My 6 month old has Covid19

[sarahloubert]

My husband started having symptoms so he got tested and it came back positive. Hes been really unwell with it so has been quarantined away from us. I thought it best to get me, my 13 year old DS and my 6 month old DD tested too. My DS has come back negative but my DD and myself positive! I'm not feeling too bad so far but my DD is so clingy, moany (which isn't like her at all) and off her food. Shes got terrible diarrhea and her nappies aren't too wet. We called 111 and they were no help at all. Im after any ideas that could get some drink into her. I dont want to end up in hospital with her. With me and my husband being positive im not sure they would allow us to go in with her :( im distraught! Does anyone else have/had a young one diagnosed?

Sorry sent too early, I would call GP ASAP. Or try 111 again and mention that

When my LO had a fever (but no diarrhea) she refused everything, including breast milk. In the end we syringed water (and thinned soup I think) into her mouth, she hated it. We spoke to a gp and they said to look out for her soft spot sinking, lack of urination etc. It's really horrible when they are ill, but it sounds positive that she is still taking milk.

For future reference in our area we have an out of hours gp telephone line. They are much better than 111. Do you have the same? I only know about them because our doctors has a sign up on their door about it.

I hope your all feeling better soon.

The NHS has little experience of Covid and babies. Go with your gut feeling. Little sips of juice and speak to your pharmacist if you can’t speak to a GP.

When my dd was sick as a baby we used to both get naked (I kept my pants on) and wrap up in a big dressing gown for skin to skin cuddles. We'd also have baths together too for comfort. Bit harder if it's just you (if your husband is out of action).

Don't feel guilty at all - it's hardly your fault. You sound like an amazing mum and you're doing your best

If she has drained an 8oz bottle then she won't be dehydrated. If she doesn't like water then just give milk and watery foods. Yoghurt I would give as well

I hope she feels better soon. When my child was dehydrated we had to do the 'fluid challenge' which was literally 5ml every 5 mins of water. I cant work out us half an ounce is more than 5 ml.

I actually went ti hospital on advice of the gp but this was pre covid.

When my 6mo had a cold recently he wouldn't eat or drink his bottles and my gp said not to worry about solids and that getting fluids in was more important, he recommended some squash and offer regular sips, hope you're all feeling better soon

Thank you everyone. Shes just fallen asleep so I'm going to try and dream feed her a bit of water again. Going to ring the GP at 8.30 for advice. Its mainly the fact that she's so little and can't tell me how she's feeling that's the worry. When they can talk you can get an idea cant you. When I got up this morning I felt so, so alone, just want to say thank you to everyone who has commented. Your support and advice has reinforced that I'm not on my own. X

Recently had a poorly 8 month old with a thick cold. I gave warm ribena and plenty of it. I wouldn't normally give cordial but needs must. Bit of sugar perked her up, it helped.

For hydrating children in ED they use something like 5-10mls every 10mins, via syringe (like what comes with calpol) and keep a written record of it for a few hours.
Make sure she's had pain relief (you can get rectal paracetamol if she's spitting out oral, v common on mainland Europe to use this) and use difflam throat spray if a sore throat might be stopping her drinking.
Bless her, it's awful seeing them so miserable isn't it. They definitely wouldn't expect her to stay in hospital without you! She'd be isolated, so you automatically would be too with her.
Hope everyone's feeling much better soon.

I give dd full fat coke when she's really poorly. I put a little boiled water in it to flatten it.

If not coke, it's lemonade. She takes it so much better than dyorilyte.

Hubby thinks doc opens at 8 so going to ring now. Will update once I've spoken to someone x

Still cannot get through!

If she's still taking milk then that should help against dehydration. Rehydration drinks can be given alongside if they seem to need it.

Bloody hell sarahloubert you poor buggers and your poor little baby.

Don't know if this will help
www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1894027694060209&id=723257924470531 it tells you what to look out for with dehydration in babies.

Not sure if it's still reccomended but when my DS19 was a baby he suffered with toddler diarrhoea(he wasn't a toddler when it started that was just the name that the GP and HV gave it)I gave him organic cloudy apple juice(it has to be the cloudy variety because the clear is treated to make it clear)and my gosh I wish I'd known about it sooner it made his better with in about 48 hours and he'd been ill and under our Dr's and HV for months.

Apparently it was something that alot of Mothers used years ago and it certainly worked for my DS.

I really hope your all much better very soon

If she is still taking milk then keep offering it unless vomiting. You can offer less volume more often to maintain if not taking full bottles. You can also syringe it in at 5mls every 5 minutes. If she is vomiting then syringe feed paediatric dioralyte instead of milk at the same rate. Has she had a wet nappy in the last 6 hours?

The syringing of tiny amounts of fluid every ten mins really does work. It’s very tedious, but it’s what they will do if you go into hospital. Squash, water, whatever she will tolerate.

Please don’t make up your own rehydration solution by adding salt to lemonade!!! Babies have tiny and very sensitive kidneys abs you could make her very unwell

Must be so hard but try not to worry anymore than you would for any other illness/virus.

If she's had an 8oz bottle that will stop her being dehydrated for now. Even if she has a bad tummy again some fluid will have been absorbed.

Fingers crossed she perks up

Just got through to docs awaiting a call back. Shes had a wet nappy this morning but it was slightly damp not like a normal wet nappy if that makes sense. Ive put some squash in her sippy cup and shes playing with it and chewing it. Im guessing she may get a bit of fluid in her that way. She drank her milk 8oz and within 5 mins she had the runs again. Everytime ive got her to drink some water/squash shes bringing that straight back up. Hopefully the doc will be able to prescribe something as then the pharmacy will be able to deliver it to us today. I have no one who could go and get anything as everyone I know (not many) are now isolating due to being in contact with one of us recently! X

I hope the doctor gets back to you soon.

I am sure it will be fine but if for any reason the pharmacy cannot deliver today, there should be advice non your council website about who can help you instead.

If she is alert and playing that’s also a good sign. Try not to overreact as it is covid rather than any other virus (hope that makes sense). If she drank her milk the poopy nappy she had is not that milk- so the milk she drank is in her body and hydrating her... yoghurt is fine too. If she is just 6 months then not eating solids as much wont be an issue as many babies that age aren’t even eating more than a few mouthfuls and relying on milk so just offer more milk in small amounts little and often.

Oh no poor baby. At 6 months I wouldn't worry if she doesn't want much in the way of solids. Lots of babies just fling them around at that age anyway. And I agree with pp saying don't worry too much about sugar right now, if it means getting fluids into her.

If 111 aren't helping you could try calling your GP, who might be able to suggest something.

Some great advice on here. Diarrhoea is a key covid symptom in children. Fluids are important. My GP once recommended flat sprite for my DD in a similar situation and it worked well. It needs to have sugar though. Remember you need to try to replace all the fluid that comes out of the bottom end at the top end (plus more for fluid losses with urine, breathing etc). Hope she's better soon.

I wouldn't worry about food for the moment and jest keep offering her milk. When my baby was sick and didn't eat I put milk in her favourite cup and she would take mouthfuls wile playing with it. Hope she gets better soon.