Croup - How to Relieve the Symptoms for My Daughter.

My 23 month old just started her 2nd round of croup in 3 weeks. We did the steamy shower thing, and she is old enough to have a pillow in her crib to elevate her head for the congestion. The Motrin did help her feel a little better too (I'm guessing it helped with inflammation and soreness). We also did the oral steriods at the doctors office... last time they worked like a charm, and I'm hoping for the same today! Good luck... this will pass (although it can be nerve wracking until it does)!

It's atually better for them to breathe in cold air. My daughter had the same thing, we stuck her head out the window and it subsided within minutes. Since it's not that cold out yet, try the freezer air!

HI there,
Pediatric pulmonologist for our son suggested a COOL MIST vaporizer at the FIRST SIGN of the croupy sound in their throat. We went from 4-5 times per year to maybe one... the right vaporizer can head things off. We also have an oral steroid (3 days worth) at home for when this doesn't work. Good luck!

My 5 year old son started getting sick on Friday and my 6 month old daughter started on Saturday. I took them to the doc and he diagnosed both of them with Croup. This is the first time either of them has had it. I found that the best thing to get them breathing better is the cold air outside. Bundle them up and let them breathe the cold air in. My doc said that warm air does NOT work. He said to use a cool mist vaporizer or take them outside. The cool air helps to take the swelling down in their throat making it easier for them to breathe. It usually only takes about 10 minutes to relieve the symptoms, but you may have to do this several times in one night to make her feel better. My daughter seems to have it worse, and the doc said this is because of how little she is. I would talk to your doc about putting her on prednisone to help her heal faster. It seems to be helping with my children. Good luck.

My older son had croup when he was 3, it is scary. I found that the cool night air worked better than the steamy shower. And with the weather cooling off, it is perfect. wrap her up warm in blankets and warm pajamas and take her outside in the evening/night cool air. We have an enclosed porch and I opened the windows out there and sat with him out there until he was breathing better. My son was sick for over a week but it may take longer with a littler one. Also, it can be very dangerous. If she is struggling, don't be timid about getting her back into the doctor or the ER if at night. The doctor had to give my son a couple breathing treatments. The most important thing you need to remember as a new mom is that you know your child better than anyone. If you think something is wrong, it probably is and it's better to be "that crazy mom who keeps bugging the doctor" than not doing everything you can for your child. Good luck, and make sure you get enough rest.

This is a really old time method, but it worked for my daughter.

We did the steam, just be careful not to burn her. After a few minutes....... take her to the freezer part of your refrigerator and stick her head in that area and have her breathe the really cold air. The contrast always seemed to open the air way. My grandma used to tell me to do that and I never believed her.... I always just did the steam, then one cold January day, I did the steam and decided that wasn't working so I wrapped her up in a blanket and as we walked outside in the cold January air to get in the car, she started breathing much better, stopped the barking and we didn't go to the Emergency room because she was breathing. ( Obviously we called the DR the next day) I found out later that the croupe was most likely caused from the chemical cleaners I was using in the house.

Croup is scarey, but you can get through this. My son gets croup often since he was about 3 months old ( he's now six). Follow your doctor's instructions. I would sit in the shower with him and then open the window (this works better in the winter). The shock of going from the steamy room to the cold shocks his system and it allows him to breath easier. (I learned this from one of the nurses). Good luck!

My daughter still gets croup and she is 17 years old. I know she was suppose to out grow it around 5, but she still hasn't. Every time we see a new doctor they cannot believe she still gets croup. On the plus side it is not as bad as when she was younger. I would try the steam from the hot shower. Make sure you spend at least 15 minutes in there. If that does not work try the cold air outside. Be sure to wrap her in a blanket to keep her warm. If you feel she's still having problems call your doctor or go to the emergency room. Croup can become very serious. My daughter never responded to the shower or cold air so we spent many nights at the emergency room. For my daughter it lasted 5-6 days but usually it is 3 days and generally at night, but can happen during the day also. My husband and I would take shifts at night so one of was always awake to watch over her. As she got older she could tell me she was going to have a croup attack hours before I could hear it. I also got where I could tell by putting my hand on her back. Croup is caused by a cold virus. Some people just get a runny nose the next person ends up with croup. My daughter never had cold symtoms first, it was usually croup attacks and then the cold. Not the norm. It is scary and you never get use to it, but you will get better at learning what to do and what to watch for. If you have any questions or just need someone to talk to feel free to respond back. I have been there and I know how scary it is to watch you little one like that.
Good Luck,
Cheryl
My daughter's birthday is 1/6/90!

Hi K.! My son gets croup so much. He is 4 and we have been in the ER about 6 or 7 times in his lifetime with it. He usually has to get steriod shots and then also a perscription of prethesone. Anyhow, another thing you can do, is take her out into the cold air, with face exposed. That is, if it is a cool time. Does it usually happen during the night while sleeping when it starts or when napping? That is the usual time it does happen for most people. I know how scary this is. We were just in the ER a couple weeks ago with my son again and he was so labored in breathing, that his whole chest was caving in too. Very scary. I hope he gets better soon.

S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

Coup is totally going around. My son just had it last weekend. Relax, she's going to be ok. It only lasts a few days. If it is lasting longer than that or she is really having trouble breathing after the steam or going outside at night (luckily is cooler out now so the cold air will subside the swelling in her larynx) go back to your md and get a steroid to reduce the swelling, possibly a cough suppressant. THe more she cries and coughs the worse it is for her, so try to keep her calm and push as much fluids as you can. Definately sleep in the room with her, I know I was with my little guy. Good luck, you'll get through it.

My daughter has suffered from croup since she was 18 months. She's 5 now. Croup is very scary, but your doctor is right, just sit with her in a steaming bathroom and her symptoms will subside. If that doesn't work, take her to an outside door and open it. The cold air will shock her throat into opening. A freezer has the same effect, but isn't as good as regular outside air.

If her croup become very bad, your doc can prescribe an oral steriod called Orapred. She would only take it once or twice because croup typically lasts 3 nights.

Best of luck!!!!!

M.

When my daughter had croup she was 6 months old. It was very scary and actually my pediatrician had her hospitalized. She was there for two nights. The same with my little brother. I am not sure if there are different extents to it but if it makes you feel better i would just take her to the hospital.

K..

My 5yr old daughter gets croup at least 1-2 times a year. The last 2 times we were on a vacation ( of course), so we have been to the ER a few times. I have a nebulizer at home, as she was having some asthma symptoms on occasion. Now she does not have any asthma problems ( knock on wood), but her twin sister has started with allergies/wheezing.

If I hear her starting the barking cough, I put her in the steamy shower right away. That usually works. I would say if your daughter is coughing and cannot stop take her to the ER. They will give her a steroid and a breathing treatment.

I didn't completely read everyone's but skimmed them. Croup IS really scary. I remember being scared to death when my son first got it. We took him to the ER and the doctor (I guess joking) said are we here for you or the baby. I was annoyed by the comment, but that's how scared I was!! It got better on the way to the ER because we were out in the cool air, but it had still gotten to the point that he needed a breathing treatment and steroid. Anyway, croup is a result of a cold...croup itself is not contageous, it's the common cold that the body reacts to that makes croup, and once they get croup, they are more prone to it, but it's not NEARLY as scary once you know what to do about it and how to try to avoid the ER...vaportizer, shower, and the cool air outside. We only had the ER visit once, but another person was there for the same thing when we were and said it was their 7th time...NOT what I wanted to hear at the time, but I don't think that is very common. Best wishes to you!! I do remember how scary it was. We had him sleep in our bed with us for a few nights so I could listen to him breathe. Breathing issues are just scary!!

K.:

Hi, my name is T.. I have a daughter that was born on 2/14/07. I just recently took her into the doctor on Monday morning for the same thing and she had bronchitis. Her pediatrician told us the same thing..I also bought her a Vick's vaporizer and put that on all night long and that really seems to help her sleep. I also bought Vick's baby vapor rub and put it on her chest, throat and back so it will help her breathe. Walgreen's also carries something called vapror bath and I have used that too. I hope this helps. Let me know if you need anything else, I know what it is like to care for a really sick infant and I am sick myself!! Darn these colds.

Hi, K.. My son had croup about a month and a half ago, and I agree, it's pretty scary. It's caused by a virus, and it swells the larynx, and that's why the cough sounds "barky." Our pediatrician gave my son one does of an oral steroid (some do shots) to help with the intial swelling, and said it would last about 36 hours in his system. That helped tremendously. Also, before bed for about 3-4 nights, we steamed him - ran the shower hot and closed the bathroom door, sat in there for 15 minutes. This was per the doctor as well, as was having him sleep with a cool mist humidifier in his room. Our doc never mentioned anything about ibuprofen, so I can't speak to that.

Have you considered switching pediatricians? Perhaps I'm reading too much into your post, but it sounds like maybe you aren't happy with his/her response and attention to this issue with your daughter. Don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion. Good luck!

N.

As you can see from your responses, croup is pretty common. My son had it at the exact age of your daughter and it was the scariest thing have ever experienced. You might also take her out on the porch in the middle of the night for a few minutes. Good luck and hang in there.

G.

Hi K.!
My 11 month JUST got over croup! I had her in the bathroom while the hot water ran in the shower and steamed up the bathroom like a sauna. I stayed for 15 minutes, which is ALL anyone can handle!! I also put a steamer in her bedroom and closed the door when we weren't in there to keep it in. The doctors gave her a script of prednisone steroid and it opened her up the next day. I deal with asthma so I was REALLY scared when I heard the wheezing and rattling. She was VERY irritable but it is now gone. It took about 4 days to really get it out of her system.
Good Luck!!
K. :~)

K.

We were on a camping trip to KY this past weekend when out of the blue my 2 1/2 year old came down with Croup! We took him to an urgent care Dr who gave us an antibotic (doesn't work on viruses) and sent us on our way. By dinner he was so bad we took him to an ER which wanted to send us down the street to the children's hospital, but wanted to get him stabalized first. When we got to the children's hospital they gave him a 2nd breathing treatment and steriod shot. That was followed by a 3rd breathing treatment and admission to the hospital for the night. It was amazing how much better he got overnight, but even now still has a lingering cough. When we got back to town we went to our Ped. and she wanted him on more steriods (for 3 days) and breathing treatments every 4 hours as needed. He does need the treatments about twice a day now, but is getting better!

Croup is MEAN! "They" say it gets worse the 2nd or 3rd night. I sure hope your Ali Kat gets better SOON!

J.