bluephin
kittzy07Sick Toddlers
August 4th 2008 05:13
I hate it when my kids fall sick. Not only is it a gruelling sight to see them in pain but it is also frustrating trying to understand what they feel.
Cold weather brings about more sickness than summer. And it being “winter” here is Australia, my toddlers have already fallen sick twice over the season. Their latest was this last week when they must have caught a vomiting and a loose bowel movement bug.
It was first my one year old who started vomiting and couldn’t keep anything down in his tummy. Then a day later it was my two year old. They are still their usual playful, naughty boys when they are sick. However, when they start feeling bad either they get the tantrums or they just shut up.
Bringing them to the doctors doesn’t also help that much. They couldn’t prescribe any medications saying that their little bodies should be able to find its strength and resistance to sickness and fight off whatever the bug is. Their simple prescription is to stop giving them milk for a day or two.
What?! Stop their milk?! My boys love their milk so much that you’d pity hearing them ask for it and you know you couldn’t give them any.
For almost three years that I have had kids these are what I learned from reading between the lines for sick toddlers (or babies) like mine who couldn’t tell us yet what it is exactly that they are feeling:
• Lesser wet nappies is bad news.
• No appetite even for their most beloved food (or drink) is a sign that they are indeed not feeling well.
• Constant temperature check can keep you at bay to what is going on inside their tiny bodies.
• Skin blotches or red dots should be watched out for.
• Check that their lips are not drying out too much or that their skin when lightly pulled up will return to its normal state (this will show you how hydrated or de-hydrated they are)
Some tips on home care for sick toddlers like mine:
• Push down more fluids down their throat. Even if they don’t like to take in as much solid food, constantly offer them water or juice (diluted in some water to minimize the sweetness) to keep them hydrated.
• When their temperature rise or fall, try to minimize or put on some more clothes (depending on what temperature they are), wait for a couple of minutes then check their temperature again. This way, you can be certain that it is not just ambient temperature that you are getting from the thermometer reading.
• When in doubt of their situation, phone a health line or visit a doctor.
• Do not fret. Although it is difficult not to worry and sometimes overreact, we should always keep our calm and put a good head above our shoulders. More than anything, this is the time that our kids need the smartest out of us.
• Just be there for them. Make your kids feel that if they are not feeling good, they can count on you to lessen their pain even with a hug and a kiss.
Cold weather brings about more sickness than summer. And it being “winter” here is Australia, my toddlers have already fallen sick twice over the season. Their latest was this last week when they must have caught a vomiting and a loose bowel movement bug.
It was first my one year old who started vomiting and couldn’t keep anything down in his tummy. Then a day later it was my two year old. They are still their usual playful, naughty boys when they are sick. However, when they start feeling bad either they get the tantrums or they just shut up.
Bringing them to the doctors doesn’t also help that much. They couldn’t prescribe any medications saying that their little bodies should be able to find its strength and resistance to sickness and fight off whatever the bug is. Their simple prescription is to stop giving them milk for a day or two.
What?! Stop their milk?! My boys love their milk so much that you’d pity hearing them ask for it and you know you couldn’t give them any.
For almost three years that I have had kids these are what I learned from reading between the lines for sick toddlers (or babies) like mine who couldn’t tell us yet what it is exactly that they are feeling:
• Lesser wet nappies is bad news.
• No appetite even for their most beloved food (or drink) is a sign that they are indeed not feeling well.
• Constant temperature check can keep you at bay to what is going on inside their tiny bodies.
• Skin blotches or red dots should be watched out for.
• Check that their lips are not drying out too much or that their skin when lightly pulled up will return to its normal state (this will show you how hydrated or de-hydrated they are)
Some tips on home care for sick toddlers like mine:
• Push down more fluids down their throat. Even if they don’t like to take in as much solid food, constantly offer them water or juice (diluted in some water to minimize the sweetness) to keep them hydrated.
• When their temperature rise or fall, try to minimize or put on some more clothes (depending on what temperature they are), wait for a couple of minutes then check their temperature again. This way, you can be certain that it is not just ambient temperature that you are getting from the thermometer reading.
• When in doubt of their situation, phone a health line or visit a doctor.
• Do not fret. Although it is difficult not to worry and sometimes overreact, we should always keep our calm and put a good head above our shoulders. More than anything, this is the time that our kids need the smartest out of us.
• Just be there for them. Make your kids feel that if they are not feeling good, they can count on you to lessen their pain even with a hug and a kiss.
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Comment by kittzy07
Parenting Toddlers
When my two kids were in that same state as yours, their pedia gave them pedialyte or ORS (oral rehydration salts) dissolved in water to rehydrate them. One of their doctors even advised to give them gatorade as a drink. This could replace the minerals from the water that was lost everytime they vomit or have loose bowel.
I think there is a milk for dehydrated kids so they could recuperate faster from their sickness. My trusted milk for that is Pediasure. I forgot the other one but it is a milk for lactose-intolerance.
Then their doctor gives them anti-biotic treatment if their stools are positive for bacteria and infection. Signs that I look out for is when they start to have diarrhea and vomits for every food intake because it will be the start of dehydration specially if they seem to be so thirsty for water, poor weight gain and less active.
Comment by bluephin
Chatter On Children
Persistent Parent
It's true that drinks like gatorade or powerade could help as this has got electrolytes and carbohydrates which are both necessary to supplement their diet while they are sick. Pedialyte, however, is an option that we couldn't do for my eldest. It would be vomit all over again as soon as he gets a taste of it.
Kids...
Comment by kittzy07
Parenting Toddlers