Croup?

[sh10]

DS has a cold and since he woke up from his nap he has a little bark in his cough/cry. I read that it's worse at night, so I'm wondering if I should take him to the pedi now? Is there anything they can do? I was going to take a shower and let him breathe in the steam.

He was a 35 weeker, no breathing issues at birth. He's 11 months now.

[whattheheck]

They can prescribe steroids. But if you give the steroids, be prepared for the Baby 'Roid Rage that will follow.

[ShaysMomma]

My DS is a regular crouper - he is two now and we have at least a handful of croup boughts a year. Our ped is kind and gives us an extra dose or two of the steroid which always clears it up in 1-2 days. The steamy shower than into fresh air step helps as well as using a humidifier at night. I definitely recommend getting into the ped's today so you can all get some decent sleep tonight. Good luck and sending get well wishes!

[zarapipe]

We got steroids. I'm not sure if it helped or not, but eventually went away. It sucks to hear the cough. Poor little babe.

[egishere]

Ditto on the steroids...they really help along with the steamy bathroom and then breathing in colder air. My triplets had it all in Dec one by one-good times!

[sh10]

The bad cough seemed to go away after he was awake for 20 minutes. My best friend was on the phone with me and said it didn't sound bad and she's a NICU nurse and very nervous, so I'm holding off until after his next nap. Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your help.

[CloudBee]

DS has had it twice, maybe three times?

One episode was memorable, as he barked even when not crying or breathing heavily. They dosed him with steroids in the office and it helped within hours. I think we were also sent home with a prescription of some sort. He was shaken up by the experience.

A month or two ago he woke up form a nap with a mild bark, and we brought him in, but they did not do steroids. It may have been a long weekend? But after a few days he improved. I was out of work and he was home with me. Worked out well.

I think there was one other time that he barked a bit, but I don't remember if it was paired with another illness or if it resolved on our own. He was sick a TON his first 16 or so months of life.

[blandann]

Our doc just had us wait it out. She was miserable for about a week.

[winemaker06]

Our pediatrician just had us watch for actual stridor, and do the usual humidifier and cold air things. I asked about steroids and she said that's only for severe cases.

Sorry you're dealing with this it comes back occasionally, with varying degrees of severity. The bad nights are bad for everyone because I'm listening to every cough for any problems, but DS doesn't seem to mind it that much!

[scribellesam]

DS1 has had it a couple times; you want to watch out for stridor at rest; meaning, difficulty breathing (with retraction) when baby is not crying. That's when the pedi had us bring him in for steroids/possible breathing treatments.

[humpforfree]

sh10 we had that a couple of weeks ago. The first night was scary. After that night it was annoying and I felt bad for him, but not as scary. We inclined his mattress and turned in the humidifier. I also took him outside a bunch that first night.