My 17mnth old son, has been sick now for over a week. I don't know exactly what he has, because we don't have insurance and cannot afford to take him to the dr.(my fiance lost his job), I really don't think it is anything serious. But I'm wondering if there is anything that you all do with your children when they are sick, that I haven't thought of yet. He doesn't have a fever or anything, just a runny nose(it's clear) and alot of congestion.
I have a Vick's vapor machine in his room, we use that all night and at naptime. I give him Tylenol Cold and Plus. We suck his nose out(he hates it). I put baby Vicks on his chest. We've given him alot of OJ and Cran/Grape juice, to help flush it out. .
If there's anything that you do that I haven't thought of I would appreciate the advice.
I don't know how many that posted, will read this, but I figured I'd let you know what has happened. I've figured out that there are a few causes for his symptoms. Yes he is teething, he's never had any symptoms like this before, just always cranky, but it could add to what's going on. He does have allergies to furry friends(ie PAWPAW's DOG!!!), anytime he goes around the dogs, he gets a runny nose, puffy eyes, and sneezes alot. I realized after a few days, that the clothes that I'd been putting on him recently, all were bought, washed and folded by my father, at his home. And after inspecting them, found some dog hair on the inside of some of the clothing...but I also believe that he is sick. He was around another child, who I was told was teething, and had a runny nose and cough, and the next day my son had the same thing, the day after so did I! lol I still am sick, but not as bad as the baby. I took alot of the advice you gave and wrote it down and will try some of these, thank you.
I second the Vicks vapor rub on the feet with socks. My daughter was so congested, she couldn't cough it out, and would try and throw up. As soon as I did the socks, she was fine and coughing it out. I did it for 2 days, and after those 2 days, she felt great! Good luck :)
Dear J.:
My 16 month old daughter seems to have the same thing.
My doctor always says not to suck the mucous out of a baby's nose.
What works for me is to take my daughter into the shower with me. The steam from the shower (not a really hot shower at all) helps to loosen and release the mucous and then I just wash off her nose, or wipe it gently with my hand.
Good luck!
C.
Does he have any swelling in his upper gums? If he does then the runny nose could be because he is teething, or getting ready to. It could also be allergies, but he is too young for doctors to tell you what to. With both of these, you are doing all that you can for him.
Some natural alternatives that I have used with my daughter are grapefruit seed extract or baby dophilus. Grapefruit seed extract is a natural anti viral and anti bacterial. I gave her a few drops a day. It tastes really gross, so I dropped a couple drops in her mouth then gave her a drink after. If you put it in the drink, he probably won't drink it. Baby dophilis is good bacteria, like what is in yogurt.
Hi J.
My son has reactive airways and my daughter is just getting over the RSV virus. That said, I have a lot of exxperience with chest congestion. Typically, I use a vaporizer to break up the congestion, but most people do not have those lying around. If you know anyone with one, borrow it. Mix 1 tlbs water with 1/8 tsp. salt. Put half of mixture in tube and blow it in his face. Also, you can help break up the congestion with your hand. Cup your hand,forming a hollow C. Beat on his back for around 3-5 minutes with your hand in this position. It should make a hollow noise instead of a slapping noise. This will help dislodge mucus. Best wishes
I'm sorry for your unfortunate situation. Depending on his symptoms, it may be a nasty cold or it be something that needs attention. You are most likely eligible to go to a free clinic. It's not convenient and the wait may be long but you will see a qualified doctor to diagnose your son. Nighttime coughing is the sound of mucus going into your son's chest, either lungs or stomach, or both. An ear infection can result from backed up mucus---my daughter never runs a fever with those and doesn't complain so it's possible he may have one. Really barky coughing is a sign of whopping cough and if he hasn't received an immunization for that, it can be dangerous. Always error on the side of caution with your child, go to the free clinic or at least call a nurse.
the Vicks is great and does help ease coughing but it is a symptom blocker, not a cure
PLEASE don't give the Tylenol Cold and Plus, your baby could DIE! Please - call the pediatrician you had or anyone and they will tell you. They just took all the infant stuff off the market because it's been linked to deaths and they've found it doesn't really help them that much anyway.
Put him to sleep in his car seat after a bath in VAPOR bath. You could buy the Pedia Care Vapor Plug-ins also (I've found that those help). Rub baby vicks on his chest and back. Then, wait out the cold. My 15 month old girl had one for 2 weeks. We kept taking her to the Dr.s and they just kept telling us that it was a cold that needed to run it's course.
Now - if he tugs at his ears or can't lay down flat for more than a few minutes at a time and screams - he may have an ear infection from the fluid build up.
Good luck.
Hi
If your son has a cold it will take anywhere to 7-10 days for it to clear up. It sounds like you have already tried everything to make the child comfortable. Have you talked to the pharmacy at CVS or Kirby's to see what they might recommend over the counter. I don't know what you finanical situation is but call the Union County Health Department and see if they can help you. Your child may also qualify for medicaid since there is no financial resource at this time. A lot of people balk at getting on Medicaid, but it is a resource to think about using to get you through the rough time until your partner can find work. You may also qualify for WIC and food stamps. I hope that some of these suggestions will help you get medical care for you son.
I agree with the other moms who said to please stop giving your child the Tylenol Cold or any other "infant" cold medication. It really is dangerous. It's very easy to overdose on Tylenol because people see it as being harmless and because it's an added ingredient in so many of the multi-symptom drugs on the market. You give a dose of the cold, plus a dose of reg. tylenol and next thing you know you've overdosed your child. You want him to get better, not worse.
There is no proof that those work at all on young children. If he'll drink some chicken broth, that's better than juice. It's got some saltiness in it that helps to hydrate him instead of the sugar in the juices that cause more mucous. Either broth, or water is the best option. If he doesn't like plain water, I would add about 20% crystal light for flavor without the added sugar.
Really, as long as he can eat, drink and use the bathroom you will just have to wait it out. But don't let a lack of money cause you to forgo your son's health. If he gets bad, take him in anyway. Better safe than sorry.
The saline nose drops work best in children his age. They're harmless.
I suggest giving him Vitamin C that you can get at a health food store. 1/2 T in applesauce should help build his immunity. I've been giving it to my son 22 months for the past few months and it has be a charm helping him to avoid colds. I wouldn't take chances with the ongoing congestion. My little guy got pnuemonia back in May and was hospitalized - perhaps you can find a free/low cost clinic in your area that will help children. Call your local hospital and see if they can refer you somewhere.
J.,
I don't know if your child has the same thing that my daughter just got over. She had it for 10 days. I took her to the Doctor and they said it is going around and it's viral so you just have to let it run it corse. They did give her Zythromax (which did nothing) for 5 days I took her back in to the Doctor I preferr and he gave her another prescription to help her out.
She had congestion, runny nose. sore throat and her ears were red. They said that is the reason they gave her the meds. was for her ears. If you are not able to take your child to the Doctor you can always take them to the Health Clinic at least hopefully to get your child checked to make sure everything is OK. Even though they don't run a fever sometimes that's not always such a good thing. A fever helps fight the infection.
I personally wouldn't give him over the counter medicine because of his age. I would take him to the health clinic and let them help you. Continue to give him OJ and plenty of water you want to keep him hydrated. Keep looking for wet diapers very important.
I hope this helps and good luck.
R. J.
If you put Vicks on his feet and then put socks on him, it will clear his congestion very quickly. It's not an old wives tale. Works for adults, too. Good luck and good health!
J.,
He may have ear infection. The runny nose can cause it! You can take him to any emergency room and wait to be seen by a doctor. By law ER doctor will see and treat your child without insurance! If you live in Florida the state provides free or discount health insurance for children. Call Florida KidCare 1-888-540-5437. Good luck!
Place a pillow under his mattress so his bed is tilted. That way his head is higher than his chest and will help relieve the stuffiness you get from laying flat at night when congested. If you place the pillow on top of the mattress under his head he may just roll off and you're back to square one. They move around sooo much!
Check with your Dr's office on what a visit is without insurance. There is a cold bug going around that turns into a serious respiratory infection. One death has been linked to it which isn't much in the bigger picture but does point out that this bug is not one to be messed with. I was just at my Dr's office on an unrelated issue and she warned me about it. They are seeing alot of sick children. I don't think I would take chances with a precious 17 mo old who doesn't have a matter immune system yet.
I hope things improve!
I just wanted to throw this out there. Your pediatrician might not be as expensive as you think. We were without insurance for a couple of months and my daughter had an earache. I called and they said the office visit was $65. So I knew we could swing that. Once there I found out that she had swimmers ear and an inner ear infection. I let the ped. know we were currently without insurance so he could make it cheap. The amoxicillin and eardrops were $40 or $45. He also told me I could call around and find out who was cheaper. He said Publix was usually a good place. Walmart was closest so that's where I went. So IF you do end up needing him to go, it might not be as bad as you think. I thought it was going to be much more expensive.
I agree, it sounds like a cold. We were all sick around Thanksgiving and it all seemed to last soooooooo long. None of us went to the doctor and we eventually got over it. We also used Saline nosespray on the kids and that seemed to help too.
L.
I'm sorry to hear about your son. It stinks when your little is sick. I don't have any suggestions really regarding his health per se, but I wanted to suggest that you try applying to HealthyKids for medical insurance coverage. I don't know if they will be able to help or if you will qualify but it is a great program if you can get in it. Here's the link:
https://www.healthykids.org/apply/
Take care and good luck,
R. P
I highly reccommend Hyland's C-Plus Tablets. They are homeopathic and allow your child's body to heal itself rather than masking the symptom's. Well wishes.
You need to take your little one to the health department if you do not have any money for a Dr.
Seminole County Health Department
400 W Airport Blvd
Sanford, FL 32773
Phone: ###-###-####
Or
-------------------------------------------------------
Here is the phone number for the healthy kids insurance for the State of Florida
1-888-540-KIDS (1-888-540-5437).
I hope that your little one gets better soon.
There is alot of pollen in the air now and he probably is allergic. You are doing the right thing by trying to keep him "dry" You can ask your pharm drug store consultant, tell them your child's age and weight, and maybe a children's claritin may work. Plenty of water helps too!
Use anything that will build the immune system, like a homeopathic medicine, herbs, vitamins, nutrition. Tylenol Cold and Plus just suppresses the symptoms and drives his immune system down.
Try your local library for simple books to teach yourself about holistic health for your family. You can do it!! Not sure where you live, but most places have peds or MD's or naturopaths that can diagnose and tell you which direction to begin to bring up your son's immune system
from a Licensed Midwife
Runny nose normally last a long time with young children. My children are in daycare and they always have runny noses. If his only symptom is a runny nose then don't give him cold medicine, use a vapor bath and their is a infant vapor rub that works great. The problem he might have is with all of that congestion he migt have swollen lungs. My daughters get that all of the time when they are congested. As soon as they get a cough or runny nose we have to use a nebulizer to clear them up. I went a period without insurance too so I understand your situation and how expensive things cost. The problem is he could have a swollen chest from all of the congestion and it could be serious without medication. Risking your child's health because of money isn't worth it. My pediatrician only costs $40 for a regular visit without insurance. When I didn't have insurance I still was going regularly becuase my youngest had ear infections and my oldest was sick as well. My pediatrician gave me a lot of the medicine in samples or prescriped an antibiotic you can get free at Publix. Call your pediatrican let them know your situation of no insurance if they are good they will have samples and can lend you a nebulizer. My best advice is please see a pediatrician and make them aware of your situation they will work with you. I got most of my medicine as samples adn it really helped.
hi J.
First of all I am so sorry to hear that you have a lil one that is sick, that sucks! If you have ever taken your lil one to the Dr. before for something like this what have they done? Probably nothing or given antibiotics, right? well the doctors are so over prescribing antibiotics these days. I think that they (the drugs) make you feel better than anyone else. It sounds like you are doing everything right, and everything a Dr would tell you to do. They have shampoo made for lil ones that you can use in the tub (bubble bath) that smells like vics vapor rub. Its nice, and sometimes I use it. Its made my johnson and johnson and its in the baby isle. try it and good luck! You are doing great!
J.
This person's response it absolutley true, "From: RHONDA P Date: Thu. Dec. 13, 2007
I'm sorry to hear about your son. It stinks when your little is sick. I don't have any suggestions really regarding his health per se, but I wanted to suggest that you try applying to HealthyKids for medical insurance coverage. I don't know if they will be able to help or if you will qualify but it is a great program if you can get in it. Here's the link:
https://www.healthykids.org/apply/ '
I am a stay at home mom of two, but my husband works. He makes under $35,000 a year, and we are still eligible for Gov. Assistance through HealthyKids. I pay $15.00 a month for Both kids and they see their regular pediatrician, meaning they dont go to the health department.
Please look into this.
Em
i see by your profile that you live in sanford. i live in brevard county/cocoa and over here everyone close to the ocean has been affected by the 'red tide' which is an algae bloom that causes cold-like symptoms (runny nose, watery itchy eyes, coughing etc...) if you had come over to the coast, maybe he may have picked up something...
OTHERWISE, we could just be teething, or if he is playing and acting fine, then i would not worry. as for the juice, water is the best. the sugar may be making him more flemmy.
i have also heard of a 'remedy' by rubbing vicks on the feet before nighttime and putting on socks. supposed to draw out the germs or something...
ALSO, if you are breastfeeding, put a few milk drops in his nose-breastmilk has super immune properties...it IS curing cancer ;o)
my 2 little ones have allergies. if the runny nose stays clear he could be allergic to something. when it starts to turn green you know you have a cold. and what ever people may think i had to give my children a nasal decongestant (even before they were 2 yrs old) per doctors request because the congestion was getting so bad. i go behind the counter and get the good stuff(sudafed). the new formula(phenylephrine) just dont work as good. even though you dont have insurance you can call your doctors office and have the nurse call the house, maybe they can give you some advice. i hope your little one gets better. everyone i know is getting sick and i'm trying my best to keep them away from my kids. if the allergies arent bad enough as it is to add a cold to that is horrible. my four yr old is taking claritin and prescription singulair at the same time. i hate dosing him up. but i feel i have to make him more comfortable. he actually will ask for medicine because he's so miserable. good luck. and again i hope yours gets better soon, seems like your doing all you can.
hi i dont know what city you live in but in lakeland theres a place for people who are able to get free medical help. its called lakeland volunteers in medicine. for short its lvim. and all you have to do is call them and make an appt to be screened. and then go in and see any dr you want for free and there medicine is free. and your are able to get free physiclas and free eyes and ears check up . and also theres a polk health plan that you can sighn up for to so you can see any specialets you want for free. the number to lvim is###-###-#### and the number to polk health care is 1-888-742-2622. i hope this helps and sorry i havent been on in a long long time. hope your child is doing better.
it is not unusual for things like this to stick around for weeks. I swear, one time my son seemed to be sick for a whole month! Therefore, i would stop the tylenol, it really doesn't do anything. Make sure when you are using the vicks, or any waterless vaporizor that you give him good ventalation in the room. Don't completely close him in with it, that isn't good for anyone! I really like the shower soothers from Sudicare. You put one in the tub and have the shower run over it and create a steam room. We do this and bring toys into the bathroom and play for as long as he will stay there and it really helps. Just remember to wash the tub out really well before you bathe him again. I know it is frustrating, but hang in there. No medication is good to be taken for long periods of time.
MY son is 2 1/2 and he had that on and off for what felt like forever. the doctor told me to give him mucinex for children. It worked so well and they also have one for cought and cold as well. When i didn't have any insurance i would call the pharmist, he was always right. my doctor would tell us what to do and it was exacly what the pharmistist said. I know that they are not doctors but they know alot about medicines, just be as honest with the symptoms as you can. good luck.
Kimmy
J.,
I dont have any ideas on how to kick it, however I too have had this horrible cold, lucky for me Im older and can deal with it better than your child. I myself would not take any chances, I know it is HARD with no insurance, I am with you on that. I am going to give you my email, send me a message and I will give you a name of a doctor who seems VERY good and works with you on $$. ____@____.com Good luck N..
My 9 month old has the exact same symptoms. I brought her to the doctor on Monday and these were their suggestions.
First, they told me NOT to use cold medicines...even Tylenol Cold. Only give infant tylenol (without any extra's in it) (.8mg) if she is fussy and seems uncomfortable.
They said they really discourage Vicks products, but Johnsons makes a really good vapor rub.
She said to get "Little Noses" its saline drops. She said do 1 to 2 drops in each nose no more than two or three times a day. Then suction the nose.
They also print out a newsletter each month and the advice was to give warm water or water with a teaspoon of honey in it. No juice. That provides extra mucus.
Hope this helps. My daughter kicked the cold after two days of this and now is down to a cough.
I don't have a personbal story to share, just that I received an email just yesterday from a girlfriend about using Vick's rub on your feet & then putting socks on (just before bedtime). Supposedly your feet absorb oils rapidly, so this is supposed to help with coughing/congestion, etc & help them get some better sleep. I hope this helps...since you are already using it, it's worth a try!
my 17 month old had the same symptoms last month. It seemed like forever for him to get over it. Johnson's has a bubble bath that has menthol vapors but is no tears. I used that every night and filled the bathroom with steam so it helped loosen the congestion. Then let him play for as long as he wants. Get some qtips and clean out his nose with the qtips.Best of luck! Jen
PS - I took my boy to the dr and they said there wasn't anything they could really do unless he started to get an infection. so just watch for fever and green nastiness. I was sick with the same thing for more than a week and turned down antibiotics from my ob. I got better without it, but watch your baby to make sure it doesn't get really bad.
The cold medicine you are giving him has been recalled. Also, i just went through this and it lasted for about 3 weeks. My dr. said my boys could have gotton over it then got it again. She also said that my humidifier might be making it worse so I stopped that and all cold medicine, let them rest more and they were over it in a few days.
It sounds like a cold and it will probably take about two weeks before it starts to clear up. I know it seems like an eternity. Colds are going around so more than like that is it. My doctor always recommends a cool mist humidifier not warm mist. Not sure if your machine does cool or not, but if it's warm I would switch to a cool one. I have read and heard from my doctor that the cold medicines really don't work and it's best to just let the cold run it's course. So I don't bother with cold medicines anymore. Only fever reducers if the kids get fevers 101 or higher. The best thing for him to drink is water, they always tell me juice makes it worse. Not sure if it's so, but you could research it to see. I would also check on the internet to see if you could give your son vitamin C (although OJ should do that :). My chiropractor said there is a liquid vitamin C now that is VERY effective and the kids don't mind it. Try not to worry, if his discharge is clear that's a good thing and no fever is a good thing. I would give it at least another week before worrying too much. Good luck!
