Toddler with Croup

[mishmased]

How do you get through the night? She's coughing on and off. I have hot water with vicks, tilted her mattress slightly, given paracetamol, vicks on chest. Not sure what else to do. Childminder texted this evening to say she suspects croup. What else can I do tonight to help her get through tonight? She is 20 months old. Thanks

Depending on how bad it is she might need to get steroids. If her breathing is particularly difficult then I think I’d call 111.

We always use a humidifier. Calpol do a vapour plug in that helps too. Definitely watch for signs of respiratory distress and call 111 if worried. We tend to camp out together with things like croup as we get more sleep than if we're keep getting up and down all night.

Ugh croup is nasty. We used to end up sat with them upright on us in a steamy bathroom, they’d be asleep then breathing ok. Lying down was a no-no at night when it got to that stage. Then GP the next day who’d prescribe a stat dose of predisolone which did the trick. Then they just needed rest.

Croup is a grim old business. Exhausting for them and you. Hugs.

This.

Also when my son used to get croup, cold outdoor air helped somewhat. I'd bundle him up and take him to the yard where I would just carry him around for a while. But sometimes only steroids helped.

Steroids. DC3 has had it twice, it's awful. She also 'slept' propped up.

Open the window and get some cold air in, that really helps. If you have a humidifier put that on.
The window open should help though good luck

Thanks for all the suggestions. We have the Calpol plug in and I will open a window. We're in Ireland and have out of hours doctor but very difficult to get anyone on the phone at night. I will take her to the walk in doctor in the morning. Hopefully she doesn't get worse.

Oh if you’re in Ireland then call south doc (or the equivalant in your area) and get them to get a prescription for steroids over the phone if you can to late night pharmacy. We’ve had croup in both the UK and home and above is what we did with it at Christmas. I had her cough down the phone and for most docs the ‘seal bark’ cough is enough for them to agree that it’s croup.

Any sign of stridor, drooling or unable
To sip water is an and e job for dexomethosane, a steroid. If not if sounds nasty, comfort them and ride it out.

Dts had spasmodic croup several time a year until they were 7.

Oh and then the hearing off even it's cold where you are.

We've been to paeds A&E with DC3 before for croup. They said cold air helps, so when he gets it now we go outside for a bit & it's really helped regulate the breathing & is able to get back to sleep (I sleep in his room when he's like this).

I don't think steam is recommended anymore, according to consultant when we last went.

Yeah steam isn't advised nowadays. Cold fresh air helps. I've had nights wrapped up in a blanket sat under the window with it wide open. My youngest is very prone to croup and we have got an inhaler for him now for if it gets bad. We also use a humidifier whenever he has a cough.

Thanks everyone, we had the windows slightly opened and she slept well, just waking up and randomly crying and back to sleep again. We've been to the doctor today (yesterday eve) and she's been prescribed prednisolone for 4 days.
@Ballygowenwater yeah Southdoc is our oo hours but it is very hard to get them on the phone.
Thanks so much for all your replies, it helped us get through a difficult night 🙏

Out of our 4 our twins had it and the warm air aggravated it they were so much easier breathing with cooler air