My 8 month old daughter, Meadow, just started daycare 2 1/2 weeks ago (at only 2 days per week) and became ill on Saturday morning. She has now been sick for 5 days. It started with vomiting, then diarrhea, now it's mainly congestion, bad cough, and sore throat, but she still has a fever on and off and wants to sleep most of the day. She will nurse a bit here & there but doesn't want solids. Does anyone know the typical duration of a virus in a baby? Is the first time for an illness usually the worst? She looks awful and I miss my very energetic, always happy baby. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to everyone for your words of advice and encouragement. To answer some of your questions, I had taken her to the doctor, and one night to the ER as well. I was told it was a virus and given the same advice of fluids and rest as some of you suggested. It just seemed like it would never end & it was hard to judge because I almost never get sick myself & when I do it doesn't usually last very long. As it turned out I was the only well person in the house! Well, at least she had her daddy to commiserate with her. Anyway, Meadow still has a little cough, but is doing WAY better...and my breast milk production has gone way up! I think I may miss sleeping with her in the crook of my arm...but I'd much rather have a healthy baby who likes to sleep alone than a sick one any day. She goes back to day care tomorrow. Ugh. Thanks all!
One thing I found for my kids to help balance their immune system is Juice Plus+. It is fruits & veggies put into capsule form for adults & gummy form for kids.... my kids thinks they are candy. Since I added it to my kids diets I have seen a HUGE positive change in their health! You can look into it & the research that has been done on it at jphealth.net/C.
Blessings! Sick babies are the worst cause we can't take their pain away from them!
I agree with some of the previous responses. If you haven't taken into the doc yet then go. Be careful with the vomiting and diarrhea. It can dehydrate little babies quickly. Since you have just started her in daycare, that could definitely be the cause of her illness, but in time she will build up her immunity. Both my kids go and have since they were 3 months old. My son is 8 months too.
I haven't had a chance to read the other responses, but I wnated to let you know that the average time a virus will last is 10 -14 days. Viruses can be accompanied by a fever so don't freak about that. And if it's a viral infection, antibitotics will not help. All that said...becauase she is so young, and it is RSV season, you should definitely take her to her doctor so they can rule out anything like an ear infection. There isn't much worse than having a sick baby, especially because there's really nothing you can do except give extra cuddles and love. And even though she may not have much of an appetite, make sure you are constantly offering something to drink (your breast or some diluted apple juice) so that she stays hydrated. More than likely she does just have a virus, but again, I'd take her in to get checked out just for the slim chance that it's something else. I hope she feels better soon!! Hang in there!! It will be over before you know it!!
Blessings,
A.
(SAHM of 4 boys)
My 14 mo. old daughter is on day 5 of fevers. She started out with diarrhea and vomiting and has turned into horrible cough and a runny nose like a faucet. I took her to the doctor the day before yesterday and the Doc. said it's probably a virus. She also said to monitor her temperature. 102 or more for 5 days is when they would be concerned. My daughter was having seemingly continuous fevers but they never got that high. She said to make sure she's drinking fluids, even if it's just sips throughout the day. Make sure she's still having wet diapers. If she's not urinating she needs to go to the ER. We were given no antibiotics.
My little girl is getting better. She actually let me put her down today! Her fevers are less frequent and less severe too.
So, that is a summary of our experience with an illness that seems similar to what Meadow has. Hope she feels better soon!
You should take her to the pediatrician if you haven't already. She could have RSV, Rotovirus, ear infection, pneumonia, etc, or it could just be something that has to run it's course - not trying to scare you, but you never know. At that age, it's best to be safe than sorry. It's been 5 days & she doesn't seem to getting any better, which would be a red flag for me. You're going to find that daycares are pretty much germ factories and your daughter will probably get sick on a regular basis. Hope she feels better soon.
HI L.,
I know how awful it is to watch your little one be sick. It sounds like you may want to get her into the doctor. Fevers can be a sign of infection and this can be a bad thing. My little niece was sick for a week with what my sister thought was just a virus and one night she started having trouble breathing. The next thing she new her little girl had been admitted to the hospital with RSV. If your little one is sick for more then a week you should always take them in.
As far as what to give for a fever I have found that Motrin works well. I alternate between tylenol and motrin. Never give a baby Asprin because it can cause problems.
Good luck and I hope that your little one gets better soon.
M.
Have you taken her to the Dr yet? If she's had a fever on and off for a week I would take her in and have them check her out. I know someone whose daycare has the Rhoda (sp??) Virus going around. I think it has all the stomach stuff and fever you mentioned, but I think it sometimes has a rash, too...I worked in childcare and it was pretty normal for kids to have runny noses and such. Her being exhausted and not wanting to eat is what concerns me. Good luck!
My daughter is fairly new to daycare as well, (its been about 3mo). She has been getting sick alot more often. Nothing major just lots of running noses , and coughs, she is usally sick for about 1 week or so, but she has not had a fever. If she continues with the fever I would have her see a doc. There has been some cases of RSV at my daughters school , so you may want to be a little cautious of any bad coughs she may come down with.
Other wise I think we just have to get use to the germ sharing that goes on at day care.
Good luck to you, hope your little one feels better soon.
M.
Welcome to the world of day care. Stuff gets passed around pretty quick. I remember when my first was in day care. Have you called your doctor yet? There was a diarhea flu virus going around that is lasting 5-10 days. With babies it is suggested you call or go in after 24 hours of temps.
My daughter went in for her 18 month well baby visit and had an ear infection which we got antibiotics for. Then 7 days later she spiked a fever of 104.3 and so I took her back in and then she had a double ear infection even though she was still on the first antibiotics. Also she was tested for RSV beacuse she was breathing so rapidly and seemed to be having a hard time. She was misrable for a full 72 hours. Would not play and would not eat.
She has been in daycare since she was 12 weeks old and so has already built up her immune system, but she still got RSV. The Doctor said it will take probably 2 weeks after she is done with the antibiotics for her to be back to normal.
I agree with the other posts - it never hurts to take her in or at a minimum call and talk to a nurse at the office. They can tell you what is best based on their experience.
Good Luck!
Warning new parents that their child was 90% most likely to get real sick was the first thing I'd do when I was a preschool teacher. Doesn't matter how sanitary the equipment /room is - the new kids are just being exposed to normal 'germs' we all get from human contact. She will be sick for about 2 weeks... then she'll be fine - with a 'new and improved' immune system because of it. I'd still check with a Dr because of the age of the baby, like others stated she could get dehydrated. When they're 1 and up - it's just the usual plenty of liquids and sleep. Hang in there, you'll make it through the 'joys of daycare'.
L.,
Have you taken her to the dr.'s yet this problem may need antibiotics, because of an infection. thats what a fever means. it is normally ammoxicillion. she sould be fine in no time with meds bot try not to get carried away with giving tylonal. asprine is better or motrin.
let me know how it goes.
ps with daycare get use to getting sick alot.
T.
I would take her in to see the doctor, because my daughter caught something similar at daycare. It was RSV, which can be really dealy for babies, but does nothing to older children. I would just be sure, because we had to give our little one breathing treatments. Hope that is helpful. -A.
I too have an 8 month old daughter in daycare. She's been sick on and off all winter. What your daughter has sounds like what my daughter had a few weeks ago. The vomiting is what scared me, but it actually helps get the mucus out of their stomachs. She was real sick for about a week before we finally started seeing our happy, playful baby girl again. Hang in there, she should start getting better soon. As long as she's keeping fluids down she should be fine.
You don't mention if you have taken Meadow to the doctor or not. If you haven't it would be a good idea to do so. A fever of any grade after a few days duration needs to be checked out by a doctor. She might be dehydrated if she "looks horrible" and wants to sleep most of the day. Lack of energy can be a sign also, so PLEASE take your baby to a doctor.
Hi L.,
I am going through the same thing with my 11 month old son. He is almost cleared up now, still has diarrhea, but other than that he's back to normal. Our peditrician said he will have the virus for 5 to 10 days, and we are on day 9. Your little one will be back to normal soon, just let her sleep and make sure you give her her fluids too, she will eat solids when she's ready. My son didnt want to eat either, but give her time to heal, she will eat as soon as she feels like it.
Yes usually the first time for sickness is longer becasue there little bodies are just learning off to fight off the virus.. usually a week as long as they are not being reinfected.. Make sure the day care is not allowing any sick babies, cleaning there toys properly during the day.. As someone who use to run a daycare don't always believe what you hear drop in spen sometime in the baby room & watch & see if the teachers are washing there hands properly.. good luck & god bless your angel
Oh how I wish you could attach photos in here because I have the most pathetic little sick girl photo of my now 10 month old when she was first sick (at 8 months.) It was awful! Mostly a fever for us, never turned into much congestion. If you send me your email, I'll forward you the picture of her...might make you smile and let you know how common this is, as I know it breaks a Mommy's heart! We went to the doctor and they thought it was going to be a urinary tract infection, we had to get urine through a catheter and they gave her antibiotics (two days in a row) & then when the urine tests came back in, it turned out to be viral. I felt like such a bad Mommy letting my little girl be poked and prodded...but we all just do the best we know to do at the time. Hang in there. Ours lasted probably 5-7 days of her being really out of it.
