opinions?

[mellybrelly]

The baby has had a cough since the beginning of January. It's a bit wet, but as the doctor said, not in his lungs.

I like to go for walks with him, I bundle him up. She wasn't sure if it was a good idea to take him out in the cold, but she didn't have a definite reason, just said to avoid the walks till it was 50F out.

What would you do?

[Poll #1676719]


I know that when I worked in an infant center, we were outside daily regardless of weather or colds. I also know I need exercise.

Comments

[msmcfeeley.livejournal.com]

I think unless you see him significantly worse after a walk, it's not a big deal.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he never seems worse after a walk, his cough is mostly bad in the morning after waking up or toward bedtime.

[msmcfeeley.livejournal.com]

like me. haha
And actually, I've been going out in the cool air (like 40 degrees in the morning.. cool for here!) and I never cough worse because of it. *shrug*

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too, I have the cough as well and I don't go into coughing spasms on or after the walk. She told me that the cold can make you more congested, so I was a bit concerned.

[msmcfeeley.livejournal.com]

haha opposite--I breathe better when I'm outside in the cool air. Inside the warm house I tend to feel more stuffy.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Interesting

[popchex.livejournal.com]

I was going to ask this - it sounds like some minor allergies or something. this is a big reason why Zach likes to nurse so much all night and we're trying to wean him to a sippy cup of water instead of waking me up. lol

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Both of us have it, and have had the stupid cold, it's gross, but so far I don't think it's allergies. *hopeful*

[danica.livejournal.com]

fresh air is awesomeness

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

That's what I think too, and he doesn't seem worse for it, except the cold has lasted over a month.

[danica.livejournal.com]

Winter is JUST getting over it, she's had it since the end of November

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Poor girl!

[juel1979.livejournal.com]

Change of air can be a good thing. I'd just worry if it was SUPER cold. I learned from my child development classes that pretty much EVERY childhood sickness ends with "...and coughs all winter." LOL I'd just watch for it getting any worse.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

Exactly, I figured it was fine to bring him out, I just wondered what the masses would do. I was surprised the doctor said to keep him in!

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

The only thing I can think is that the cold can be drying and that's irritating to the mucus membranes. Of course, we get a lot more extreme cold here.

[destinymanifest.livejournal.com]

I think as long as he is sheltered from the wind, he'd probably be okay. And as you've said, it doesn't look like he's the worse off for it.

[weezerthe1.livejournal.com]

I can't think of any condition that would be worsened by going out in the cold - providing that he's bundled up. What is wrong with people thinking that cold air causes or worsens illness?

One condition (croup) actually benefits from the cold, fresh air....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croup

[thejoysofjess.livejournal.com]

No way would I stay inside. (I mean, I would, but that's because I don't deal with cold. If I were originally Canadian, I'd be outside).

He's six months old and wasn't a preemie, so he doesn't really have any extra risk factors that would make a cold something worse (not to say it can't happen, but it's not likely). Ben has a cough and I've had him out today. It's raining and 40 degrees. We had things to do.

[sandi1743.livejournal.com]

do you run a humidifier at night?

[greeneyed-devil.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the fresh, cold air helps stifle the cough. Inside with all the dust and germs and heat can't be good all the time. And I know your house is spotless - I'm saying "in general," houses in winter are germ pits because we never open the windows to let fresh air in.

[queen-elvis.livejournal.com]

Is there even a scientific basis for the idea that cold weather makes people sick? I haven't experienced this, but I don't know everything.

[lyricmaniac.livejournal.com]

Cold is good for opening up the lungs if it is in the lungs.

[mellybrelly.livejournal.com]

It isn't in his lungs, thank goodness, but it doesn't seem to do him any harm, we ended up going for a walk yesterday in spite of what my doctor said.