Croup - stop me panicking!

[InMemoryOfSleep]

My DS has just woken up with what I think is croup. He’s now asleep propped up in his buggy in my room, with horrible barky breathing (but not struggling for breath). I’m on my own as DH is away with work, and there’s a foot of snow on the ground and I’m panicking - do I need to call the doctor? NHS online seems fairly relaxed about it but I’d always thought croup was horrible - any advice to help DS feel better and stop me worrying all night?

www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Croup/

I find this very useful. It’s Australian because that’s where I’m living currently and we abuse this to parents all the time. Don’t keep the room too warm as it aggrevates the cough. And usually night 2-3 is worse. Try and grab some redipred predmix, nit sure what it’s called in the UK. Cool air usually helps but any signs of respiratory distress will require ED treatement

We don’t abuse. We advise!!!!

Look at his bare chest. Is his chest sucking in at the bottom of his throat or his riBs?

If so get him to hospital now.

I would get him seen anyway if he his breathing is noisy.

My youngest had croup, can you somehow steam him, shower turned up hot? I was at my brothers once and we used a wallpaper stripper. Crap and scary I know but try stay calm.

@crunchtime no, his breathing is doing fine at the minute - we had him at the hospital with bronchiolitis a couple of months ago so I know what to look out for (but thank you for the advice nonetheless!). And thanks so much @SD1978 that’s really helpful - I think, going by the fact sheet, he has mild croup (no stridor at rest), he’s just got the barky cough. Now to lay awake all night worrying - I can’t believe DH is away, that makes it so much worse!

Fresh air is one of the best things for it so if you can open a window that should help

Steamy bathroom made DS1 worse during his bad croup episode, so proceed with caution OP. We took him to OOH for steroids one evening but ended up calling an ambulance later that evening as he was struggling to breathe.

Both of mine have croup quite often and it's worse when they're crying/upset, if this happens, stick the tele on to distract them, it always helps calm them down.

Just to reiterate what the pp said, a blast of cold air from an open window is what always helped my DS when he had croup. We ended up at A&E several times and he was usually fine by the time we got there due to the fresh air on the way!

There are more videos on his channel about croup and different types of coughs. He's an American paediatrician and his videos have been very informative.

My friends daughter has had croup several times. She took her outside in the cold air for a few minutes and it cleared her chest. Hopefully it won't be bad enough to have to try it.

Thanks everyone for your advice; we did end up at A&E (on the advice from 111) and they were absolutely fab, a dose of steroids and he is doing much better.