One of the most difficult issues to deal with as a stay-at-home dad is when your child is sick. Especially if this is your first child, it may be very difficult to decide if your child needs a little aspirin or if he/she needs to go to a doctor right now.
Here are some tips to help a stay-at-home dad navigate the sick-child waters:
Fevers. Fevers are usually a sign that that there’s an imbalance. While fever itself isn’t a sickness per se, it is a signal to you as a stay-at-home dad that something is not O.K. with your child’s health. It could be a cold or some other type of infection.
This is the general rule of thumb for when a stay-at-home dad should call the doctor: If your baby is less than 3 months old with a temperature is 100.4 Fahrenheit or higher, go to the doctor. If your baby is 3–6 months old with a temperature of more than 101 Fahrenheit, then you should call a doctor. Finally, if you have a child who is 6 months or more with a temperature of more than 103 Fahrenheit, you should take your child to the doctor quickly.
With kids who are older, the exact temperature of the fever isn’t as crucial as the other symptoms that they may be showing at that moment. If they’re not showing any other symptoms like problems breathing and they’re eating and sleeping well, then this is a situation where you could simply give them an aspirin and watch to make sure that the fever goes down quickly.
If your older child is showing any of the above symptoms and is lethargic, then you should take him to the doctor immediately. Since you’re a stay-at-home dad, you have the most daily contact with your kids and can monitor to see if any other symptoms are happening.
Coughs. Coughs can be tricky. If your child gets worse over 3 to 5 days or if he doesn’t get better after 10 days to 2 weeks, then you should definitely take him to the doctor. If there’s wheezing, ear pain, chest pain, or trouble breathing at any point while they have the cough, then you should take him to the doctor right away.
Again, as a stay-at-home dad, you have the most contact with your kids, particularly during the week. You’re more likely to be the one who’ll notice things a cough that is getting better or worse.
Vomiting. It may be frightening for you as a stay-at-home dad to see your kid throwing up. However, if your child is able to keep fluids down, doesn’t have stomach pain, and isn’t dehydrated, you probably won’t need to do a run to the doctor right away. It’s important for you to know that if your infant vomits continually and/or violently, you need to get to the doctor immediately.
Problems with respiration. Go to the doctor the instant that you see that your child is having problems breathing. Even if you’re a new stay-at-home dad, don’t hesitate and doubt yourself. Take your kid to the doctor right away.
Please be aware that this isn’t official medical advice. While I do have experience as a stay-at-home dad with these health issues, I’m not a doctor. When in doubt, check with a medical professional right away.
Reference: http://BusinessTM.com/about/erik-cornella/
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