3 bits of advice needed for 13 month old DD

[chloejessmeg]

Firstly, she has had a cough since a few weeks before christmas, that isn't budging. I am going to take her back to the GP - phoning after this post. But she has had a few days where she has hardly coughed and it hasn't been very bad the whole time. Ie, she has had a week where she will cough, but it isn''t bothering her much, and then she will go through weeks like this one, where it is awful. She hasn't really slept properly since before Christmas. Not really sure if it is down to the cough, or teething or what. But what I want to know is, do I tell GP she has had a constant cough for the whole time (will be able to work out how many weeks from date of last GP appointment - if they will give it to me). Or is it more likly to have been more than one cough, she has caught one after the other? Or doesn't it really matter? Just don't want to say the wrong thing. Am I likely to get told off for not bringing her back sooner? What is she likely to do? Give antibiotics?

Second main problem is she is (just started today) pulling at her hair/top of head and really rubbing it, looking uncomfortable. Is this an indication of a head ache? Or Sinus? She has never done this before? Also today she has a very runny nose etc.

Thirdly - She has a very sore nappy area, mainly her peranium (sorry can't spell) which was bleeding yesterday. This is the second time this has happened there and last time, I took her to GP (she was swollen too) and GP said she probably had a small tear on her peranium and had made it more sore where she has rubbed her legs together. Gave her some cream which made it worse so stopped using and let it clear up on its own, and just used shower when she had pooed etc instead of wiping.

Anyway, sorry for long post, thought it was silly to have 3 seperate threads and also if they are together people can see the whole picture - incase they are linked or something.

She is in bed now with some neofen.

Sorry seem to have posted twice.

Got an appointment for friday morning (Just what I want to be doing on my birthday).

CHecked and last appointment was 16th December and she had the cough for a good week or 2 before that (always see if it will clear up on its own first). She didn't have any antibiotics or anything though.

Definitely worth GP visit for cough! Poor dd, sounds miserable...FWIW, both my dds spent their first winters (not newborn winters, 1yr old ones) in state of constant viral unwellness.

Is her head rubbing better after Calpol, or Calfen, maybe?? Could be headache, though dd2 also did go through a phase of hair p;ulling as comfort....mine OR hers

And for her poor perineum, try a dab of metanium and then put vaseline over the top - both my dds have had nasty nappy areas when they've had colds etc (think the mucousy poo is more acidic) and this has been by far the best solution.

Happy birthday for friday, I hope she's better in time to celebrate it with you!

Not sure if the head rubbing has got better since painkiller - she has been in bed since. She was up till midnight last night, her bedtime is meant to be 7pm. She is so tired, but just won't sleep at night. Bit worried as my Dad is babysitting for the first time on friday night, and had told him she would probably be in bed the whole time! If it wasn't booked, we would go out another day, but all booked and paid for now!

With the perineum - any ideas how she can actually get a tear in it? Twice in a couple of months? Seems really weird to me. To be honest, if she was in childcare I think I would actually treat it as suspecious, because it is not like nappy rash at all. But she is home with me all day so I know nothing has gone on like that.

The only time dd1 had bleeding perineum, it was just very sore and red from diarrhoea (one-off, not ongoing). Other than that, could she possibly be scratching herself in spite of her nappy? Or could she have a little sore spot, maybe fungal infection or something that isn't healing up?

I would get back to the GP for the cough anyway, and ask about that too. Poor thing, she does sound rough....good luck, I hope you can get her seen today. And if she does need ABs, she may be well on the mend by Friday - they get better fast!

The appointmnet has been made for Friday morning.

And it is with a male doctor - do you think it matters?

She isn't really eating either, other than breakfast, she always eats that. Other than yogurts and stuff if given. Tried finger foods, home made meals, a jar, biscuits (just to get her to eat), etc.

Not interested in eating what so ever - other than brekkie. Wondering if giving her weetabix or porridge for lunch is better than nothing?

Why would it matter?

Don't know really, just though that a female doctor might have seen it more often and more likely to be able to spot the problem? Would have thought that most older children/adults would see the female doc so he might not really do this sort of thing. Never mind

She has just had some calpol and gone back to bed. I know it is not going to do me any favours tonight as she shouldn't really sleep at this time but there was no way she was going to stay away until 7pm or later.

Well that gives me a chance to have a quick tidy up anyway. Need a shower too but might bring her in there with me when she wakes up as I have somebody coming round at 6pm which is normal bath time.

I was going to take her swimming this week too - I guess that is out of the question now with the chesty cough? She loved it last week and it was the one thing that shattered her out so much she slept!

I wouldn't, swim that is, with chesty cough - sorry. Especially if she is off her food. I think the main thing is to get her cough listened to...wouldn't they see her sooner? At our surgery, with such a little one, they would see her on the same day if I said I was concerned about her cough.

Well I might be able to get an emergency appointment if I ring again. But I wouldn't say this is an emergency so wouldn't want to take it from somebody who really needs it. Also, if they are not likely to give antibioics then there isn't really much the GP can do?

I feel a bit like we are constantly at the GPs but they never do anything to help other than give me a bit of reasurance (or actually make me feel like I am being very OTT and PFB about it).

Regarding food - have you tried going back to pureed food? Home made or first stage bought. When my 13 month old was poorly, with cough and sore throat and was only eating breakfast I tried this and he wolfed it down. He ate it for a couple of days then went back to normal after he wasover the worst.

I'd push for an earlier appointment, my docs will alway fit babies in on the same day.
Re nappy rash, DS had red and raw nappy rash when ill and metelum (or whatever it's called) was the only thing that worked. Cleared in 2 days.

Try not to worry, she'll be back to her old self very soon

Sorry I probably didn't explain very well, it isn't nappy rash, it is an actual cut in the perineum. It wasn't bleeding today when I changed her but was yesterday. Metelum or whatever just seems to make it worse. We have been using the boots antiseptic nappy rash cream (think a bit like sudocream) and that seems to help. Was more worried about what could have caused it?

She is quite happy in herself, just playing happily.

One thing that I am a bit worried about - she isn't really drinking either. Has had a few sips of milk and a few sips of water - thats it all day. She has her beaker so it is there if she wants it.

My friend's baby that I sometimes look after drinks redbush tea and DD is always trying to steal it, I don't usually give anything but milk and water but wondering if it would be better to give her some of that, just to get some fluids into her?

I think if she's happy in herself and playing away then there can't be too much to worry about. Keep offering her drinks - whatever she'll drink.

There's not much that can be done about coughs to be hoNest - they are usually viral so will go in their own good time.

Have you tried letting her go nappyless as much as possible - that might help her bottom heal.

I would take her swimming if she's not behaving as if she feels ill - it would do her any harm and might be a distraction.

Seeker - thats what we have thought about coughs, hence letting it go on for so long, but it just isn't going anwhere. Nearly 2 months it has been.

She doesn't go nappyless very much - how do you do this with carpet everywhere? We used to give her loads of nappy free time before she got active.

Ah. I have wooden floors - and I used to just follow mine round with mop! Kitchen? Bathroom?

Mostly babies don't wee all the time - ds often runs about with no nappy, he only occasionally does a little wee, and it's easy to mop up and spray a bit of dettol if you like or just hot water.

half an hour of nappy free once or twice a day will help it dry and heal

Don't put anything on an open wound like that except Witch hazel ointment, get Boots own not witch dr one (diff ingredients, perfume or something - boots one is best)

what you need to do is wipe her bot gently with warm water on cotton wool (like for a newborn)
NO wipes at all till completely better (they have alcohol in, stings)
Leave without nappy or dry by patting with cotton wool/soft cloth

THEN apply little bit of witch hazel.

It helps to dry and heal it. Works on grown up bottoms too if you have a crack or something. HTH xx

Oh and do that every time you change her especially after a poo

That's the safest time for nappy free as well

you don't need the witch hazel after a wee

Just maybe once or twice a day

If she doesn't drink a lot the tear and redness could be caused by hard stools and slight constipation. DD has recently had bronchiolitis and the sore throat meant she wouldn't eat anything at all. She ended up a wee bit constipated, tore her perineum a little and has been sore for a few days. Will your dd try ice lollies. I know it's cold but when dd is poorly she loves them.

When dd had an ongoing cough that seemed to get better and then come back again, my GP said it was very common in winter and that it was often the same cough but waxing and waning. he said this could go on for weeks and weeks.

The other thing is teething. When dd teethes she coughs a lot as the extra saliva runs down her throat and irritates, especially at night when she is lying down. She also gets a sore bottom when teething.

Poor girl. It's miserable when they're poorly. Hopefully the gp can rule out any bacterial infection and have a quick look at her perineum to see if it's fungal or anything.

Oh and dd pulled her hair in frustration at this age. Usually when tired.