How to Handle More than 1 Sick Baby...

You must be really tired and stressed out. I really can't help with the multiples but I always take my boys in if the fever is over 102. I was told that there is usually an infection if the fever is that high. A fever of 105 can cause brain damage.

My doc always says to "wait it out" for 3 days of fever before taking them in. Usually in that time it will work itself out, and if not then they could have strep or an ear infection which both come with all sorts of nasty side consequences.

It is not that unusual for kids under 5 to have fevers up to 105. It is just the body's natural way of fighting off illness. It sounds like you are doing the right thing, treating with tylenol and lots of extra liquids. (Popsicles are great, too!) Just make sure you're writing down details of each child's illness separately. That will really help you and the doc.

I have triplets, too! Mine will be 4 in May. I know it's really hard when they are all sick. I can't even imagine what you are dealing with right now, having to do it all on your own. And it *is * hard to figure out when to ride it out and when to run to the doc.

To answer your first question, I would say to try tylenol/motrin and if it's been a whole day or so and they don't seem to be getting better, fevers going down, etc. to at least call the nurse at your peds' office and see what they think. If it's after hours, most pediatricians have an on-call nurse available to answer questions.

To answer your second question, one day at a time! I'm *still* trying to get it all figured out, and they're almost four. All you can do is just love them, try as hard as you can to meet their needs and realize that you won't be able to meet every single one of their needs and wants. Also, seek out support from friends and family, even if it's just to talk on the phone to someone for a few minutes. Sometimes just a little break like that can help you regain perspective when you are wading through throw-up and tears. Also, if you are religious, prayer helps a lot. You can find support from your church, as well. I wouldn't have made it without the help of friends, family and my church when my kiddos were younger.

One more thing...just so you know, there is a support group for families with triplets and higher in the Valley called Multiple Joys. There are many single moms in the group who I'm sure would give you a lot of good feedback. We have a group on Facebook, and our website is www.multiplejoys.com. Or, you can send me an e-mail at jillymrob(at)gmail(dot)com and I can hook you up with another single MOM with older triplets to help you out.

Best of luck. I know these are trying times, but you'll make it through!!

Hi so sorry to hear about your lil ones!! My lil guy had the same thing fever 104 and so on.... Its so hard when they are sick, if it gets to 104 again give them motrin it works better sometimes!! Dont be scared to call the Doctors as much as you need! But know that you are doing great and they will get through it!! I was so upset last week and now my lil guy is back to normal! And call anyone and any time!!! xoxo p.s. the nurse told me that fevers arent your enemy! Well they still make me nervous! xoxox

All four of my children had the fevers and stuff all at the same time as me... along with myself. I stay at home with them so I don't have the stress with having to go to work. I usually just make them rest, push fluids, and give them over the counter stuff (tylenol, benedryl, sudefed etc.) and the natural stuff like echinacea. If they don't improve after a week, or they get worse, I'll take them in. They rarely have to go to the doctor. You'll know when you should take them in. Even if you take them in and the doctors says the same thing and sends them home to rest, then you'll feel more comfortable just letting them get well at home. You'll get used to the single life and your children will get older and you'll feel more comfortable.

Never feel you are over reacting when it comes to your children's health (remeber they are your life) there are to many diseases out there now that can sneak up on kids & be deadly instantly.. Anything over 102 at that age I would of already had them at the urgent care.. 1 thing to always remeber is if there is a fever there is usually a bacteria growing now if they just had a runny nose or cough etc with out a fever then yeah wait it out but never play with fevers specially in small children. As they get older you will know there health alot better. Good luck

If the temp keeps staying at over 102 I would definitly take them in right away, one time I had dropped my son off at daycare cause he was acting fine when I went to pick him up he was acting really weird and I figured out why because it was really high so I took him to the er, and found out what he had, and he had bronchitis for his second time, like I said at the top of my post if it stays over 102 definitly take them in.

First of all, you sound like a good mom, so don't question yourself. Children do get sick, and that is normal. But personally, I don't care if I sound like I'm crying wolf. I would rather be safe than sorry. My children's pediatrician knows that any time my children get a fever I will take them in. In fact, any time I stay home from work or they stay home from school I take them in because you don't know if their cold is going to cause something else like an ear infection or sinus infection, which often it seems to.

I always say that a mom should go with her heart. I take my kids in when their fevers are only 101 for over a day. Even if you are "crying wolf". It's better to be safe than sorry. Plus, you will be a more effecient person when your mind is at ease. AND-if your kids are anything like mine, they will get much better the second you take them in!

From what I read you are doing a fantastic job. You are making sure that your little ones are well taken care of. That's what a mommy does. hang in there. I hope your kiddos feel better soon!

First off, I have to say I'm extremely impressed at how well you are coping with single parenthood with triplets who are babies! I can't even imagine.

Secondly, the reason that grandmas and older moms can look at a kid and figure out if they are sick enough to go to the doctor or not is years of experience. That takes time. You'll get there. For now, if you don't know, it's better to err on the side of caution.

A book that I got that helped me with my confidence as a young parent in judging medical situations is "How To Raise A Healthy Child In Spite of Your Doctor," by Dr. Robert Mendelson, MD. It's certainly not as antagonistic as the title sounds. I think to author was looking to grab attention to his book! :) He talks at great length about the difference between types of fevers and other symptoms to help the reader determine what's going on. Also, here's a link to a pediatrician's website with one of his articles about fevers: http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/pediatricks/fever.asp Dr. Gordon is an awesome doctor and has loads of information on his site.

Hi S.,

My girls (twins) were ALWAYS kids when they were babies. I was lucky enough to stay home with them. As for how to deal with them.. One hour at a time. :) My girls would hit the high temps, and I'd take them to see the dr, and the temp would be down. Your not over reacting, or anything. You have your childrens best interest at heart, where as the docs don't. Anything over 102 is some kind of virus, or bactiria infection. If they got the green snot, cough etc... it's prbably an infection. For the high temps that just wont go away. Do the motrin, tylenol combo. You give mortin first, and then 3 hours later you give the tylenol, then 3 hours mortin, then 3 hours tylenol. You do that for 24 to 48 hours, and if the fever wont go away. TAke them to the doc, and if they just shrug it off, demand another doc.

My son was REALLY sick when we moved here. Driving in the car with a 12month old running 102 to 104 temps. Whe I'd give him the meds it would drop his temp down to an acceptable range, but after about 2 to 3 hours of the temp being down, it would shoot right back up. I went to the urgent care and they didn't know what was wrong. I knew what was wrong. He'd had RSV about 2 months before, and he had gotten it again. I even told them I thought is might be rsv. I Ended up taking him to the pediatric urgent care, and told them i wanted the tests done for RSV. I was forceful enough that the doc gave me antibiotics, and when they called me 24 hours later, it had come out positive for basticial and viral. Within 28 hours my son was a new little boy. Fever had gone done, etc.

If you gut tells you something. Listen!!! Even if you take you kids to the docs and find out nothing is wrong, you chulk it up to a learn experience. So that the next time they are sick.. you can decide what to do from there. Everytime you kids get sick. It's a learning experience.

oh and it's great that your ex comes over and helps with the kids!!!!

It's always better to be over concerned than under concerned. And little ones can get a high temp really easily and there is danger in that. The ped Dr will tell you (if you ask him/ her) when to get worried (I think it's 105), when to take them in, what to do, etc. Although I didn't have triplets, I had 3 kids two and under all sick at once. You just seem to go from bed to bed. It's worth it. You being calm is the best thing for them, though. So, just keep telling they'll get better as soon as they can and stroke their little heads. Soothing music helps them to sleep and sleep helps them get better faster than anything. I have twin grandsons and have helped care for them several times. It is hard, but it is possible. Good luck!

Oh, you poor thing. You are very lucky to have such a great support system. The ex that comes over to help and the sitter that is there for you. They both deserve huge thank yous and hugs. When you have so many at one time, they do tend to know they out number you.

Kids fevers are worse at night. You may want to get pedialite ready in bottles and tylenol or what ever it is you use for them prepped before bed so when you get up with them you have everything handy and it won't be so hard stumbling around to get things together while you are tired and handling sick munchkins. Another thing you can do is a cool wash cloth on their heads, tummys, legs will help cool them off quickly and bring the fever down. If your sitters little one had the same thing, ask how long it took for it to go away. If your guys have a fever longer than seems realistic compared to her kids symptoms, run them to the doc. And 101 isn't so bad but 104 is pretty high. If you can get them cooled off at night, great, wait til the morning to call the doc, but if it's not coming down in 20 or 30 minutes after meds and a cool wash cloth, call their office at night. They should have an answering service that can help you out.

I'm a mom to twin girls, and from my perspective, you're doing an AMAZING job. Sick multiples are SUCH a challenge, and I only had two AND a husband to help all the time, I can't imagine 3 on my own. Keep doing what you're doing. Trust your gut, and bring them into the pedi whenever you think it's necessary. I agree that a fever over 102 (don't forget to add one degree to a temp you take under the armpit) is cause for concern in babies. And if you can't get them in to your pedi, sometime just calling and talking to them can ease your worries, or tell you that you need to bring them in. Also, keeping a sheet of paper with temps, times, and meds given kept things straight for me, otherwise I couldn't remember who did what when the pedi asked. Keep being strong for those babies, and know that you're making the best decisions you can.

Hi S.,
I'm a mom of 4-yr.-old twins and a 7-year-old, with a hubby who often travels out of town for his job and seemingly almost always wasn't present when mine were sick. Any temp over 103 (or even high-102) bring to the doc. Any time you want them checked out, bring to the doc. I think the most important thing for you, as a multiple mom, when the kids are sick, you have got to learn to let all non-essential things go. If you need to go to work, go to work, it sounds like you have great coverage. But totally don't sweat the small stuff. Just about anything can wait until you're back on track. Concentrate on your kids. A few tips: One thing I learned early on was to put 2 layers of sheets & waterproof mattress pads on their beds -- if they get sick or otherwise have an accident in the middle of the night, strip the first layers off the bed and you have a backup. I kept a stock of motrin/tylenol in my upstairs bathroom so it would eliminate the need (and their waiting time) for medication when they woke up feverish at night. Don't feel guilty calling upon your ex to help out. He's their father and even though he doesn't live with you should be just as concerned and just as responsible for their care. They're only young for a short while, although when you're going through a bout of sickness it seems like it will never end. Trust me, as they get older (and are able to voice their ailments, and more importantly, get to the bathroom in time to vomit) you'll have much more sleep and life does get easier in the sense that their independence brings fewer tasks for the mom on a day-to-day basis. I recall the 18-month to 2.5- year period being just as hectic and exhausting as the infant year -- their mobility and curiosity made just about everything dangerous in any way, shape or form -- that's one thing that comes with multiples much more so than with a singleton -- two, or three heads thinking together, especially 2 or 3 toddlers working toward some goal, is a very scary thing! Don't get me wrong, once they get a little older, the concerns are still there: Same ball game, different inning, but in some ways it does become easier. Good luck. Remember, you're their mama, you know within yourself what's best for your kids; just follow your gut instinct and you won't go wrong.