advice needed - can we travel?

[fififlores]

I really need some advice. We´re supposed to be flying home to the UK for Christmas (2.5 hours), but DS (15 months) not well so delayed it from today to Saturday. His temperature has been up and down for 4 days (highest 39, but well below that for last 2 days) and he´s vomited quite a few meals, either partly or completely (except breakfast, which he refuses point blank, although always has his bottle).

No diarrhoea at any point, but teething (molars), v mucusy, runny nose and persistent cough. My husband reckons there´s no way we can fly on Saturday, which means missing Christmas with my (elderly) parents. We´re giving him cough expectorant and nose drops, removing snot and also putting him in steamy bathroom to help get snot out.

What do you think - should/could we go on Saturday? Or am I a terrible mother for putting my hearfelt desire to spend the festive season with my nearest and dearest above my child´s welfare?

Telephone your airline and check with them- generally if you get a letter from your doctor saying that he is teething then he should be okay to travel but it is entirely up to the airline.

It sounds like he has got a cold mixed with teething- check with your doctor and keep your fingers crossed!

No I dont think your a terrible mother for wanting to come home for Christmas, you are human!

Sounds like your baby really needs to be checked by a Dr to see how congested he is. If his eustation tubes are blocked the ascent and decent will be very painful as he can't equalise and you can run the risk of perforating an eardrum.
Sounds like you are doing all the right things but he may benefit from something to "dry" him up which probably the expectorant doesn't contain.
Breast feeding or a bottle will help the ear situation on take off and landing.
Good luck...having been in a similar situation I really sympathise! Tilba x

You can get motilium suppositories prescribed for children against vomiting, maybe ask your doctor?

Because his temperature is no longer at his highest, he is probably getting better, and I think you will probably be able to go on saturday.

thanks guys, he´s already been to the doc twice this week - she prescribed the drops etc - and she said he has catarrh. she said he´d be fine to fly, it´s my DH who´s against it. obviously i don´t want to insist, then if the baby has a terrible journey, or gets worse when we arrive, i´ll be an evil selfish witch mother from hell.

i finally got some useful, practical info from doc today - it seems that with a very phlegmy child, you shouldn´t give them any liquid, or soft food. I was giving him veg puree, which was why he was vomming. They need dry food, like toast and biscuits. not a very nutritious diet, but a bit of fibre and carbs anyway.

are you still flying tomorrow?

yes - hurrah!!!!! - no fever since yesterday, just had his dinner and didn´t puke at all (though still coughing) so very relieved all round!!!! happy christmas!!!

Happy Christmas too and good flights!