wait this out and if he changes and gets worse of course il seek medical help then?
The NHS is already under strain, why would I seek medical attention for a cold?!

Title should say NOT see GP

I personally wouldn't. If he's feeding, having wet nappies, temp controlled by calpol, then that's about all they can do I think. If any of those changes I would. I'm not medically trained, just have two kids, so aware my advice might not be the best.

If my baby was feeding well,content enough, having frequent wet nappies and their temperature was controlled with calpol then I wouldn’t see the GP.

I feel the same as you. His feeding isn’t the best food wise but he’s had his milk. Nappy was wet but wouldn’t have said as wet as it usually is this am from overnight but once the medication kicks in he has a little play etc. He’s usually wild crawling and cruising everywhere whereas he just sits and plays with a toy then crawls to another one but he’s not presenting exceptionally sick.

Just watch his breathing carefully. It is the season for RSV. Any sign of rapid breathing or difficulty feeding is a reason to get him checked.

Sounds ok to me. Treating and monitoring at home is what I’d be doing with my own children as long as there’s wet and dirty nappies, calpol/ibuprofen is keeping temperature down and breathing is normal (no sucking in of the tummy).

Is he breathing ok? No change in colour, sucking in around the neck or ribs, grunting? So long as he is breathing ok and there's no sign of ear infections, ride it out at home. Unfortunately for us, my DS has bargain basement lungs that give up at the first sign of attack so we usually do need medical help when he gets a cold.

People will no doubt have all sorts of views, but I wouldn’t. A good rule of thumb is:

• if temp is under 39 and responds to calpol and/or nuerofen
• no persistent rash
• still drinking enough

Then you probably just need to wait it out. He probably does feel pretty miserable though!

Make yourself familiar with the signs of bronchiolitis including the “when to seek help” signs.

But unless he deteriorates then I would just keep on top of hydration and Calpol for the discomfort

Thanks everyone
His breathing his heavy and a bit more faster but I feel that’s just the typical cold breathing? No rash or that his hands and feet are cold from his fever. Il check his breathing though due to him being premature I have been looking for any pulling. It’s hard as well as he wiggles lol

How long have you been using calpol for? Aren't you meant to see the GP if over 3 days? A weak cry would worry me a bit with my own baby and if no better tomorrow first thing, I think I would ring the GP. Just because it's been going on quite a while.

Just since yesterday afternoon.
He woke from nap there he had dirty nappy. Checked his temp back up at 38? Have ibuprofen at 8 so will give calpol give it 20 and check again. He’s sat on floor whinging but also clapping his hands and playing with a toy.

It’s a tough one with small children. We were advised by the GP to take our 13 month old to A&E yesterday with similar symptoms to yours... although he wasn’t crawling around, was very lethargic and clingy and had vomited a few times. He is fine - pretty much back to himself today but I believe they wanted to rule out anything more serious. Perhaps call 111 for advice if you’re not sure?

I'd take him to the doctor, my DD was 11 weeks prem so we do have a tendensey to end up in hospital fairly quickly with breathing problems, but the doctors are always lovely and say that with he even being a baby and especially a prem one they would rather I took her in and let them decide. My older DS had similar symptoms a few weeks ago and I took him bevause I'm now batshit and it turned out the fever was being caused by a throat infection and he needed antibiotics, I was pretty surprised! It doesn't hurt to get checked out. Also nothing wrong with trusting your instincts so I wouldn't judge you for not going either, just letting you no what I would do.

To be fair though - my boys temp was over 39 and it was the fourth day he would have been ill so didn’t want to keep giving calpol without him being checked! He also would touch his food... but was drinking a lot of water and was still having milk (it was milk that he couldn’t keep down a few times)

Thanks. I’ve given calpol. He’s chatting away cruising up and down sofa so I’m going to ride it out few more hours. I’m due at work in an hour but my mil is having g him so I’ll take therm and meds to her and if his fever still hasn’t broke we will call for medical help. Just hard because he is lethargic and is clearly unwell but he’s playing and chatting and giving dirty nappies. If he wasn’t I wouldn’t even question it

So he went to MILs crawled around and seemed okay. She never checked his temp just kept touching him and felt okay.
Got him home he proceeded to lie on my floor and whine and he went mottled on arms hands and feet. Called Gp as his temp was 38 plus. They said to give calpol as had only just given ibuprofen and to monitor temp.
It’s now 38 bang on. It’s been 1 1/2 hours since ibuprofen and an hour since calpol. He refused milk took 3oz. He has drank some water though. Again barely touched his dinner but again crawling about and is in the bath splashing with his dad.!