Need some advice

[HandonHeart2019]

Hi all,
I know this is aibu but I'm really just posting here for traffic. I've namechanged for this as I have family on here.

Last night we were taken to the hospital by ambulance for DS 11 months after phoning 111 about a cough and breathing issues. They dispatched the ambulance immediately and we were given the diagnosis of croup. He was given a steroid syrup and sent home.

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice? I suffer with anxiety which is probably making everything worse, but I just want to make him as comfortable as possible.

Does anyone have any advice to offer? Thank you.

They might cough for a while yet! The steroid can help the worst of the difficult breathing but IME the cough goes on for a week or 2.
Calpol if high temperature. Normally I don’t give unless they are upset with a temperature but if they have croup the high temperature can make them breathe faster so better to try and keep it down.
Slightly cooled bedroom, more like 18 than too warm.
I’d sleep in the same room as them and go to bed early! Just because I wouldn’t settle and likely to be up in night.

Thank you for the reply! He sleeps in the same room as us at the moment anyway as his room is currently being decorated. I was told by a friend to make sure he sleeps sitting up? Would that help?

With the cot propped up at the head end slightly with a book or two might help him to breathe a bit easier. No 11 month old would sleep sitting up.

Stick a pillow under his mattress (as long as its a firm mattress) or prop the cot up using books at one end. Or take shifts and have him sleep on you as long as you dont fall asleep.

The angry seal cough goes after about 7 days.

In the old days when kids had croup, they'd steam kettles, make the kids inhale the steam -- relieved their breathing a little. I'd suggest a good hot bathroom, full whack on the shower, sit them in the bathroom, loads of steam should make their breathing feel easier.

I tried propping the cot a couple of times (only if older than 6 months old) but my kids just rolled/slumped down (even on a small incline!) maybe your LO sleeps a bit more still! Mine must have been sleep wrigglers. 😄

Cold air is better for Croup @sammybins

My son (now 4) has had croup 2-3 times a year. We find the calpol plug ins work really well to help him sleep at night as the menthol seems to calm his cough. I generally find the first 24 to 48 hours are worst, then it's more like a normal cough. Hope it passes fast for you!