Survival tip #274: When the kids are sick

Boy is "very sensitive" to lung infections.  The doctor's words, not mine.  It is incredibly frustrating that he doesn't offer something we can DO to help Boy and I'm thinking about requesting a referral to a specialist, but that is not the reason I logged in...it is simply the inspiration for my tip.

How many times have YOU been woken up by your child's cough, fever, or other cry for help in the middle of the night?  With Boy, it's coughing fits where he just cannot breathe.  Generally, we give him a dose of cough suppressant and then a nebulizer treatment and that settles him enough that he can go back to sleep.  Trying to collect all of this when you have been jolted out of your own slumber is a challenge, though.

So, my tip is to pre-measure before you go to bed.

Most pharmacies these days will give you extra measuring syringes (I don't like the spoons).  Measure out doses and then put them out of reach for the kids, but handy for you.  Maybe on your dresser or the master bath sink. (Put a plate under the syringe in case of a drip to avoid the dreaded sticky spot.)  You can also pre-fill the nebulizer so that it is ready to go at 2am.  (Just be sure to tilt it upright to prevent a spill.)  That way, you don't have to turn on all the lights and fumble around blind trying to take care of your patient.  Just grab the dose, treat your baby, and soothe them back to sleep.

*sigh*  It's never easy to have sick little ones.  While there isn't much we can do, not worrying about meds is a small blessing and we can get to the much more important concerns of comforting them when they are scared and not feeling good.