Probably the most common form of illness in a very young child during winter months is a distinctive barking cough, rough-sounding breathing, and a hoarse voice.

1. Winter Illnesses in Babies and Toddlers

2. Winter illnesses – Judy Clark’s Personal
Experience
As a parent it is heart breaking to see your child unwell, every winter I
experience it first hand as my now, 3 year old suffers from Croup! She
has had it every year since she was born. It breaks my heart to hear her
cough through the night, sometimes lasting hours on end. A few days
ago, I decided to time how long she had been coughing…one episode
lasted 37 seconds. This experience was traumatic for me and my
daughter. I am sure other parents have gone through the same thing,
which is why I decided to blog about it.

3. What is Croup?
Probably the most common form of illness in very young child during
winter months, is a distinctive barking cough along with rough
sounding breathing and a hoarse voice. It is a viral infection and can be
serious enough to need a hospital visit for treatment. It goes without
saying, of course, that such a condition has a significant effect on a
child’s sleep patterns. It is quite possible that they will get very little
sleep, so measures need to be taken to alleviate this problem.

4. Being commonly found amongst children aged from six months to
three years, especially boys, the illness can last for several days if
caused by something like the parainfluenza virus. However allergic
reactions which can lead to a bout of croup, tend to last for much
shorter periods but come around more often.
Overall though the Croup illness is thought to be a mild and can usually
be treated at home using simple methods:
1. Obviously having restricted breathing is likely to frighten a young
child so it is essential to comfort them to prevent undue distress.
2. Keeping them upright is best so building up the pillows in their cot
or bed would be a sensible plan.

5. 3. If they can be prevented from crying it will help a great deal as crying
can actually aggravate the condition.
4. Moist air in the room is a big help and this can be provided by cool-
mist humidifiers or, if not available, sitting with the child in a steamy
bathroom will be beneficial.
5. With toddlers, rubbing a bit of vicks on the soles of their feet and
putting socks on them works wonders!
The key thing with croup is that it is a short-lived illness in most cases
and the constant presence of a caring parent can work wonders, even
during the night. If possible being in the room to monitor their sleep is
a good course of action, providing both reassurance and the occasional
drink of water. Hydration is very important and certainly alleviates the
barking cough which some have likened to the sound that a seal makes.

6. If symptoms are severe and/or you are unsure please seek medical
advise. Along with the care described above, plenty of sleep is essential
if you are to get on top of this problem quickly.
Ultimately prevention is the best cure and good hygiene helps – sterile
surfaces, clean hands etc. all contribute to a healthy environment for a
young child. Establish good habits and there is a good chance that this
type of ailment will not affect your child at all and their sleep will
remain undisturbed.