Information

[Smiley-Scrap8]

Does anyone on right now have experience with a child having croup??

I think my ds does and he is scaring me a little. Dh is out of town and I just want some advice.

He's had a cold for about 3 weeks, but not bad, a little runny/stuffy nose and a cough. Which is normal around here because both kids has mild asthma. But today is cough changed from what I'm used to. I have a neb. for asthma but this no longer sounds like a wheezy asthma cough. It's more like a seal bark. Looked into croup online and that's what it sounds like, he woke up about 2 hours ago really bad, almost not being able to take in a breath. I managed to calm him down and quiet the cough. But I'm afraid he will wake up and it will happen again.

Anyone have any good helpful tips to get us through the night so I can make an appointment first thing in the morning??

[mommy2srs]

My four year old son has had croup when he was two years old, the pediatrician told me to take him outside into the night air or turn the shower on and the steam would help him breathe better and stop the coughing fit. The cold night air worked better for him and he also had to take meds for three days. Hope this helps and your son feels better soon.

[gonecamping]

I agree with the cold air. My son had it when he was little as well and thats what we were advised to do. I hope he feels better soon!

[Retiree3]

Turn the shower on and just let your son sit in the bathroom. He needs the moisture to keep his air passage open. I know that croup sounds terrible and is quite scary so just try to stay as calm as you can so that your son doesn't become any more frightened than I'm sure he already is. God bless you and your son and I hope he gets better soon.

[kalodesigns]

Ditto to everything above.

Our boys and almost 4 years old and still get croup every time they get sick. The were born 11 weeks prematurely so they have lung issues.

We use a cool mist (not hot) humidifier at night which really helps plus we use a nebulizer with abuteral when they have difficulties breathing (we can see their bellies sucking in under their rib cage.) Before we were prescribed a nebulizer at home, this is the treatment the ER did when we couldn't control their breathing at home.

Croup sounds so horrible and even though they have it so often we still lay awake worrying. Definitely go with your instinct if you think the breathing is so bad they need medical attention. We made many of the ER trips and are always told it's better to be safe than sorry.

Hope your little one feels better soon.

[scrappininAK]

how scary for both of you. turn the shower on and let him sit in the bathroom

[jmo95]

Elijanna has gone through this twice. Doctor told us the same thing. Turn the shower on and sit in the bathroom, we used a cool mist humidifer all night.

[4peasinourpod]

ronny...how is he today?

my ds is 13 and still gets it

they are supposed to outgrow it by 8

[writerlady]

Oh - I HATE croup! My youngest son had it when he was very young. I would sit with him in the steamy bathroom (caused by the shower running) and then I would bundle him up and take him outside into the night air - it worked every single time! I hope you are doing ok and we are sure here if you want to talk! A mom that's been through croup can totally understand what you are going through here. ((hugs))

[Smiley-Scrap8]

Thanks everyone, you guys are a big help. He's doing ok, still coughing but nothing like last night. He woke up 2 more times during the night but they weren't as bad as the first time. It scared me because for a minute I think his airway closed and he wasn't breathing at all. He just made a squeaking sound instead of inhaling.

I took him outside even though he was crying because it was cold and I put 2 humidifiers in his room on full blast which I think helped him not get worse.

[BeatrizS]

definetly a cool mist humidifier, a running shower and i believe they also gave my nephew a steroid medication for a few days and within a couple of days he was fine. Try to keep him calm, No running around, no crying, not alot of excitement. and the coughing fits should be less

[Queen Mum]

Turn on the shower as hot as you can with the door closed. When it gets good and steamed up take the child in and hold him and sing or play for a bit.

[LyndaKay]

Sounds like you did all the right things to get him through the night. HOpe you get the doctor's appt. today and that he's feeling better soon.

[MTCanuk]

I'm a nurse and everyone has been steering you in the right direction!  It's a scary  deal, cause they are always worse at night it seems!  My daughter didn't have it until she was 7 when you're suppose to be out growing it.