Help-babysitting sick dgs and worried

[thegreylady]

My 3 year old dgs has been poorly for a few days high temp,lethargic and no appetite. Gp has prescribed antibx and he is having calpol/ibuprofen at appropriate intervals. When I collected him at 9am his dad said he hadn't weed since the early hours and wasn't drinking much at all. It is now noon and dgs has just fallen asleep. His last temp was 38.3. He still says he doesn't need to wee. I have persuaded him to drink most of a tiny carton of apple juice and a few sips of water. Please tell me what if anything I should be doing. Should I wake him to give more Calpol? How much does the not weeing matter? At what point do I call a doctor or the little one's parents?

You are the granny, you are worried. Call the parents.

Thanks Theas my s-i-l said that if I felt we needed the doc again he would come back from work. I will see how dgs is when he wakes up I think. Its really the not peeing that worries me most but but I suppose if he's not drinking he won't wee but I know he needs to keep hydrated.

I would speak to the parents and ask them.

If he's drunk "most of a carton" of apple juice I wouldn't worry unless he had d&v as well, but that's for my dc. I know my ds tends to go what I think of a long periods of time without wee-ing even when well.

I wouldn't wake for more calpol because ime sometimes a long sleep seems to break the temperature.

I would give calpol when he wakes, but not immediately (one of mine would throw up if you gave something, when ill, too soon after waking), say about 10-15 minutes after.

Keep offering drinks. Make them tempting, a iced lolly is just as good. Use a straw, if they like fizzy drinks then that works well in our house, put ice in, or a lemon if they like that. Or cartons of apple juice, or really anything (within reason) that they fancy and is wet.

Thanks DeWe that is really helpful.He woke very briefly and said 'I don't need a wee!' I gave Calpol and he has gone back to sleep. I have taken his trousers off and put a towel under him. The ice lolly idea is brilliant I will ask dh to go to the shop. Dgs isn't allowed fizzy but I will try fizzy water in his juice :-) I will see how he goes and if he eats anything. Earlier he said he wanted jelly so can try with that. I'm trying to avoid calling parents,though I will if need be,as they have had an awful couple of weeks with both boys and themselves ill. They just went back to work on Wednesday.

To be honest, I would SO give Fanta or Lemonade as it is more important to get him to drink than to stick to principles (unless there is a medical reason).

When my sons are poorly, they get fizzy drinks and ice lollies. Even sucking on icecubes helps! You can make your own icecubes with some juice diluted in water, too, for him to suck on and explore.

Right I will try the fizzy and tell DD that. I agree with you this is not the time to be precious about diet. Dgs is still sleeping ATM.

Fizzy drinks will do nothing to help him hydrate, it will just fill his tummy with gas and his bllodstream with sugar

Basic hydration is water...its bland and not glamourous but its the best.

If he hasnt got d&v (which I dont think he has?) then be aware the ABs will be working to clear the infection and that could be whats making him sleepy/that or him being awake during the night?

If you are VERY worried about dehydration then you can try dioralyte (there is a blackcurrant flavour) but tbh it just sounds like he needs water/ fruit juice and sleep!!!

Ice lollys will be popular!!

Thanks. No d&v at all. Still sleeping so hope he will feel a bit better when he wakes up. To be honest if he will eat or drink anything I will be delighted.

Becarooo, I am confused by your post.

If you have a sick child that wont drink plain water, and you offer a glass of fanta or even sparkling water, or juice diluted with sparkling water, do you still think the plain water hydrates more? Isnt it better that the child drinks, than just push the water?

He woke up and ate half a tin o Spiderman spaghetti and a biggish helping of jelly. He drank a small carton of apple juice and a few minutes ago he finally had a wee! I spoke to his dad but as he seems better since his nap we have decided there is no need for him to come home. Thank you for your help. Quint dh bought a bottle of Sprite and that was next on my list I agree any fluid better than none,!

If you have a sick child then filling their stomachs with carbonated gas and sugar really isnt a good idea (or at any time for that matter!! ), especially if on some ABs which react to sugar and end up giving you thrush.

The best thing for hydration is plain water....or any other plain (i.e. not fizzy) clear fluid little and often...its amazing how much you can get into a child by giving a sherry glass full every 30 mins!

Fruit juice is also good (as I said in my post) but ideally even fruit juice should be diluted as it contains fructose (a naturally occuring sugar)

I still hear of parents giving their sick kids cola/fanta/sprite and then being amazed when they promptly throw it all back up again!

(the only time I drink fizzy is when I have tonsilitis...dont know why, but its seems to help get rid of the gunk on the tonsils!!)

Sick as in ill not a sickie bug, though.

I don't give my boys fizzy drinks if they are vomiting.

The op mentioned antibiotics, so I assumed respiratory infection, or something like tonsillitis. With d&v I would totally be with you on the diarolyte!

It is an ear infection and a chest infection. I have now taken him home and although he 'slumped ' again for a while he perked up a little and ate some white fish and an orange fruit juice lolly for tea. When I left he said 'thank you for looking after me grandma'. He breaks my heart with his sweetness sometimes. He has been I'll since last Sunday and has seen the doctor twice. Thank you again for your. help and reassurance.

That should say ill

Poor little chap...its so awful when they are ill, isnt it?

Hopefully he will be feeling better soon x

....and bear in mind if you look after him again this week that one of the side effects of ABs is nausea/not wanting to eat much...so dont blame yourself if he just wants a banana and nothing else!