Suggestions for Helping Croup!

you have received many good suggestions. The barking cough is very distressing to hear and scared my daughter. We ran the hot shower to calm her down, took her outside wrapped up if needed, put vapors in her humidifier, used vick's on her chest, but I've heard it works on the feet too. In the morning, I would give her some warm decaf tea with lemon and honey or hot cider.

Friends of mine are in the medical field and told me this advise given to them by THEIR doctor. When thier 15 month old had croup, the doctor said instead of the steam/shower thing, take him outside in the cold night air. He said the coolness would help to get him breathing right again. It worked! So now when my little ones are croup-y, we go outside.

Vicks Vaporub on the soles of his feet will help the cough. I know it sounds weird but it works very well o my 4 and 2 yr old grandsons!
Pat

When you took him into the ER, they were looking for pneumonia (hence, the clear lungs). You need to be concerned if when your little boy breaths in, it looks like the skin in sinking in between each rib...this is called costal retraction and means your son is really struggling to breathe. If you see that, or hear an audible whistling/wheezing sound when he's breathing, take him to the hospital or to his pediatrician. Otherwise, croup is loud and alarming, but not too much to worry about. You're doing all the best things to ease the coughing spells (no cough medicine, it's not metabolized the same in children as in adults and isn't really helpful). Hope this helps

I hear from others that putting Vicks Vapor Rub on the feet with cotton socks at bedtime helps a lot. I would check with a doctor first. Good Luck.

DONT give cough meds!
They inhibit the body's natural way of clearing the lungs!!

It is a virus, so it needs to run it's course, it is usually shorter rather than longer compared to many viruses out there.

Make "Warm lemonade" from fresh squeezed lemons & Honey. Honey soothes the throat & the fresh lemon is packed with Vit C.

Elderberry extract is a wonderful anti-viral, there is a product called Sambucol you can get from your health food store. There is a children's version (the difference being it is not made with alcohol)

All these things will support the body in fighting the virus. A good multi-vitamin helps too.

Cool mist humidifier at night, not directly on the child.

Do see your pediatrician to be sure it is not turning into pneumonia, and that his airways are clear & open.

We go through this every year with my now 3 1/2 yo. Hang in there, this too, shall pass.

P : )

We knew a baby that died from the croup a couple of years ago, so we don't mess around with it. Go to the doctor!

Years ago when I was young, my cousins would get croup and have to be taken to the hospital. What I remember most about that was, they were put in a croup tent. With all the responses I didn't see any mention of a croup tent. I personally didn't see my cousins in the hospital becasue I was to young. But I am quessing that you can have a make shift "croup tent" at home. You could use a real one person tent if you have one with the cool mist vaporizer in it. Or you could make one over the bed by hanging blankets from the curtain rods down to the bed. All the other ideas sound good also so try as many as you can and see what works the best for you.

My 17mo. old has had croup 3 times, and all three times I have taken her to her pediatrician the morning after the "barking" starts, and they have given her ibuprofen mixed with decadron(a steroid). She keeps a normal cough after that for about a week or so, but no more "barking" after the medicine, it's a one time dose of steroids. Also, the cool night air will help til the morning when you can get to your md. Once a child gets croup, they are more susceptible to getting it, since your little one has had it once before, more than likely that's what he has now.

If you are putting him in the bath for the steam, you might try some of those vicks steam things that you put in the bath....it may be just for showers though. We tried them last winter and they worked really well. You felt like you had some sort of herbal spa treatment when you came out and your nose was so unclogged. I don't know what to do about the croup but you might want to try those vicks steam bath things. I am sorry that I don't know what they are called but I am sure that you can find them in the medicine department next to the vicks vapor rub or ask the pharmacists. Good luck.

As long as they can breathe OK, it's not usually something to go to the ER about. I'd rather keep them inside than run the risk of worsening the problem. Boiling a pan of water on the stove and making a 'tent' over it with a towel helps. We used to add Vicks Vapo-rub to the water, too, but if you use anything like that (mentol, eucalyptus, etc) that opens pores, be sure to wipe those same pores with alcohol and let the skin dry before going out in cold air. I'd heard of taking an asthmatic child into the cold air, but not 'croup'. Maybe I'm behind the times! LOL (My kids ARE aged 20-31! LOL)

Hi-When my son had croup, his dr. gave him a cough med. that also made him sleep, well worht the trip to the dr. Also, during a coughing spell, open the door and stick his head outside or let him stand in front of the freezer door open. The cold helps break it up.

Never heard of the Vicks on the feet thing but will try!!

Crack the window while he is sleeping.

My daughters used to get croup a lot. Our doctor suggested alternating the steam bathroom with cold nighttime air (wrap up in a blanket and sit on the porch). Also, I've learned to use herbal remedies (echinacea, vit.C, zinc, and elderberry extract) to boost the immune system. Do not consume sugar when sick - it attacks the immune system. Also stay away from the OTC cold remedies - the food dyes and chemicals in them are really harmful. See www.feingold.org for more info on dyes. Best wishes.

My pediatrician says that breathing cold (outside) air is good, although it seems like it wouldn't be. He said we should bundle our baby up and take her out on the porch. Good luck. I know it hurts to hear your baby sound so bad.

Hi M.,
My 3 year old has croup right now. I ended up taking her to the doctor because she has a wheezing in her breathing, which scared me. But it was just regular croup, which sounds worse than it is as long as it isn't restricting their breathing. The doctor can prescribe a steroid. It does shorten the duration of the barking cough, but it will go away without the use of steroids too.

Some things I do for my little one are no dairy (it creates mucus, which just makes them cough more).
At night, I kept of sippy cup of cold water next to her bed for her to drink when she starts coughing. I personally haven't found a humidifier to be all that effective (maybe because she won't sleep with the door closed so humidifier can't effectively fill the room). I do bundle her up in warm pajamas and a couple of extra blankets and open her window at night to let in the cool night air. That seems to help the best at night. Also, if you can get your little one to sit up a bit when sleeping that helps also.

I know it's awful to hear your baby sounding so awful and upset, but it really does sound worse than it is.

Here is what my pediatrician has always said: Steam during the day and cold air at night. Humidifier in the room. If it isn't cold outside, or too cold, stand in front of the freezer with the door open and let him breath the cold air for about a minute. The cold air reduces the swelling in the lungs, which settles the coughing and helps breathing. Also push fluids, the extra liquid will help loosen and thin the secretions in the lungs and back of the throat.

As always, if his color changes or he can't get a good breath during all of this, or if he goes limp and/or doesn't respond call 911/get to the ER.

Hope he gets to feeling better soon!

cold outside air helps, if you don't want to take him outside, you can open the freezer and let the cold air hit his face.
Also, he may need to see the doctor for med for the cough

Get him to the dr....this is one of the things they will actually give you drugs for! My toddlers have both had the same thing, and our pediatrician gave us medicine...once even an inhaler (which TOTALLY hyped my kids up...so beware!). We did the steam in the shower thing and then had to let them sleep on our chest sitting up. It is just pitiful. My suggestion...get to the dr. today before it hits again tonight!

Cool mist is best for croup, not warm or steam. Depending on the weather where you are, you can take him out in the early morning fog, even if you have to bundle him up to go out, unless its really really freezing cold.
You can also make a tent out of his bed, and put a cool mist humidifier in it for him. This is what they would do in the hospital.

Hi M.,

The best way to get rid of it will also help prevent it from coming back. Building your little one's immune system is imperative. An absorbable mutivitamin/mineral complex, detoxing the house, and a lot of outside activity. Chiropractic care will also do wonders if you find the right chiropractor.

Right now, I'd use liquid elderberry extract to speed the process along. Echinacea is also good but you need to remove all sugar from her diet in order for it to be effective.

God bless!

M.
www.squidoo.com/ifyourbabycouldtalk

put vics vaporub on his feet before putting him down to bed (cover with socks of course) and you can give him about 1/2 tsp of honey also

My son who is six gets the croup at least twice a year, so I know your frustration. As crazy as it sounds if you take him outside for a brief time when he has the croup the cold air does help. It sounds like you are doing all the right things. Sometimes the doctor will prescribe an oral dose of steroids that will sometimes help. One time they gave him an Albuterol breathing treatment. Usually they do nothing, so I stopped taking him in for croup. Try to get some rest today. I'm sure you will be up tonight with him.

no question, run him to the doctor if he's 'barking'. I had my oldest in the ER once for croup and they gave her an inhaled medication that sped up recovery instead of dragging it out. I'm not the first one to run to the doc for colds, etc., but a barking cough in one so young should be curtailed quickly. Hope he feels better!

Hello. My three year old has had croup twice in the past 8 months. I took her to the er both times. Now I know what to do and hopefully will not have to go the hospital. Even though lots of people think warm room....the respirtory therapist diagreed. He said cool. If it is cool outside, take them outside. If it is not, stick his/her head in the freezer. Lots of time kids wake up with croup, parents take them to the hospital and they are better because of the cool air. Call the doctor in the morning and skip the er.

If it doesn't get better or they start turning blue...go to the hospital. At the hospital they need to take a steriod.

Our first er visit was a waste of time...they were perplexed and had no idea what was wrong. the second time i got a wonderful respiratory therapist and dr. Thanks to them I know what to do!

Hi M. my daughter had the croup last year around Christmas. The best thing is cold air. The doctor told us to bundle her up and take her outside. Whenever she started coughing my husband would sit outside with her for a little while. It worked great she would stop coughing. We also got a cool mist vaporizer that also helped. The doctor said the best thing was cool air not warm humid air. I hope your little one gets better I know how hard the nights are when they are sick. Your in my prayers.

Hi M.,
Both of my babies just had the same thing about a month ago. For one day only. I have an email that I am going to send you. I did this the first night of their croup for the both of them. Neither one coughed at all that night...not once. The next day, they both sounded sooo much better and the next thing I know the croup was gone. This works amazingly well. Let me know how it goes for your little one! My prayers are with you and your little one! Btw, I used Vicks Baby Rub on their feet.

VICKS VAPOR RUB

During a lecture on Essential Oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.

Some of us have used Vicks Vapo rub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren't sure why. To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks Vapo rub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemical makeup of these strong drugs so, I listened. It was a surprise finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, in addition to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes and believe me, this was a deep, ( incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable cough, and she slept cough-free for hours every night that she used it.

If you have grandchildren, pass this on. If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be absolutely amazed at how it works

DON'T SHUN THIS ONE.. TRY IT THE NEXT TIME YOU GET A BAD COLD.

Again M., I really think this cured the croup my children had. It is a truly amazing remedy! If you try it, let me know how it works for you!
Best wishes!
T.

I have heard the best thing is to take them out into the cold night air. Try checking on www.webmd.com for suggestions. They've always helped me!