8 Month Old Sick for over 10 Days

There is a nasty cold that has been going around. It lasted over 3 weeks for both me and my 3 year old. We never took any antibiotics and it very slowly went away.

I guess the only thing that has me a little concerned is that your baby doesn't have a fever or ear infections and "seems to be fine", so the antibiotic is a little puzzling.

You could hold onto the presciption and try and wait another week to see if it clears up on its own, but maybe check with the dr. and make sure he didn't prescribe for a reason that you are unaware of. And if it's not better in another week you could always use the prescription.

I'm with you, I don't like using that stuff unless it's totally necessary. So, just double check.

I also used a vaporizer and some liquid Vicks at night. That helped with the congestion.

I hope he feels better soon.

Do allergies run in your family? Even if they don't, your son may have them. I thought my daughter was sick. She was sneezing, had a runny nose, and was coughing every so often, but she didn't seem that bad - only that it lasted for a few weeks. Turned out she had allergies.

I would seriously consider what you see/know of your son. Do you think he is sick enough to need antibiotics? Sometimes M.'s instincts really are best. Maybe fill the prescription but wait a few days to see how he does? Antibiotics can be really hard on little tummies.

If you DO decide to give antibiotics, watch for personality "changes" in your child. The one time I had to give my daughter antibiotics (she is 5) she was miserable, cranky, had no appetite, and was very tired - for the entire two weeks she had to take them. Make sure your child eats/nurses each time he takes the antibiotics to help with stomach upset (unless it specifically says to not take it with food.)

It sounds like allergies or a sinus infection. My daughter had bad allergies and would have mild-severe congestion for weeks at a time, but she didn't act sick at all. We figured out it was allergies. One time they prescribed antiobiotics for a sinus infection, because her runny nose wouldn't stop and it cleared it up quickly. I think the medicine they don't recommend giving babies is over the counter cold & cough medicine. If it is allergies, the best thing you can do is buy a portable air purifier and run it 24 hours in your babies room. This is the advice that was given to me and since buying it my daughter has not had a runny nose or cough and that was 4-5 months ago. Before that she had allergy symptoms over 50% of the time.

I know that the prospect of giving your baby an antibiotic is scary, and ultimatly it is up to you. But, the doctor gave it to him for reason, most doctors don't just give those out automatically. If your baby has been sick for 10 days he probably has some kind of infection that will only go away with antibiotics.

When my oldest son was 18months he got sick (this was before I knew he had asthma) and along with the albuteral he was prescribed a steriod which scared me to death and I didn't want to give it to him at such a young age. So I didn't fill it and about a week later we were in the doctors office again and his lungs were worse. I did the same thing with an ear infection and we were back in the office a short time later for stronger meds.

You know your doctor...is he/she the kind that hands out antibiotics like candy? You could always get a second opinion...wouldn't hurt! Good luck and I hope your little one is better soon!