Would you take your 4-month old to the GP's if you thought they just had a cold/cough?

[Ceebee74]

DS2 has a cold and a bad cough - he has had the cough for about 3 days and the cold (Sniffly nose etc) has started last night. He hasn't been feeding that well for the last few days but did have 6oz this morning (and manage to keep it down).

Apart from being more grumpy than normal, he seems to be ok - would you take him to the doctors?

I have always grown up with the view that you only go to the doctors if things are serious and I wonder if I am projecting my views onto my DC's and not being 'protective' enough about them.

if he hasnt been feeding well then yes.

they will give him a good look-over. my gp doesnt mind seeing little babies for minor illnesses as babies can de-hydrate quickly

No, they won't be able to do anything, it's just something you'll have to sit out, unless obviously he develops a high temp. My DS3 has had a cough and cold for 5 weeks, the doctor says it's just a virus and will go in time.

I'm certainly hoping so, but we've just had 2 nights of earache and a day off school yesterday, and he's still asleep now. I'm sure if I take him to Dr they'll say leave it so I'm waiting until he wakes to see how things are.

It is hard when they are unwell, but they're tougher than you think!

X post with Misdee - go with your own judgement, if you're not happy then go, if only for reassurance (although it does depend on if you have a cooperative GP). Do you still have contact with a health visitor - they might help....

tbh i wouldnt go to the doctor for a cold/cough - its unlikely the doctor can do anything, they wont give out antibs unless has a chest infection, and even then they prefr not to for under 6mths

but if you are worried then make an appoinment - best to put your mind at rest

I wouldn't, but most people I know in RL would.

Oh yes 100% - to have a listen to the chest and to be looked over for something you might miss in such a tiny baby

No, if the cough isn't going after a week or so then I'd go, but at this stage there's nothing they can do.

i seem to remember posting something v similar when dd2 was tiny ceebee. someone told me tales of bronchiolitis (sp?) and hospital admissions and i took her to the doc to be on the safe side. she was fine, but i'm glad i had her checked out.

I wasn't sure whether to or not when dd was 4 weeks old, then I did (it was just before Xmas, thought it best to be safe) and she had bronchiolitis and needed hospitalization the next day...am very glad I played safe, though of course your odds of it being just a cold are far, far higher

And 4 months is already a lot safer than 4 weeks. Even so, GPs never never mind seeing small babies 'just in case' - they'd rather, IME.

ps in other words, 'when things are serious' is something I'm not always qualified to judge, iyswim, though I do think instincts count for lots!

If you are worried then take him. Explain honestly your worries to the GP and let them check him over. They will then be able to show you what to worry about and what not to worry about and make it easier for next time.

We don't mind