What do you do when your baby is sick with a virus?

[KellyandBean]

My DD is 6 mo old and has had a fever (between 100 and 102) since yesterday morning. I'm a little at a loss as to what i am supposed to be doing seeing as how this is the first time she has been sick. Usually when she is feeling well we go out and do stuff and she does stuff like bouncing on her jumper and rolling around playing with toys but i keep thinking she probably shouldn't be doing those things. I know when i am sick i just lay around on the couch all day long so I've been trying to keep things low key for her but then sometimes she seems like she is ok enough to lay on the floor and play with some toys so i let her but then she is fussing a few later. It sucks so bad to not be able to communicate with her right now! Also I'm VERY confused about naps while she is sick. Do i put her down for a nap at the same times as i usually do or should i put her down more often? I usually go by eye rubs and the clock to put her down but since she is sick she looks perpetually tired so it is confusing me. She is a serious sleep fighter and isn't at all the type that will just pass out in the living room. We have gotten her used to going into her crib awake and falling asleep snuggling her musical seahorse (lovely) because rocking her didn't seem to be working anymore (just seeing us was to stimulating for her) but now she is throwing hysterical fits when i put her down in her crib so i try to rock her but that doesn't help either. :/ She just passed out in my arms after sobbing to sleep.

Also does anyone know if it is normal for her to be running a fever but not to have any other symptoms like runny nose or cough or anything? I called the doctors but they just said to keep an eye on her temp and give her acetaminophen. Would you bring her in anyway knowing that it is Friday and you wont be able to see anyone over the weekend? How long is it normal for her to run a fever? 2 days? 4 days?

[LionessMom]

bf on demand. wear her if she wants. only give her tylenol if her fever gets too high or she seems to be in pain. she prob just wants to be held. just being held by you will give her more relief than tylenol. and breastmilk is full of stuff that will relieve her pain and calm her. hold her, rock her, comfort her. if it gets too high or she develops other syptoms that are concerning, you can always take her to the er. fevers can last 4 days depending on what it is. i like to take them in on fri if it will be a 3day weekend. just to rule out stuff i didnt notice. sometimes it takes a trained eye, and it could make you feel better too. but all your little one wants is to be held by you. i wouldnt even try to put her down. i just hold my babies constantly anyway. do you have a wrap or sling?

also, just read in another thread. can she touch her chin to her chest. if she cant that could be a symptom of meningitis.

[SilverFish]

i would just keep an eye on it like the drs said. my 6 month old is into some heavy teething, plus caught a cold from me/her cousin last week, and so is fairly miserable right now. i haven't taken her temps at all, i don't think a slightly elevated temp is indication of much besides a sign that her body is working on fighting something. high temps could just as easily be a sign of teething too...

i am offering LOTS of nursing, lots of napping opportunities, plus a dose of baby tylenol if other things aren't working. will she nap with you in bed? if so, i'd set yourself up with a book and some snacks and just spend a lot of time with her on the boob and sleeping, like you would with a newborn. if you do get a good nap during the day, i'd definitely go out and do something afterwards... i see signs of boredom in my baby if we stay in too much even while she's been sick and an outing might distract her from discomfort. we overdid it a bit yesterday... i went to visit a friend which involved a 45 min drive in traffic, and she definitely was not handling it as well as she normally does... today i think i'll stick to a walk in the park.

anyway, yeah, i know it does suck about not being able to communicate (as i drag myself through another day with a cranky, whining, fussing babe :S) but i wouldn't worry too much.

i meant to add: i know lots of people are anti-tylenol for babies, but i don't think that's really fair. i take pain meds when i'm sick, and i KNOW why i'm in pain or feeling crappy. i think it's way more overwhelming for a little baby to be in pain and not know why, than for them to get some tylenol to help with the discomfort. it's not the first thing i reach for, obviously, but it's a great tool to have available.

[BathrobeGoddess]

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