DS has fever - trip planned for tomorrow - Need advice please - Update :)

[Hoopin' Mama]

I am planning a trip tomorrow to see family. It's been planned for a while and it's totally necessary (family drama, father in the beginning of Alzheimers, etc). I don't have a lot of money to pay fees for changing the airline tickets or rearranging my schedule. I HAVE to go this week b/c ds' preschool is closed so I have to take time off anyway.

So, about 2 hours ago ds came down with a 101 fever. He says his face hurts, which is what he says every time he ends up with a virus. Our flight leaves tomorrow at 10am. What am I supposed to do?

We are staying with my sister. There are no small kids there. She will definitely not tell me I shouldn't come. I just can't imagine dragging a kid through a day of airline travel. Not to mention, the exposure to other people.

What in the world is there to do?

[Heavenly]

Honestly with the situation the way you've described it I would medicate for the fever and any other symptoms and go. Knowing kids you would cancel all the plans and he would be fine 6 hours later.

[sapphire_chan]

Dose him to increase his comfort, and hope that fighting off whatever's going on keeps him sleepy for the flight. The sleepier he is, the easier it'll be to keep him close to you and away from other people. And he'll be less likely to pass germs than a infectious asymptomatic child running around breathing on everyone.

[One_Girl]

Check your baggage and carry only him and your purse. If you can put it off a few days though then I think you should. I traveled once with my dd when she was very sick and I regret it. I spent the whole time laying on my in-laws bed nursing my very sick child then staying very still so she wouldn't wake. She was more miserable because she was unhappy to be away from home and it wasn't a great trip for any of us.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, I don't think putting it off for a couple days is an option. This isn't a "vacation" we have planned. It's a trip to deal with family stuff and it will cost at the very least another $200 to reschedule and likely loads more to get another flight that works for us.
The good thing is we really have nothing planned when we get there, as in going out and about. If he has to sit at my sister's all day Sunday and watch movies, that is fine.
I think I just need some reassurances. This trip is already soooo stressful for me. This is going to make it so much harder.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Originally Posted by Heavenly

Honestly with the situation the way you've described it I would medicate for the fever and any other symptoms and go. Knowing kids you would cancel all the plans and he would be fine 6 hours later.

Thank you for the advice.

Ugh, this trip has me majorly stressed.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

Dose him to increase his comfort, and hope that fighting off whatever's going on keeps him sleepy for the flight. The sleepier he is, the easier it'll be to keep him close to you and away from other people. And he'll be less likely to pass germs than a infectious asymptomatic child running around breathing on everyone.

Good point.

[ledzepplon]

Oh, bummer. I agree about treating the fever and going, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that he's all better in the morning.

[bodhitree]

Just to reassure you, we were on a trip away from home last week, and my DD came down with an ear infection the day before we were set to fly home. I was really worried, but I didn't see how we could change our return flight. We called her ped's office and got them to call in a prescription for her, but it wasn't even 12 hours between the first dose and when our flight left. I felt awful for even considering taking her on a plane with an ear infection, but I honestly didn't know what else to do.

We gave her tylenol AND motrin before getting on the plane, and she actually slept the entire way. The guy sitting across the aisle from us said he had five kids and none of them ever traveled as well as my DD did. So, there's a good chance your LO will do just fine.

[mamatoablessing]

Originally Posted by ledzepplon

Oh, bummer. I agree about treating the fever and going, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that he's all better in the morning.

I agree with the others. Make him comfortable (however you need to) so that he can travel ok tomorrow. And then let him be sick at your sisters. I also might think about a stroller, in case he really doesn't want to walk, and so you don't have to carry him too much (can be tough to carry a kid and deal with bags and purses and such).

But today I would concentrate on lots of fluids, lots of rest, maybe some immune boosters like echinacea or garlic, probiotics and vitamin d. While these might not necessarily help his symptoms, it could help him fight off the virus quicker and prevent spreading.

Good luck!

[aussiemum]

I agree with others, in this particular situation i would give him medication for the fever & just go. It's a hard call, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. i hope it works out for you & your family.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Thanks for all the replies! I gave him some Ibu before we left and the fever never returned. He complained about a tummy ache on and off all day, woke up Sunday and felt fine.
I sure do learn as I go. Glad I didn't overreact