I'm laying awake terrified. I have a six week old and a three year old. This evening, DS1 suddenly said his tummy hurt and started to spike a fever. Just now he woke up miserable and his fever was 102! He's been around and touching DS2 all day. No idea what he has, probably some virus, but DS2 hasn't gotten vaccines yet and I'm terrified he's going to get this! Ugh we're all so tired and really don't need this right now. 
Any suggestions or advice?
You might also enjoy...
-
No advice but sending hope and prayers that the baby will not get whatever big brother is coming down with. Hang in there momma!
-
This is our life. My toddler has been sick practically since the baby was born. And all she wants to do is hug and kiss her baby sister. So far the baby has only picked up a little cold this last week. I was terrified when the older one came down with a stomach bug but we seem to have contained it.
I am breastfeeding so I think that helped (the toddler certainly shares germs with me too!). And we wash hands so much mine have cuts and cracks in them. It's all you can do!
Good luck.
-
Just know you aren't alone. Tis the season. Also I wouldn't worry about vaccines and toddler illnesses combining unless your 3 year old isn't vaccinated. I'm 99.99% certain your toddler isn't passing along hepatitis or measles or anything vaccine related. My baby has been sick a ton this first year which has been a true pain since when they're little they have no coping mechanisms. but I'm reminding myself that it means he will be a healthy preschooler because he is building immunity. Good luck.
-
We had a December baby and a 2.5 year old last year and it was so stressful. Lots of hand washing and try to keep the baby in a bouncer, swing or carrier away from germy sibling. R caught his first cold at 4 weeks old. It's stressful but it will be ok!
-
I had read that there is a concern of menangitis with little babies getting fever before getting vaccines. Don't know the whole story on that though. Oh sorry I meant that to tag @mrs. confetti:
-
@travellingbee: there is a risk if they get a fever before 8 weeks and they automatically treat it as a big deal, hospital, spinal tap, I think. But it's because it's before 8 weeks, not because it's before vaccines- they just happen to be the same dates (I think that's part of why they wait until then for the shots). So it's is scary but I just do what I can. I also try to encourage kissing her feet or back of her head vs hands and face. (Try being the key word here).
-
My toddler was constantly sick right when the baby was born, but surprisingly, the baby only got a runny nose and cough most of them time- maybe bc of the antibodies in BM? Hopefully your little one doesn't catch anything!!
-
@Foodnerd81: ah so maybe they jut said before vaccines meaning before 8 weeks.
DS1's fever is up to 102.7 this morning and he's very lethargic, upset. He's complaining his neck and back hurt so I have a call into the doctor. Trying to keep LO away from him but I'm sure he's already been exposed.
-
@NovBaby1112: hopefully!! DS1 has had a few colds since DS2 has been born and he's only gotten a stuffy nose once so I'm hoping this doesn't get passed to him either.
@winniebee: very stressful! I'm not worried about a cold but a high fever scares me!
-
@Kimberlybee: thanks!
-
my oldest had a five day virus of high fevers when my youngest was 2 weeks old, she passed it onto my second youngest, but it managed to avoid the newborn! My three oldest have had a myriad of diseases since my youngest was born 9 weeks ago, luckily he has avoided all the illness.
No advice, but I totally empathize with your stress. I hope your oldest feels better soon and the virus avoids the baby. -
@travellingbee: my older LO got a fever for 3-4 days when the baby was a week old! I was worried but we just tried to keep them separate and somehow the baby didn't end up with a fever. You are right to worry about the fever and not the cold but just do the best you can!
-
@travellingbee: Has your oldest had his flu shot? Does sound like flu symptoms. A fever before 12 weeks is enough to warrant a doctors visit and get checked out for sure. Often times if you are that young it can be a sign of meningitis but also could be due to an illness or from their first round of vaccines at two months. I hope you all stay well, it is so hard with the second child and I think they do get sick so much more often!
-
Hope DS1 starts to feel better soon. DS is only 7 weeks old and has already had an ear infection he caught from his big sis. It's hard to avoid with two little ones in the house. The breast milk will hopefully keep your little baby extra strong!
-
@MamaBehr: oh I hope this is the case for us!
@MamaCate: that's good to hear, thank you!
@Mrs. Deer: yes, he did have flu shot. well flu mist this year. But of course they aren't 100%.
@Worrywart: oh man! It's so hard! Yes, hoping so too! -
No advice, but we've had our four month old catch viruses that for him came with a fever (and dd too once) from his sister two times. First cold with no fever at not even three weeks old, first fever at five weeks. We're chugging along although it has been difficult. You'll get through and I'll be thinking of your family! Hope he doesn't get it! If it makes you feel a little better my dd's last thing she actually didn't give him the day she started coming down with it and was all over ds. He didn't get it until like a week later and it was probably because at that point dd had been sick for a long time and there was either a lapse in lysoling, or it's because dh and I also got it (and mil too!)
-
Sounds like strep to me for the older. Lots of hand washing.
-
So it's my nightmare scenario. DH took him to urgent care where they confirmed that poor sweet boy has double ear infections, a croup cough and..... THE FLU. Even though he had the flu mist this year. I am so. so. terrified for the baby.
I think I'm in a state of panic right now.
-
@travellingbee: ugh so scary!!! Is there any way someone can come take care of ds so you can stay with the baby quarantined away from him? Or vice versa? And your poor ds, hope he feels better soon! can he have tamiflu?
-
@travellingbee: So sorry.
Buy some elderberry syrup for your little guy. I'm serious - that is one natural product that can be SO beneficial with the flu. Are you breastfeeding the baby?? If so, that should provide some protection. Thinking of your oldest and crossing everything for your baby and that he avoids it!!
-
@travellingbee: your DH should definitely check with the urgent care doctors as to what they suggest you do with your NB. I'd give the little one a bath in the meantime just so I'd think that I'd have done everything possible to get the germs off him.
And I really hope DS1 feels better soon!
-
@hilsy85: @Pumuckl: @coopsmama: so the urgent care suggested we needed to have pediatrician prescribe tamiflu preventatively for the baby. They said to call tomorrow but I was freaked out and called off hours and asked them for a prescription now. They gave him one so we started that just now. That makes me feel better. Hoping the rest of us don't come down with it since it clearly was a different strain than the shot.
-
@travellingbee: You can give Tamiflu to a newborn? I took that stuff and it made me so sick to my stomach it was worse than having the flu
.
-
@ShootingStar: Yes over two weeks. I took it once when I had the flu and I didn't have a reaction. I hope my boys don't throw up from it...
-
@travellingbee: are you breastfeeding ??!!
-
@travellingbee: I am so sorry! Hang in there! Sending good vibes...
-
@jh524: Yes, breastfeeding lots!
-
@travellingbee: I'm so sorry! On top of being so worried for the baby, it's exhausting caring for sick little ones! I hope everyone gets better soon. And I agree if there is anyone who can come help, call them. It's very hard going back and forth between the two kids and trying to keep all the germs at bay.
-
Oh no!!
-
@travellingbee: hope you are doing okay! Do you have parents or in laws nearby that your DH could take your older one to and camp out for a few days?
I don't know if there is anything that can really help, but it always makes me feel better to feel like I'm doing something. I assume you and your DH had the flu shot? Can you make a big batch of chicken soup now before it spreads?
I would just try to keep everyone else as healthy as possible. Lots of breast milk, scrub down bathrooms, wash towels, bedding. Take care of yourself too - lots of water, don't forget to eat, take vitamins. If your DH is home, maybe take the baby on walks just to get him out of the house and away from germs?
Ahh! Good luck!
-
@travellingbee: Oh no, poor Lucas! I can understand why you are so anxious. We were in a similar position yesterday. I can't promise that Liam won't get sick but I'll offer our two recent stories as reassurances:
- last week, our babysitter was with the kids all day on Thursday and Friday morning. On Friday night, she was admitted to the ER for a terrible stomach virus that left her extremely dehydrated. By some miracle, no one in my house caught it.
- P was diagnosed with croup yesterday. He had been kissing his little sister all week too. We've been keeping them separated, washing hands a ton, changing clothes frequently, scrubbing the house, and taking extra showers... and so far she hasn't caught it.So, stay positive. Try to trust their little immune systems. Get rest, wash hands, breastfeed, give tamiflu...
Thinking of you guys and hoping for the best!!
-
@Foodnerd81: my parents live 45 minutes away but I hate to expose them as well. DH is going to work from home tomorrow so that helps because we can just divide and conquer.
@Smurfette:
@jedeve: yes, we all got the flu shot, I guess it was just an off-strain...thanks, we have gotten masks and Lysol and wipes and have been stripping beds, scrubbing everything and super careful since we found out. I just hope we didn't all get it already!!@QueensBee: thanks... I'm so hoping against hope that the rest of us don't get it. I just can't believe this happened. None of us have ever gotten the flu when we got the shot- the one time has to be when we have a newborn! Having a baby during flu season is BAD! Hope P feels better soon and your sweet girl doesn't pick it up.
-
@travellingbee: hope the LOs are feeling better soon. LO1 had the flu and an earache 2 weeks ago, which I then caught, but not as severe. She ran a fever for 5 days and I had to keep her home from school with me and LO2. LO2 got some congestion, but never ran a fever. Hopefully yours will run the same.
-
@mrs.shinerbock: oh man, so good to hear that the rest of you didn't get it too bad. Glad your little guy is ok!
-
@travellingbee: I am so sorry about your big boy getting the flu. The nurses repeatedly informed me that breast milk is basically a super food that can fight off a lot of germs. I think I remember reading you are having a great breastfeeding experience so hopefully that will boost up baby's immunity. Wishing big bro a speedy recovery.
I can not wait until spring arrives for warmer weather. I've been keeping DD2 at home a lot to avoid whatever illnesses I can during this flu season.
-
@travellingbee: Hope the flu makes a timely exit from your home! I hear ya on having a newborn during flu season. I keep thinking *maybe* September would have been worse, but pretty much right from October when our second baby was born is when the constant colds and illnesses started. Yuck. So ready for summer and the ridiculously hot weather.
-
@mrs.shinerbock: So glad and relieved that you chimed in to share a positive outcome of a not so ideal situation. Hopefully, @travellingbee: will have similar good luck where baby does not get sick either.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
37 comments