UPDATED: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

UPDATED: He's got a very tiny cold! I don't know why I let DH get in my head

Do you take your DC to the doctor every time they develop sniffles or a cough (i.e. what you think is a cold)?


DS started with a cough a few days ago. Only when he lays down (naps and at night). He's developed a bit of a stuffy nose also since yesterday.

I am kind of on the fence about taking him in. At this point, I think it's just a cold and it will run its course. DH thinks I should we should bring him in just for a check.

DS is now almost 17 months. When he was younger I always brought him in no matter what, but as he gets older and I get more used to being a mommy I am just not sure he needs to see the doctor every time he has a drop of snot.

What do you normally do?

Message edited 2/11/2009 1:54:14 PM.

Re: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

DD is 16 months. What I usually do is keep an eye on it for a few days. If after 4/5 days it hasn't gotten better, i call.

My ped will let me decide if i want to bring her in.

I say call thed ped.

Re: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

If its just a small cold no. If it lasts more then 2 days yes. I never want to be that parent that looks back and says "why didnt I" ... Its 20 bucks and totally worth it to me to know that I did right...KWIM...

adding...it probably is just a cold as that is what is going around...but if it lasts more then a few days then let the DR tell you its just a cold.

Message edited 2/11/2009 11:08:03 AM.

Re: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

At that age, no I didn't take her right away. I waited a few days to see if there were any changes...if the cough lingered, I would take her so they could listen to her lungs...

Sounds like the mucous could just be dripping down his throat and making him cough (if it's happening while he horizontal)...although I'm no doctor!!

Re: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

Re: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

I just call for a peace of mind. If its something that really concerns me, they'll have me come in. Other than that, I am getting confident in my judgments.

Re: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

No.

Only if I hear wheezing do I take him in.

Re: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

When DS was an infant, I took him in for the slightest sniffle, cough or fever over 100.4.

Now that he's a bit older (19 mos), I take him if he's had the cough longer than a few days or it gets worse-sounding. We also take him if he develops a fever 101 and above or has an accompanying rash.

DS is teething so it's hard to say if his runny nose is from that or something else until he develops additional symptoms.

If it will make you and DH feel better to have him checked out, maybe take him to the doctor.

Re: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

for sniffles and a little cough, no we don't take her every time.

Re: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

thank you ladies DH was starting to make me feel like I was a bad mommy for letting this go. I think he is fine other than the slight cough at night.

I am bringing him anyway though (even though I think it's a waste of $30!)

Re: UPDATED: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

UPDATED: He's got a very tiny cold! I don't know why I let DH get in my head

Re: UPDATED: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

Not for just a cold, unless the cough sounds bad like it might be in his chest. If there is any sign of ear infection, I take him right in (pulling, pointing, crying, etc.). Fever I do take him in for because in my experience it could be ear infection and I want to be on the safe side.

Re: UPDATED: Do you take your DC to the doctor every time ...

No b/c we would literally live there due to daycare and what we affectionately refer to as "kennel cough" Because he's generally got something - snots, congestion, a cough - I've had to learn early on how to differentiate it from something a little more serious.