How Do You Know When a Toddler Have a Stomach Virus

Marissa is the writer of "ThePracticalMommy" and owner of Mommy Knows What's Best. She's a former instructor and a stay-at-home mom to iv.

REVIEWED BY
Dr. Charles Shubin, M.D. and Fellow of the American University of Pediatrics, Mercy Medical Center

Learn how to treat a sick toddler who may have a fever, cold, cough, stomach virus, or the flu. — Learn how to treat a sick toddler who may have a fever, common cold, cough, tummy virus, or the flu.

How Can I Help My Sick Toddler?

Toddlers have amazing footling wellness cycles: One infinitesimal they're happy and playing, and the next minute they're sick with a stomach virus or a terrible cough.

A toddler seems to get ill suddenly, showing all of the signs and symptoms of a sickness inside minutes. How can you lot care for a child so young? When should y'all call the physician? Acquire how to treat your toddler when he or she becomes sick.

What You Can Look to Learn

How Do I Know if My Toddler Is Sick?
Is My Toddler's Temperature Normal?
Fever in Toddlers
Cold Remedies for Toddlers
Does My Child Have Whooping Coughing?
Does My Toddler Accept Strep Throat?
Signs of Dehydration in Toddlers
Stomach Virus in Toddlers
Treatment for the Influenza
How to Keep Toddlers Healthy

Here you lot'll find remedies for the common common cold, breadbasket virus, fevers, and the flu that are appropriate for children 4 years of age and younger.

How Do I Know if My Toddler Is Sick?

First things commencement: practise you know how to communicate with your toddler nearly an illness? Toddlers, especially those but i or two years of age, may non have the ability to tell you what is wrong with them when they are sick. How do yous know then how to treat your toddler?

Most of the fourth dimension, you need to be aware of your child's behavior and normal routine. Any sudden alter in his or her behavior, such equally being cranky or unpleasant, could be a sign that your child is ill. Also, be on the sentinel for:

Excess sleepiness
Non wanting to play
Not wanting to consume
Crying later on eating or drinking
Changes in urine or stool output
Changes in skin coloring (rosy cheeks, pale confront, etc.)

These could all be signs that your kid is suffering with an affliction.

Of grade, if your child is able to speak with words or short sentences, inquire what is wrong or inquire where in their body it hurts. For example, my daughter, at the historic period of 2, is able to say "Ouch" and point to her stomach or head when she is non feeling well.

Is My Toddler's Temperature Normal?

When you experience your kid's brow by hand and take a gut feeling that it's higher than normal, what should you practice? Hither'due south how to know whether you should stop worrying well-nigh it or be concerned.

What Is a Normal Temperature?

A normal body temperature varies based on where you have it.

Orally: When you take the temperature in your child's rima oris, a normal temperature is 98.half dozen°F (37°C).
Rectally: When you accept the temperature in your child's lesser, a normal temperature reading is 99.half-dozen°F (37.five°C).

How to Take Your Toddler's Temperature

1. Rectal Temperature-Taking Procedure

When Should I Call the Md?

When to Call the Doctor
Temperature	Call the Doc?	Unless...
99-101°F	No	Child shows other worrisome symptoms
102-102.9°F	Yes	Fever reduces with medicine and doesn't last more 2 days
103°F+	Yep

Fever in Toddlers

A fever is defined as a spike in body temperature that indicates that the body is fighting some blazon of infection. Not all fevers are serious. With toddlers, most fevers are actually harmless and go abroad on their own.

The normal torso temperature for most people is around 98.6°F. Any fluctuation could exist a fever. For toddlers, a fever between 99°F and 101°F is typically nothing to exist alarmed with and can exist treated with good rest, plenty of fluids, and a lukewarm bath.

Once a toddler'southward fever spikes to about 102°F, it's time to worry a bit. At that point, it'due south safe to requite your kid the correct dosage of acetaminophen for his/her age and so monitor your child to see if the fever reduces. If the fever continues to increase despite the medicine or other deportment you've taken, call the doctor.

With whatsoever fever, be on the lookout for extra symptoms that could accompany the fever, such as:

Chills
Cough
Runny nose
Headache
Earache
Sore throat
Strong neck
Pain when urinating

These symptoms, along with fever, could point to other illnesses: strep pharynx, the flu, a urinary tract infection, or other infections. Be sure to tell your md if you detect any of these symptoms forth with a fever.

Here are a few easy ways to help your toddler recover from their cold more quickly! — Here are a few easy ways to assist your toddler recover from their common cold more quickly!

Cold Remedies for Toddlers

A common cold can exist defined as having the sniffles from a runny or stuffy nose, a cough, itchy or scratchy throat, congestion in the sinuses, watery eyes, sleepiness, and a low-grade fever. For a toddler, these symptoms could be relatively minor and cause no major disruption in the twenty-four hour period. At night, notwithstanding, your toddler may experience more discomfort as he or she is lying down, trying to slumber.

Here are some remedies for the mutual cold:

1. Hydration

Make sure your toddler is getting enough fluids during the day. It will aid all of the secretions from the nasal passages and sinuses to stay thin so that they go on to come out without causing backlog congestion.

2. A Dose of Acetaminophen

If your toddler has a depression-form fever or is achy, you can give a dose of acetaminophen to aid with the fever or pain. Many over-the-counter medicines such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen can lower a fever and salve aches. Make sure to inquire your doctor what is the all-time choice to choose. Just make sure not to give your toddler aspirin.

Notes:

Brand certain not to double dose! Read the medicine labels carefully to make sure that you don't accidentally give multiple doses of acetaminophen. Many cold medicines contain both a fever and pain reliever, and double dosing can be unsafe for your toddler.
Talk to your pediatrician before you give any over-the-counter medicine to a child under age 4.
Don't give more than 5 doses in one twenty-four hours.
Use a special liquid measuring device to make certain you give the right dose of medicine. You can get one at your drug store or ask your chemist. An ordinary teaspoon may non hold the right amount of medicine.

3. Humidify the Room

A absurd-mist humidifier in the bedchamber at night is not bad for keeping the air moist to help your child breathe ameliorate. A warm, dry, stuffy room makes breathing more difficult as information technology can make congestion worse.

4. Appease the Sore Throat

Having to deal with a sore or scratchy throat is no fun for an developed, allow lone a toddler! Here are a few means to soothe their pharynx.

Offering honey for a scratchy pharynx. Honey is a natural remedy to soothe a sore throat. It gently coats the throat without having to use cough medicines which can exist harmful to kids under the age of four. But employ dearest for kids one year of age and older as the spores in honey can exist harmful to immature kids and babies.
Drink lemon juice with love for a sore pharynx. Lemon helps dry upward congestion, and honey offers a smooth coating. Mix a tablespoon of both the juice and honey in a bowl. Microwave the mixture for about twenty seconds or until it'south warm. Make sure it'south not also hot! Take your toddler swallow a teaspoon of the juice at a time.
Gargle salt water. It tin can help reduce the inflammation in the throat and even remove any bacteria. If you want to endeavour something else, gargling blistering soda mixed with salt water can salve a sore throat, kill bacteria, and forbid the growth of yeast and fungi. The formula is the post-obit: 1 cup warm water, 1/iv teaspoon baking soda, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt.
Eat cold or frozen liquids. Permit them have a treat and suck on a popsicle to soothe their throat!
Consume warm liquids. Use the opposite method and have them sip warm liquids such as h2o, tea, or chicken soup. It can ease the tickle in the pharynx.
Assistance them get proficient rest. This is i of the best ways to assist your toddler recover from a cold.
Attempt apple tree cider vinegar. Its acidic nature not only combats a sore throat merely too gets rid of bacteria. Endeavor diluting 1–2 tablespoons of it in one cup of water and gargle. It'due south all-time to consult your doctor first earlier trying this method.

five. Assist them get good residuum.

This is one of the best means to help your toddler recover from a cold.

6. Have them blow their olfactory organ.

There's no improve way to eliminate mucus than to have them blow their nose!

Should I Give My Toddler Cough Syrup?

Giving coughing syrup to toddlers is no longer recommended for children under the historic period of four. Children's cough syrup has been proven ineffective for kids younger than four and can sometimes lead to serious bug, which can and so pb to decease—especially for kids who have been given the wrong dosage or a mix of medicines with the aforementioned ingredient.

Bottom Line: Keep your little ones hydrated and offer them a teaspoon of beloved if they are older than one year old.

Does My Toddler Have Whooping Cough?

What Is Whooping Coughing?

Whooping coughing, known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection that inflames the lungs and airways and infects the windpipe. That's why a symptom is the persistent, violent coughing that sounds like a strange birdlike "whooping" sound fabricated when kids try to have deep breaths between coughs.

Symptoms of whooping cough include:

A mild cough
Sneezing
A runny nose

At around the three-week mark, the classic cough begins every bit intense fits. A person with whooping cough is highly infectious.

Is Whooping Cough the Aforementioned Thing every bit Croup?

No. Croup is an infection, by and large viral and almost never bacterial, of the larynx (vocal cords), trachea (windpipe), and sometimes the bronchial tubes (lungs). It's also contagious, especially during the first few days of the illness. A symptom of this is a cough that sounds like a barking seal. The symptoms typically terminal three to four days.

How Practise I Care for a Toddler With Croup?

Keep them calm. Considering croup causes their airways to get inflamed and narrow, breathing can become a little more than difficult. If they cry continually or get worked up, the symptoms will go along to worsen.
Give them fluids. Warm, articulate fluids tin can help loosen fungus and relieve pressure level.
Continue the air moist. Utilize a cool-mist humidifier if y'all can. If not, run a hot shower in your bathroom and sit in the room (non the shower) with your toddler for ten minutes. Having admission to fresh, cool hair may help gratify the symptoms, so you lot tin can likewise try opening the window for a few minutes or driving around town with the windows down.
Keep their caput up (literally and figuratively). Propping your toddler's head with a pillow when they sleep at night can help.
Saltwater nose drops.
Hurting and fever medication can be your friend.

Make sure to monitor your child's animate at night.

Does My Toddler Take Strep Throat?

If y'all think your kid has more than than just a common cold, consider whether they might accept strep pharynx. Children between the ages of i and 3 may show symptoms that include:

Irritability
Full general discomfort
Fever
Sleeping problems
Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Nasal discharge that might look thick or bloody
Loss of appetite, nausea, or stomach ache

If your toddler does take strep throat, assistance them recover past keeping them comfortable, well-rested, and at home. This too helps keep them from spreading strep bacteria to others.

Give them a steady supply of cold water, juice, or popsicles to calm their pharynx while also keeping them hydrated.
Reduce their discomfort by providing them warm liquids such as soup or chamomile tea.
If your toddler is old enough to irrigate, mix a one-half teaspoon of table salt in a cup of water and take them irrigate the mixture to relieve any discomfort and potentially remove bacteria from their throat.
Refer to the "Cold Remedies for Toddlers" section for additional ways to assistance expedite your child's recovery.

How to Lower a Fever in Toddlers

Learn how to combat your toddler'southward fever as yous head in armed with the correct information!

1. Will a bathroom help lower my child'south fever?

Information technology may! Giving your toddler acetaminophen before the bath and then giving them a bath (lukewarm water!) may help lower their fever. If yous don't want them to accept a bathroom, y'all can sponge them with tepid water.

2. Is it better to try to interruption a fever? Or should I let the fever fight the infection?

A fever is part of your toddler'due south defence against bacteria and viruses, and it also signals their body to make more than white claret cells and antibodies to fight the infection. At the same time, a temperature that's also high may make your child too uncomfortable to do things that can aid their recovery, such as eating, drinking, or sleeping.

3. How else tin I lower a fever in my toddler?

Dampen a washcloth with cool water and identify it on their forehead while they residual.
Employ a fan to keep your child libation. Don't direct the fan at him or her, merely go along the setting on low and identify information technology to circulate the air effectually them.
Arrange according to their electric current state. If they're shivering, give them a light coating to help them go warm. If they experience like they're overheating, remove layers of clothing and so they can release rut more easily through their pare.
Stay indoors in a absurd area. If you're outside, stay in the shade.

Make sure your toddler doesn't get dehydrated!

Signs of Dehydration in Toddlers

If your child exhibits any of the following symptoms when suffering from a stomach virus, call your doctor:

Decreased urination
Eyes that appear sunken in
Extremely tired
No tears when crying
Extremely thirsty
Dry, wrinkled, or discolored skin

Tummy Virus in Toddlers

Toddlers seem to feel random bouts of stomach viruses. Until their fiddling immune systems can handle all of the dissimilar kinds of bacteria they may come across in foods or on surfaces, they will suffer from various tummy viruses at least 2–3 times a year.

Your poor little 1 may endure unexpected bouts of vomiting or diarrhea along with a mild fever when he or she experiences a stomach virus. The matter to worry about most with these kinds of stomach viruses is aridity from the vomiting or diarrhea.

To treat a breadbasket virus with vomiting:

Encourage pocket-size sips of h2o or an electrolyte solution. Avoid sodas, sugary drinks, or juice as they may brand vomiting worse. Water or an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte is best to help replenish whatsoever lost fluids. Wait at to the lowest degree fifteen-xx minutes after airsickness to requite any fluids. Giving fluids too presently may make your child vomit again.
Give an appropriate dose of acetaminophen. A flake of Tylenol can assist your toddler feel a chip better. Be aware that it could irritate the tum.
Go on a bucket, shopping bags, extra towels, newspaper towels, and spare sheets handy. When my kids become a stomach virus with vomiting, I line a bucket with a shopping purse and gather all the necessary cleaning supplies so I tin can clean up in minutes without having to go crazy trying to notice everything. I place an old sheet or two on my couch and place a few old towels on the flooring. I place the bucket on top of the towels so that when my kids lie on the couch, it's nearby and gear up. Often, a toddler will miss the bucket, just if you're prepared, yous can encourage them to vomit as much as they can in the bucket.
When vomiting subsides, encourage your toddler to eat small amounts of good for you food. Stick with complex carbohydrates like dry cereal or toast at commencement, and work your style back to the normal diet without fat or greasy foods.

To treat a tummy virus with diarrhea:

Encourage drinking, especially water or an electrolyte solution. Again, avoid sodas, sugary drinks, or juice as they may brand diarrhea worse.
Encourage minor meals and snacks throughout the 24-hour interval. Continue the meals basic, without fatty or greasy foods.
Go along a container of diaper rash foam handy. If your toddler is however in diapers, he or she may develop a rash from diarrhea. Generously apply diaper rash cream to the diaper surface area to avoid or treat a rash.

Stomach viruses ordinarily go away after a few days. To go on the virus from spreading, regularly make clean all the surfaces in your home with an anti-bacterial cleaning solution or disinfecting wipes. Wash your easily frequently, specially after you treat an ill toddler.

Does My Child Have the Flu?

Influenza viruses are found in the nose and throat. Your toddler can catch influenza from siblings, parents, family members, friends, or caregivers. How?

Germs ordinarily spread in one of three ways:

Straight Contact: This tin can include acts such as kissing, touching, or holding hands with an infected person. By touching other people, you tin pass on the virus.
Indirect Contact: This occurs when y'all touch something that's been touched past an infected person. Objects can include anything from a toy to a doorknob.
Air: Some germs spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplets from a coughing or sneeze can achieve another person's nose or oral cavity.

In young children, flu tin crusade croup, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis. It tin also weaken the immune arrangement, which leads to bacterial infections of the ear, lung, or sinuses. Small children are specially susceptible to the flu.

What are the symptoms?

Fever of 101°F or higher
Achy body
Headaches
Fatigue
Coughing
Runny nose
Congestion

If you detect these symptoms in your toddler, particularly during the height flu flavour betwixt October and Feb, it'due south is almost likely the flu and not simply a common cold. Unfortunately, there's not much y'all can do other than to treat the symptoms.

What can I do if my child has influenza?

Keep your kid as comfy as possible.

Offer plenty of fluids and small, nutritious meals so they stay hydrated and have the nutrients they need. Clear broth and water are the best fluids to drinkable and may assist with congestion.
If they have a fever, dress them in light clothing and keep the room temperature around 68°F.
Don't give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines to children younger than half dozen years sometime unless your md prescribes them.

Be on the lookout for sudden changes in behavior when toddlers are sick.

ThePracticalMommy

Keep Your Toddler Healthy

One of your goals every bit a parent is to go on your kids healthy. To accomplish this, remember to have your kids:

Launder their hands afterward using the bath, coughing, sneezing, etc.
Consume a well-balanced diet total of vegetables and fruit and good for you sources of poly peptide.
Stay hydrated by drinking water, milk, or other healthy drinks.
Accept a multi-vitamin to make upwardly for whatever missed nutrients.
Get enough of exercise.

Equally their parent, you can be a good case by doing all of those things as well. As well, remember to regularly clean and sanitize surfaces that are touched frequently (doorknobs, cabinet handles, etc.).

Take a healthy household!

Childhood Illnesses

Childhood Illnesses : RSV, Croup, and Whooping Cough
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is once again on the rising, forth with RSV and croup, two other common babyhood illnesses. Learn about the symptoms of these common childhood illnesses, how to care for them, and how to preclude them.

Sources

Symptoms of the Mutual Cold from The Mayo Clinic
Treating a Stomach Virus from BabyCenter
Influenza in Children from Baby Heart

This content is authentic and true to the all-time of the author's noesis and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized communication from a qualified professional person.

Marissa (author) from The states on December 05, 2017:

Sian, make sure she stays hydrated. If information technology continues for a few more days, I'd contact the doctor once again.

Sian on December 04, 2017:

My daughter is almost 2 and having diorrea and cough and a cold doctors said she'south fine and she will get over it just I recollect it's something different

patricia delgado on September 21, 2015:

These are some skillful tips, my little ones are miserable when they're sick!

James Robert on September 13, 2015:

I had to learn equally I went along and so this will help out many new parents. I call back worrying and would call my mom to ask many questions. This is a helpful post.

Dandi Daffyhill on September 04, 2015:

Information technology'south e'er so hard on a mommy see her footling ane sick.

mathira from chennai on August xix, 2014:

Very useful tips for young mothers. Mothers are usually baffled when their toddler falls sick. Y'all take given them the right ways to deal with the sudden sickness of their infant.

Tatiana from Florida on January 20, 2014:

Great data! My little human being got sick around 6 months and I had no idea what to practise! Luckily he got over information technology quick, but next time I'll be prepared! Voted upwards!

Brandon Hart from The states on November 11, 2013:

Keen tips on how I can treat my kids. Thanks again. This is and so helpful.

Marissa (author) from United States on June 06, 2013:

epbooks , glad you similar it, and cheers for sharing!

Elizabeth Parker from Las Vegas, NV on June 05, 2013:

This is crawly data. I don't take children, but I take friends that do and I'll tell them well-nigh your hub. All this is smashing to know!

Marissa (author) from The states on May 08, 2013:

Cassandra, thanks for your kind comment! I'grand glad you lot establish this useful. :)

Cassandra on May 08, 2013:

This is such a wonderful reference list! I wish I had it when I was first starting off. Y'all frequently question so many things. I retrieve mostly its just getting used to parenthood. I loved your tips and will definitely hold on to a few of them :)

Marissa (author) from United States on May 08, 2013:

shari lynn, no problem! Just remember that your toddler should exist a twelvemonth or older! Honey can be unsafe to a immature infant. Thanks for reading!

shari lynn on May 08, 2013:

ty for the tip on honey for a sick toddler

Marissa (author) from U.s. on February 09, 2013:

ExpectGreatThings, I'm glad you found this to be helpful. Yes, the sleeping toddler is mine! :) Thanks for reading and commenting!

ExpectGreatThings from Illinois on Feb 09, 2013:

This is really helpful. I love that you are circumspect and caring without encouraging anxiety and paranoia :). And the photograph of the sleeping toddler is adorable. I presume she'south yours?

Marissa (author) from U.s.a. on December 17, 2012:

teaches12345, I could imagine how you watched for disease in your kids! I practice the same on a daily basis, particularly during cold and flu season. I'd rather grab it ahead of fourth dimension than also late, and I'm sure you were the same way. :)

Cheers for reading and commenting!

Dianna Mendez on December 17, 2012:

I recollect the days when I watched for these signs of illness. You have posted an accurate detailed listing and I'm sure information technology will assistance parents to catch a cold or influenza early plenty to help kids heal apace. Well done and researched.

Marissa (writer) from The states on Dec sixteen, 2012:

twoseven, information technology is true that they seem to bounce back rather quickly, which is corking! Thanks for reading and commenting!

twoseven from Madison, Wisconsin on Dec xv, 2012:

Great advice! I concord that they can change so speedily from ane moment to the adjacent, which is great when they get better then chop-chop, just sorry when they suddenly go sick!

Marissa (author) from United states of america on December 15, 2012:

randomcreative, give thanks you! With the kids existence sick a lot this flavour, I knew how important it was for me to have this data on hand when needed. I hope it can help other parents as well! :)

Rose Clearfield from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 15, 2012:

What a comprehensive resource! I love how you've organized all of the tips. It makes information technology easy to discover what you need when you need it.

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Source: https://wehavekids.com/parenting/How-to-Treat-a-Sick-Toddler