5yo with croup with 6 week old at home, what do I do?!

[LynAsh]

Just as the subject says…
my 5yo has had onset of croup tonight and we have our 6 week old at home - Do I make efforts to separate. I can become really irrational with respiratory illnesses as my boy was in and out of hospice since 10 months up until 3 with bronchitis and the rest.

Any reassurances / guidance?
thanks!

I mean I'd try and avoid them being too close but there's only so much you can do really.

Fwiw we caught swine flu when our kids were similar ages - I worried so much about the baby but actually she fared it better than us all!

Thanks @thaegumathteth.

Would it be wise to potentially take myself and my 6wo daughter to my parents for a few nights? Or am I being over dramatic?

Really trying to think what’s for the best.

Equally paranoid as same issues with my 3 year old (lost count re number of admissions!), and my 7 month old seems to have similar issues as he’s already been hospitalised with RSV and had bronchiolitis two more times since!

I always try and keep them apart when the older one is unwell. It’s near impossible when we all live together and he’s only 3 so doesn’t quite get germs, but I keep them apart as much as possible. I also wash hands before I touch baby if I’ve been with toddler.

Being completely honest, I’ve never managed to avoid the baby catching whatever the toddler has, but I do try.

That would be wise. It is possible that she has already caught the virus, but no harm whatsoever in being cautious.

Ooooh @WednesdayWeWearPink sorry to hear that… I’m really hoping she doesn’t follow suit to my son but I’m under the impression these things tend to. I knew I’d hit these dilemmas but I was hoping not so young 😫 Feel like it’s a form of PTSD with how irrational I become when dealing with these things.

I think I’ll try the parents and see how we fair with that - Though @thaegumathteth i am thinking she likely could have contracted and is in the ‘incubation period’, really really hoping not though.

I didn’t expect DS2 to have similar issues at all. My biggest fear was DS1 having an episode and needing to be admitted whilst we have a newborn. Never in a million years did I expect DS2 to get unwell, so that took us by surprise. But apparently it is common for siblings to have the same issue.

I agree with the PTSD comment. The first episode with DS1 definitely left lasting damage for me, and then again with DS2. You then become so paranoid at the first sign of a runny nose and worry when you see another child with a runny nose or coughing. It’s tough OP. Whilst your daughter may have already caught it, she might not have so no harm in staying away (unless your parents are vulnerable and they’re at risk of catching it).

Oooh @WednesdayWeWearPink i feel you… Since having children, I’m in a whole world of health anxiety. That’s all part of it I guess but man they keep you on your wooped sleep deprived toes! 🤣

We are at my mums (not vulnerable thank goodness) and despite it giving me
somewhat some comfort we are doing something to prevent, she has been SO unsettled and I’m assuming that’s down to the environment and different smells.
Look forward to being an utter zombie whilst ‘solo’ parenting the next few days 🙌🏼
(Will not be pulling my poor mother in on the nights but I have had some marvellous cooked meals! So there’s a bonus 🤗)

Aww sorry to hear that. I would say it's virtually impossible to stop family catching these things. Different with a small baby though so not surprised you're worried. Hope your older one feels better soon. We've found sometimes half of our family will get something and the other half seem immune, despite loads of physical contact where you'd think they would defo pass on the germs!

No way should you do this. Your poor little boy is poorly and needs his mum.

@HcbSS Appreciate your opinion but I’ve been through absolute agony watching my little boy struggle with his breathing since he was 10mo with every virus he caught, have been sent straight to resuss for assessments, ‘just in case’ things went south on occasions and have read many beyond agonising accounts where situations have turned unimaginable from such things in tiny babies and even older… Etc.

My little boy knows he is loved beyond words and it was explained the reasons why our 6 week old (had she been older I would have pushed through) had to be kept away for a couple of days. He had his daddy and was made a huge fuss of and this morning we are home and I stayed in his bed and gave him all the cuddles I wish I could have over the last few days. We have to make decisions at times and I’d much rather been away a couple of days with a healthy baby than admitted into hospital with a sick one and away for potentially longer.

@Motherrr Thank you :) He is much better and just the lasting cough but hopefully not contagious at this point and you are right, my husband seems to have escaped the lurg and we are back home and hoping to remain clear!
It’s just how young she is, pops the fear.