Often it's just past the midnight hour, and your toddler walks into your bedroom much sicker than he was when he went to bed. He is running a fever, complains of feeling horrible and often has more congestion.. You often feel a since of panic; its late and the doctor's office is closed. You wonder why your child is so much sicker than he was when you laid him down. There are a few explanations on why toddlers appear to suffer more in the middle of the night.
1) Cough
If your child has a cough it can become more intense when he lies down. Blood flow to his respiratory tract because slower when he lies down. Congestion often pools in the nose, throat and lungs when the child is in a prone position.
Nighttime air in the bedroom is often dryer. A humidifier or vaporizer may offer relief to your child and he may sleep easier if there is increased humidity in the air.
When your child wakes up congested you may want to sit in the bathroom with hotter running in the shower. The moisture in the air will help break up the child's congestion. Taking him outside in the cool night air might also help. Just make sure he is bundled up.
2) Ear Infection
An ear infection is painful and uncomfortable for the child. Laying down at night causes fluid to collect in the inner ear. The increased fluid buildup puts pressure on the infected ear canal and can increase the child's pain.
If your child wakes in the middle of the night complaining of a painful ear give him ibuprofen to help reduce the inflammation in the ear. Holding a warm compress against the ear will also help ease the discomfort.
3) Fever
When your child goes to bed at night his body temperature naturally rises. The rising body temperature can cause a fever to spike. Give your child a fever reducer to help lower his fever and ease his suffering.
4) Vomiting
Nothing is worse than your child waking up in his bed and vomiting all over the covers and sheets. Clean your child up, change the bedding and give him something to sooth his stomach. Very few toddlers can make it to the bathroom when their stomach is upset. It can happen at any time of day, but it seems worse at night.
Remember, to remain calm when your child is sick. If you panic, or get upset, your child will also become frightened. Try to alleviate your little ones discomfort until morning. If he is still suffering in the morning, call your child's doctor to schedule an appointment. If his fever is high, vomiting intense or suffering from other sever problems, you might want to consider taking him to an all-night immediate care clinic.
