My 7th month old daughter has the flu. I noticed she wasn't feeling well on Friday when I picked her up from daycare. She was officially diagnosed on Saturday and for 2 days I gave her motrin/tylenol every 4 or 5 hours to keep the fever down. The motrin and tylenol seem to have controlled the fever pretty well because she didn't have fever yesterday at all. However, she still has a horrible cough and a runny nose and definitely isn't herself. How long does it generally take infants to recover? Does anyone have any suggestions about what I can do to help her get over this?
Thanks so much for all the responses. They really helped....I gave her the pedialyte and put Vicks at the bottom of her feet and kept using the tylenol/motrin and she is now much better. She still has the cough, but she seems to be back to normal other than that. However, I'll definitely try the corn syrup. Thanks for your help!
Hi H.,
I would give it till maybe Wednesday , then take her back to the Doctor. Everyone I know has been sick it seems like. My daughter is 31/2 and was running fever, but no cough. The doctor gave her an antibiotic, and she was fine as soon as the medicine had kicked in. Good Luck!
My 2 year old was diagnosed last Monday morning ( a week ago) with the flu. She still has the cough, but it's getting better. She was down for about 4 days...her fever wouldn't go below 100. Just keep an ear out for noise in her lungs when she breaths... that could be a sign of yet another infection or pneumonia. With the runny nose, it can move into her lungs. Definitely follow the doctors instructions, but also follow your gut instinct. If you think something else is wrong, take her in.... better to be safe than sorry!
My 14 yr old son had what started as the flu at 8 months, we couldn't keep the fever down as you've been able to, and tried for four days, but he ended up being hospitalized as it jumped to 103 on the 4th day. Even after being hospitalized, he continued to get worse, and ended up with pneumonia and being in the hospital for 5 days. Once he was well enough to go home, it still took him almost two weeks before he was back to himself. I don't mean to scare you...It just seems when they are younger like that, their little bodies can't tolerate it as well. He's had the flu since, and recovers within days, even at two he recovered much faster than that time as an infant. Just keep a very close eye on that fever...
Sorry your little one isn't feeling well! Try Vicks Vaporub on the bottoms of the feet and then put socks on while your baby sleeps, that will ease the cough!
Our pedi recommended a tsp of corn syrup when the cough got bad, and it really seemed to work. She did have the cough for a few weeks just FYI.
I put vicks on the bottom of my kids feet at night and they sleep better at night and it seems to help the cough.
J. P.
of course, follow the doctor's instructions and keep her well hydrated... with that said....: avoid milk products for a few days. can she do soy formula? milk gives more phlem. don't use spray air fresheners and air out the house. chemicals in air fresheners/candles can irritate the lung/sinus tissue and make it worse.
I highly recommend this book: smart medicine for a healthier child. you can also get it at whole foods & @ sprouts.
here is the amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Medicine-Healthier-Child-Jane...
"Written by a natural-medicine practitioner, a traditionally licensed doctor, and a pediatric nurse, Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child presents an integrated approach to children's health care that allows a parent to do just that. This excellent reference applies a full spectrum of responses to common childhood health problems: conventional medical treatments, dietary guidelines, nutritional supplements, herbal treatments, homeopathy, and acupressure; for each ailment, general recommendations and preventive measures are also offered."
Good luck!
C.
H., my granddaughter is only 8 weeks old but we have been keeping her hydrated with Pedialite. When her mother, my daughter was about a month to two months old she was ill with the flu and that is when I learned about the rotating of ibuprophin and acetimeniphen to keep the fever down but my doctor recommended the Pedialite. It really works and they make Pedialite Popsickles (sp) now too. Good luck and hang in there.
