Mom Blog and Baby Blog | Baby Bunching

common everyday illnesses: some tips to help you look before you leap

(Please remember once again, we are not doctors or at all related to the medical profession or even play one on TV. We just have lots of experience dealing with illness and doctors. Always consult your physician.)

Our family recently recovered from the illness of the month. This time it was strep. But it always seems to be something--stomach issues, fevers, congestion, sore throats.

While the remedies for all that ails us ranges from prescription meds to "wait it out," one thing is for certain--it sucks to see your kids sick and in pain.

Because of this, I think as parents we sometimes tend to leap before we look. And it never fails to surprise me that year after year, the more experienced (one would think) I get with illness, I still leap too soon.

In reflection on this past bout of sickness, I'd like to share some wisdom I've gained over the past few years to save some of you the hassle of leaping before you look, observe and consult. And my hope is that many of you will chime in as well, since this is collective knowledge.

1) Not all fevers are bad. Thanks to a very helpful nurse very early on, I was reassured that fevers are a sign of fighting infection. A high fever (even up to 104 in toddlers) while a sign of sickness doesn't usually warrant the response I usually have. Which is something like "Oh my God. My kid's brain is going to bake." Apparently, that's not true. My latest doctor told me it bakes around 108. Always good knowledge to have.

2) Tylenol and Motrin is a 'fever reducer' not a 'fever go-awayer.' I believed for many years that once you gave a kid meds the fever would disappear. Again if you have a 103 degree fever, chances are medicine isn't going to make it go away, but it will make it go down so your child can feel better. Whew!

3) Not all ear infections need prescription meds. This once shocked me as well. An ENT in Sweden informed me when my daughter had her second ear infection. The first she was four months old and had a ruptured ear drum and he thought that definitely called for antibiotics. However, four months later when she was struck with pain again, he assured me we had too many antibiotics in our community and that most were viral anyway and to wait it out. Floored by this response, I was surprised that four days later she was better. Now come to find out, doctors here in the states are following suit with a similar recommendation.

4) Strep throat is only the cause of  approximately 30% of sore throats.* I learned this little fact from the nice nurse at the CVS Minute Clinic. (By the way, if you don't know these, check them out!)  For any of you who have taken your preschooler to get one of these strep tests, you know that it sucks for them and you. So look before you leap on this one.

An added note on this: After you've had strep in your house a few times, you'll recognize the pungent smell that comes from it. Stick your child in a room for 5 minutes and come back, if it reeks of some awful bad breath smell, chances are it's strep.

5) Croup sounds scarier than it is. We are veterans of croup. But I am happy to say that after four years of annual croup visits, it has been a long time since that cough has resurfaced in our house. I promise you will panic the first time you hear this cough, and you might even make it to the doctor or ER for this one. But keeping your child calm and comfortable seems to be about the best medicine. There are the cases where you should take them if they can't breathe, obviously. We did have one of our trips to the ER that was semi-warranted, but they assured us that we probably could have gotten him calmed down enough to breathe regularly. 'Probably' wasn't good enough so we went. But that was our last trip to the ER for croup even though we had many more visits from the cough.

6) You'll only make one high-fever ER run. Again, like croup, a fever of 104 in the middle of the night will scare the bejeebers out of you. You'll pack up and fly out the door to the hospital only to be welcomed with a slew of blood work and tests that will make everyone upset and exhausted the following day. Yep, we did it and you will too. We guarantee you'll only do it once. Chalk it up as a learning experience and one to pass along to other moms.

And while cold and flu season is over now, we're positive, something will show up in your house in the future. Remember to stay calm and observe before you leap or sprint to the ER. After all, you probably have another child or two to drag along with you.

*This number was quoted from the nurse.

it takes a village to make it through

The phrase didn't have much meaning to me until this year and actually most recently, last week. In today's age when extended family might not be around to help us rear our children, we must be open to letting others help us at least make it through the day. And in turn, be willing to lend a helping hand in return.

When my kids were little, it was all I could do to function during the day. I rarely offered to babysit other's kids and even less asked others to watch my kids. When those around you are barely surviving between potty training, diaper changes, preschool runs or a constant string of sickness, the idea of the "village" stepping in to help you raise your kids seems foreign.

Last Monday afternoon I was sick. It was the kind of sick I knew was not going to go away by morning--aches, chills, fever, cough. Husband was away. Tuesday morning when I woke up I couldn't move. I couldn't even get out of bed until I took a few Advil and waited. After 20 minutes I was able to rise to get my kids cereal. (The upside to kids who are 5 and 6 is that they can entertain themselves for a bit and help themselves from the frig.) An hour later I wasn't any better. After a few phone calls, I had my whole network in place. Neighbor #1 offered to walk my kids to the bus. Neighbor #2 said she'd send her oldest over to walk my dog . Neighbor #3 (who is 9 months pg) offered to drop my daughter at gymnastics, pick up my son at school and then bring everyone home. Neighbor #1 brought dinner over. Neighbor #2 sent boys back over for another dog walk and then called to make sure I was alive.

This morning I woke up and felt like my "village" had saved me from my flu bug. An entire day in bed apparently was what I needed to be able to at least function in some capacity.

If there is any one point to this post, it's this: take the time to build your momtourage, get to know your neighbors, pay it back and pay it forward. We can't forge this road ahead alone. Even if you feel you don't have the energy to watch someone's kid for an afternoon, remember even little things like a pick up/drop off, a meal or just watching someone else's kid on the playground while mom runs to the bathroom is all it takes.

alternative cold remedies for you and your Bunch

It's that time of year again - nope, not the holidays - cold and flu season!  As a Baby Buncher, you probably know by now that the only thing worse than a sick baby is TWO sick babies (or maybe a sick husband, but that's another post).  

I'm house-bound today with the youngest 2/3 of my Bunch, who are hacking messes and persona non grata at preschool.  In addition to their nonstop crying and whining (unless napping) I know that no amount of hand washing or turning my head when they cough is going to protect me from their sickies.  Thanks to an extreme sensitivity to medication, I try to steer clear of doping myself and my kids up with an endless stream of cold meds unless I've exhausted all other options (although I do use Motrin to combat fever).  Fortunately, 6 years of parenting trial-and-error has produced a pretty streamlined cold and flu routine - we'll share our top tips with you if you return the favor!

• The SECOND we feel sickness coming on, we start pumping Vitamin C and Zinc.  We discovered this nifty homeopathic product a few years ago for kids - Boiron Oscillococcinum and it's sister product for coughing/hacking - Chestal Honey.  We don't do paid or bribed product reviews here at Baby Bunching, so if we say we swear by it, you can bet on it.
• In addition to stepping up the vitamin intake, pump lots of water/fluids and turn in extra early and take extra naps.  I know - who would've guessed that slowing down/taking it easy could speed up the healing process?!  
• I throw in 2-3 mouthwash gargles (gargles, not swallows) for me (not the kids) for a day or two when I start feeling sickness coming on as well.  I figure throwing a little extra germ killer on germs can't hurt.     
• For dry, germy, icky nasal passages, flush with a nasal spray (I like Afrin or similar products) or saline sprays for the kiddos. Flushing out nasal passages periodically seems to help.
• At night/during naptimes, a warm mist humidifier in the nursery can help.  At some point, someone (probably a pediatrician) told me cold mist is better (safer, maybe?) but I've found that to be a load of crap.  I got the warm-mist with a receptacle for vapors and it works like a charm.
• Speaking of vapors, Johnson's Soothing Vapor Bath (or like generic product) provides some slight bath-time relief of congestion - we use it for kids and adults in our house.
• Linda starts forcing Sambucus for Kidsinto her Bunch. Sambucus is a Black Elderberry liquid that helps boost immune systems.
• Finally, we have yet to try Linda's freakish wet sock remedy, but she swears by it and I'm thinking tonight may be our night. (Soak feet in warm bath water, put cold wet socks on and cover with wool socks. Get into bed immediately and sleep.) It is meant for congestion as it helps stimulate the immune system in the upper respiratory area, but can also work for sore throat and fevers. 

For more traditional "remedies," here are a few tips on getting your medicine cabinet flu and cold ready.

baby bunching battles: diaper rash

My first two years of Baby Bunching were an endless stream of, among other things, diaper rashes.  Two babies meant that someone was always either teething, trying a new food for the first time, or ill with a stomach virus or cold that messed up the pipes.  Heaven forbid it was something contagious, in which case BOTH bums would be red as fire engines.  It was then that I discovered the value of a Costco membership for diapers and wipes (and later, formula), but could never quite find a diaper creme that could nip a diaper rash in the bud.

The funny thing about diaper cremes is that it's one of those weird things that people seem to have brand loyalty to.  Desitin was the ointment of my childhood,  my pediatrician recommended Aveeno, but my son's daycare director swore by A + D ointment (had to be original formula).  A friend recommended Boudreaux's Butt Paste, another used Bert's Bees and a third insisted on Balmex.  In my quest to conquer a two-year long diaper rash, I tried them ALL - never fully settling on one that worked without fail every time.  Until my friend Jen introduced me to her secret recipe, which worked EVERY TIME - frequently after just the first application, but always after 2 or 3.  A friend who is a NICU nurse recently confirmed that she was able to con the recipe for the NICU's "butt paste" out of the pharmacist and it similar, with one slight variation.  I share this with you today, my friends, in the hopes that I can save you from the expense and waste of a drawer filled with pseudo-effective butt products.  Happy pasting!

No-Fail Butt Paste

Combine equal parts:

Lotrimin (or some other athlete's foot or anti-fungal cream - or Polysporin is another alternative)

Desitin (original formula)

Cornstarch mixed with a bit of water to make it pasty

Stir all three together until evenly blended and pasty.  I get a small plastic dish with a lid and make a small "batch" to have on hand for the duration of the rash spell.  But like I said - I've never had to use it more than 2 or 3 times on any given rash.

growing love

When my kids were born, I loved them for who they were. I loved them for all the wonderful things they did (that every other baby did, too) and for all the not so wonderful things (that every baby also does.)

I have to admit that it hasn't been until recently that I've had time to stop and really take a look at my children. We go through the day, sadly, so many times on autopilot. I know what each of my kids needs at any given time and have learned to anticipate before they even request it. I figure this is parenthood.

But it's only been now that I really have had my eyes opened to their individual (and amazing) personalities on more than a superficial level. Boy likes puzzles and chess, girl likes drawing and animals. Bunch babies usually get, well, bunched. I put them into the same activities and scoot them off together and sometimes forget they are not the same. They are not twins. They are different ages with different interests and needs. As they grow and can explain their love of one thing and dislike of another, I, too, grow as a parent.

As my love for them grows, so does my fear. More now than ever, I'm afraid of sending them off to school or going to a friend's house. I feel vulnerable as I have gotten to know them as little people. I can make mistakes with them. I could mess this up. I want to keep them safe. I want to help them grow, learn, love and be the best they can be. Am I the only one who feels this way?

I looked over at my baby girl this afternoon (who is now almost 5). She smiled back at me with her amazing smile and said, "Mommy, this is the best day ever. I love you." I looked at her. Really, really looked at her. Wondering who she resembled at that moment. Pondering what she might be someday. Perhaps living out this moment right now.

I looked back at her and smiled and said, "I love you, too, baby."

H1N1: to stick or not to stick?

Anyone who wants to feel better about their day should check out my post last week about the joys of getting flu shots with all three kids.  Unless, of course, you are scheduled to get flu shots with your Bunch today, then you should probably skip it.

With all the controversy about vaccinations in general and even more controversy because of the unknowns associated with H1N1, we're curious as to where y'all fall in the in the flu shot or no flu shot debate.  Linda and I frequently find ourselves in opposite camps on the vaccination issue, but this season's virus is throwing a wrench in the works that no one (including the CDC and AAP) knows what to do with.  The deal's sealed for me, but Linda's still on the fence, so tell us, dear Bunchers, what does the survey say on H1N1?

preparing for cold/flu season: our medicine cabinet tour

We have started in on cold season at our house--we're getting a later start than most families it seems. We have a well-stocked medicine cabinet at our house and every fall we get restocked. Mainly because I never know what drugs they’ll take off the market next.

You will read about all the cold and cough medicines that have been removed from the shelves because parents have neglected to read the labels and given the incorrect dosage to their children. But when your child is sick and hasn’t slept you become frustrated at what you can do. The general rule is less is better. Give as little has you can and if you must give something learn about the ingredients. It's important to know what each one does. And it's better to give the medicine that contain only one ingredient. No need to medicate for symptoms your kids doesn't have.

All the recent coverage about cold/cough medicines make us feel bad as moms when we want to make our kids feel better. Sure it doesn't cure the cold, but it makes them feel better and sleep (which is critical) in the process. Before you give anything, make sure you really do your research and talk to your doctor. 

So here is my very unofficial list of what we keep stocked and why.  (Please note this is not medical advice.) Dr. Sears has a great Medicine Cabinet reference for each of the ingredients and dosage recommendations.

Motrin and Tylenol (liquid)—My son responds better to Tylenol for some reason and my daughter with Motrin. We always have plenty of both.

Children’s Sudafed (liquid)—The real kind with pseudoephedrine (but just pseudoephedrine and nothing else added to it) that you have to buy behind the counter and sign your life away to get. It works great at decongesting stuffy noses.

Children’s Mucinex (liquid)—Only the kind with guaifenesin (an expectorant) in it. This stuff works great for getting kids to cough up the phlegm and but is also great for sinus issues since it really turns all mucus to a runny mess. Super fun. But it works.

Delsym (liquid)—This one is a bit more controversial and I’m very careful about when we use it. Our pediatrician recommended this (dextromethorphan) for after kids have been up a few nights with coughing and really can’t sleep at all. This stuff not only knocks out your kids but really makes them stop coughing. The reason I don’t like to use this is because it’s medically proven that it’s better the cough up the stuff than suppress it. But at night I feel it detrimental to my kids’ health to not rest.

Pedialyte—My kids really hate the taste of this, but when they have the stomach bug it’s nice to have it on hand. You can make your own and disguise the taste a bit.

Benadryl (liquid)—This only works on my daughter for a dry nighttime cough that’s clearly not cold related. We don’t use it much, but if she’s been up night-upon-night, we’ll give her small dose to help her sleep.

Only recently have we started adding in some of the natural remedies for my kids like honey (for cough) and warm tea. A humidifier does work, but we’ve found the warm ones actually work better. We have one of each and just try to keep them running all winter long no matter how well everyone is. Nasal spray is great as well. If you can get it up your kids noses, awesome! My kids fight me so much that it’s just not worth the fight. 

Think of me today as I'm home taking care of my second child. I think older child gave it to her so hopefully once this is over we can glide through Christmas without too much trouble.