At What Point Would You Require A Dr Visit?

[jenboo]

I find this really strange.

What did the parent's say and how did they react to the diagnosis?

Since they don't seem to be concerned, it makes me think that they think it's normal- or the child has been like this since birth, therefore "normal" to them.

Is the child underweight at all?
Does he seem to be bothered by his breathing?

Dad just handed me the paper. I'll talk with mom at pick up. He has barely been gaining weight. Mom was concerned about that.

He doesn't seem bothered by anything.

[daycarediva]

poor baby. I'm so stuffed up it's difficult to eat/swallow and it's an awful feeling.

[jenboo]

So what questions should i ask mom when she picks up?
What should i say?

[childcaremom]

Do you have time to chat at pick up?

Maybe tell dcm that you are sending her an email. That way you can outline your concerns and get her response in writing. I like paper trails.

I think what you say depends on what your concerns are. How much are you prepared to deal with there? Where are you drawing your line? What do you want to see happen?

I can answer you how I would handle it but it may be different than how you would.

[Snowmom]

So what questions should i ask mom when she picks up?
What should i say?

First, I'd sort out how you feel about the situation.
1. How do you feel about him being in your care with these symptoms?
2. Are they symptoms you'd normally exclude for?
3. Are you contemplating letting the family go if it persists?

Then I'd probably start a conversation with mom telling her your concerns, why you have those concerns (your experience= to his symptoms) and what you want to see happen.

Just in my personal opinion, 6 months old is awfully young to be shrugging off any kind of breathing issues.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

Do his parents smoke? And do they have dogs too? I saw you said they have pets, but sometimes an allergy can be specific to a certain type of pet.

[Ariana]

Some days he barely coughs, other days he caughs a ton. Today his nose is very congested and when he breathes is all gross mucousy sounding

It sounds like a dairy sensitivity to me. Dairy causes excess mucous to form in the lungs so if he has slight congestion or asthma, dairy will make it infinitely worse.

[jenboo]

Do his parents smoke? And do they have dogs too? I saw you said they have pets, but sometimes an allergy can be specific to a certain type of pet.

No smoking. I think they have a dog and a cat. The room he is in at my house, our dogs are not allowed in it.

[jenboo]

It sounds like a dairy sensitivity to me. Dairy causes excess mucous to form in the lungs so if he has slight congestion or asthma, dairy will make it infinitely worse.

Mom makes a homemade formula with raw cows milk. I can ask if this started when she started that.

[jenboo]

First, I'd sort out how you feel about the situation.
1. How do you feel about him being in your care with these symptoms?
2. Are they symptoms you'd normally exclude for?
3. Are you contemplating letting the family go if it persists?

Then I'd probably start a conversation with mom telling her your concerns, why you have those concerns (your experience= to his symptoms) and what you want to see happen.

Just in my personal opinion, 6 months old is awfully young to be shrugging off any kind of breathing issues.

His actual behavior here is fine. He is happy and doesn't fuss.
I am worried that this has gone on so long. It makes me nervous since he is so young. I'm nervous about it turning into something worse on my watch.

[Ariana]

Mom makes a homemade formula with raw cows milk. I can ask if this started when she started that.

I had a child with severe environmental allergies (I suspected dust) and she was possibly allergic to my dog. She was diagnosed with asthma but I find most kids with any sort of food allergy are just dismissed and diagnosed as having asthma and then given a puffer of very strong corticosteroids. Dairy exacerbates all of those issues. I would strongky recommend suggesting that the mom give up all dairy for 2-3 weeks just to see if symptoms improve. I was never able to get the parent to give up dairy just to see and it was heartbreaking to see the child suffer so much.

I also suspect that your parents are lying about what they are seeing at home. Most parents do

[Blackcat31]

Mom makes a homemade formula with raw cows milk. I can ask if this started when she started that.

Does the child's Dr know this?

It is NOT recommended that parent's use raw milk to make home made baby formula. It's imperative the formula meets the nutritional guidelines that infants NEED to grow and develop.

“Consumption of homemade formulas can lead to potentially serious health consequences for babies. There is no nutritional analysis for these home recipes, and consuming improper quantities of nutrients can cause poor growth and development. Some recipes call for the use of unpasteurized or raw milk, raising the risk of the presence of E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter spp, or Salmonella—pathogens that can cause serious health risks.”

[jenboo]

I had a child with severe environmental allergies (I suspected dust) and she was possibly allergic to my dog. She was diagnosed with asthma but I find most kids with any sort of food allergy are just dismissed and diagnosed as having asthma and then given a puffer of very strong corticosteroids. Dairy exacerbates all of those issues. I would strongky recommend suggesting that the mom give up all dairy for 2-3 weeks just to see if symptoms improve. I was never able to get the parent to give up dairy just to see and it was heartbreaking to see the child suffer so much.

I also suspect that your parents are lying about what they are seeing at home. Most parents do

Ill have to see if she will do that. She makes his formula with cows milk.

[Pestle]

Raw milk is illegal to purchase for human consumption in my state. I wouldn't permit her to send it, if it were me--even if it were legal here.