Sick kid??? Don't waste your money going to the doctor.

Sometimes it's necessary to end up taking your kid in if their very ill, but a lot of the times, people take them in when they can take perfectly good care of them at home. They waste money, and hubbub getting your kids to the doctor and waiting at the doctor's office for who knows how long, exposing them to more germs that could get everyone REALLY sick. And taking kids to the doctor is just plain annoying, especially when they end up not doing anything and sending 'em home. Here's a few tips to do most of the things a doctor will do at a sick child visit, at home.

1.) Get yourself a stethoscope, most doctors offices will let you have one. If you can't get your hands on one, no need. You can feel their pressure points, but sometimes it's unclear, so I just put my ear on the kids sternum. It's always loud and easy to hear and count. If your child has a fever or is unwell their heart rate will be higher. The older you get the slower a normal heart rate is. For babies and toddlers 100-140 is about normal, in older kids 80-120 is good range. Teenagers are even lower. Watch a clock with a second hand and count the beats for ten seconds then multiply by six. Just because it's high doesn't mean you need to rush them in, however if it doesn't go down after the fever goes down, it's worth at least a phone call. Also when you are checking a heart rate, you always want to make sure the rhythm is constant. Hearts with skipping beats are not good.

2) You can also use the stethoscope or your ear to detect fluid in the lungs that may be pneumonia, or wheezing, or other respiratory problems. The lungs have four quartects. You need to listen to all four. Have the child sit up and take deep breaths while you listen for sounds in the upper left and right, and lower left, and right. Sounds you don't want to hear are a high pitched whistling sound. This is wheezing and only occurs when the child is breathing out. Most sounds where the chest or throat are concerned are very apparent, and most can be loud and scary, but usually their are not a big deal. Stridor is the loud noise when they breathe in and out and it sounds like someone is pinching their airway. Again, very scary but as long as their is no history of asthma, and they can breath, a little steam, or some fresh air is the best thing for the kiddo. Croup is the seal bark cough and again, is usually the same treatment, but sometimes if it doesn't go away throughout the day, as the mucus breaks up, then the child may need a steroid shot.

3) Ear infections. Does she have it? Does she not? Go to doctormom.com and order an odoscope for ten dollars and never have to go in for false ear infections again. Use a wise nose to protect the ear drum, pull up on the top of the ear, and stick that dog in there. Don't' be afraid to really get in there. Keep the top of the ear pulled up as you angle the nose down and get a good look. If your doing it right, you will be able to see all the wayyyyyy dooownnnn. Pink is good, no infection. Red, or draining is bad, take him in.

4) Fever. Keep lots of Motrin, Tylenol, and especially Pedialyte on hand, so when your kid is sick you have what you need on hand for a good couple of days. The important thing to remember with a fever is that keeping your child hydrated is more important than getting their calories. Don't worry that they haven't had anything to eat for breakfast lunch or dinner that day, or even the next. THEY WILL BE OKAY!!!! TRUST ME!!!! What they need to flush the bug out of their system is fluids and keep them peeing. You would rather have them lose a couple of ounces than be barfing up everything they try to eat and make them miserable, nauseous, and uncomfortable, and draw it out. If they have not peed for 24 hours or is not tearing take them in immediately. If they are well hydrated, usually there is no need to take a child in. That is what the doctor is going to be concerned about most. If your child is very sick and the fever is very high, you can alternate tylenol and motrin every two hours instead of one or the other every four. Also, if your kiddo is doing really crappy, do not give meds "as needed". Keep up with the doses and set the clock. Don't miss a dose. This keeps them happy and feeling better and you have a better chance of them staying that way if you don't miss a dose. If you don't do this, you run the risk of them feeling great and suddenly feeling like complete death again, and it's harder to bring them back up to happy land when their pain level is like a roller coaster. Keep it constant. Again, this is for when they are REALLY BAD. As they get better as needed is the way to go. If the fever seems to go down with meds, just keep doing it as long as it takes, even if it is a couple of days. But if the meds aren't helping with the fever, it might be bacterial, and that you need antibiotics for, so take them in.

5) Look for rashes

6) Diarrhea. Sometimes you can get their stool tested without having the go to the doctor, if you think that's where the problem is. C-diff is a common but very contagious infection in the stool and a very fun thing to deal with on a plane with no diapers!!!! But you can call your doctor, she can order the lab tests, if they come back with something, they will prescribe the meds without out an initial trip to the doctor.

7) I've got more, but that's enough for now. Last one............WASH YOUR BLOODY HANDS!!!!

sorry, I say that word a lot. I'll try to stop =)