How To Take Care A Sick Child

As a mom, you want your little one to stay young forever. But wouldn't it be great if sometimes they could just tell you what was wrong? Having a sick child is a stressful and upsetting experience. Your child may be having a hard time feeling comfortable and dealing with pain, while you may be wondering if it is time to call the doctor. If you have a sick child at home, then there are several things that you can do to ensure that your child is comfortable and moving towards recovery.

While your baby or toddler might not be able to verbalize how he's feeling, as a parent you can learn to how to recognize signs of illness, how to react once you see them and what you can do to possibly prevent them in the future.

1. Check for a fever

Fever in babies can be caused by a host of different things, from a cold or viral infection, a reaction to a vaccine, or very rarely a serious infection, such as meningitis. Regardless of the cause, a fever in a very young baby is something that should not be overlooked.

2. But don't fear a fever

Fevers can be disconcerting, but don't jump to conclusions. You're not necessarily dealing with a medical emergency in children over 3 months old. If they have a warmer temperature than normal, they may be showing signs of a small infection. But if they are otherwise well, playful, eating well and comfortable, there is no need to reach for acetaminophen." Instead, just monitor how your child's doing. He'll most likely improve on his own.

3. Treat colds

You probably get a few nasty colds during the cold-weather months, and your little one likely will, too. Most children have between six to 10 colds during the school season. That may sound like a lot, but you can help ease the effects of cold symptoms. Just arm yourself with the right tools. Things to have on hand for infants with cold symptoms: bulb suction to help clear mucus, humidifier for the room, and patience! Some babies will have sleep disruption when they are fighting off a cold illness. They cough more at night when lying down, and it disrupts their schedules. Typically, most runny-nose and cough illnesses in infants and children should resolve in seven to 10 days. But if the virus hasn't run its course in around a week, that's when you should check in with the doc.

4. Be aware of unusual behaviour

Most sickness will just be a minor speed bump for your baby, but there are symptoms that should raise an eyebrow. Moms should really trust their instincts-big changes in crying, sleeping, temperament may mean your child feels unwell, Bottom line? Don't wait too long if you feel something is truly not normal. If your baby just isn't herself for a day, you may want to check in with the pediatrician or nurse. They can often help triage any concerns you have.

How To a Sick Child Comfortable?

1. Provide emotional support.

Being sick is uncomfortable and your child may be worried or upset because of how he or she feels. Giving your child some extra attention and care may help. For example, you can:

• Sit with your child.
• Read your child a book.
• Sing to your child.
• Hold your child’s hand.
• Hold your baby in your arms.

2. Elevate your child or baby’s head

A cough can get worse if your child is lying flat on his or her back. To keep your child’s head elevated, try putting a book or towel under the mattress of your baby’s crib or under the legs at the head of the crib or bed. You can also give your child an extra pillow or use a wedge pillow to help your child stay upright.

3. Turn on a humidifier

Dry air can make a cough or sore throat feel worse. Try using a humidifier or cool-mist vaporizer to keep the air in your child’s room moist. This can help to reduce coughing, congestion, and discomfort.

• Make sure to change the water in your humidifier frequently.
• Wash the humidifier according to the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent mold from growing in it.

4. Provide a quiet environment

Keep your home as quiet and peaceful as possible to make it easier for your child to rest. Stimulation from television or computers prevents sleep and your child needs as much rest as possible, so you may consider removing devices from your child’s bedroom or at least limiting your child’s use of devices.

5. Keep your home at a comfortable temperature

Your child may feel hot or cold depending on the illness, so adjusting the temperature in your home may help your child to feel more comfortable. It may be helpful to keep your home between 65 and 70 degrees, but you can also adjust this temperature if your child is too hot or too cold.

• For example, if your child is complaining that he or she is too cold, then turn up the heat a bit. If your child complains that he or she is hot, then turn on an air conditioner or fan.

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Source from: mom.me, wikihow.com