Infants Forum - Toddler Recovering From Mild Cold

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Q: Toddler Recovering From Mild Cold - Ok to Go In Kiddie Pool?

asked by: Small Town Dad on August 9th, 2007

New User

Hello everyone,

Our daughter had/has a mild cold. It started with some sinus congestion and then moved down into her chest. My wife took her to the doctor and she said that it was a pretty mild cold, but gave us a prescription for some syrup to be sure that the congestion loosened up, which it seems to be doing.

After this doctor visit, we had a warm day, about 80 degrees F, and I thought it would be fun if we let our daughter (she will be three on Aug. 24) splash around in the little kiddie pool we have for her. The water's not even a foot deep, and the water temperature was about regular temperature for an outdoor pool. No other kids were in the pool. The water was fresh. Our daughter wasn't even interested in putting her face/head below the water, so she never really was in there below the neck. Her hair never got wet. The pool sits in the open sun.

My wife was worried that having her in the pool off and on for 90-120 mins. (max) put our daughter at risk - that the cold would get worse, or develop into something else (like pneumonia or something). Our daughter is coughing a bit (2-8 coughs several times a day - no more than 5 times a day - pretty mild, in my view), and the coughs sound "loose" and "productive" as my mom the nurse would call them. The only small problem is that our daughter doesn't think about - sorry to be gross - hack up the phlegm and spit it out, when possible. From the first sign to now, she's had the cold about a week, but I think she's definitely in her last 48 hours. Other than the mild coughing she has no other symptoms. She's happy and playful and the coughing doesn't seem to bother her, and it doesn't keep her from sleeping or napping.

What do you think? Was it wrong, risky to let her splash and wade around in this pool? Should we do it again?

HELP! Thanks!

Replies(4)

susie3827

replied on August 9th, 2007

Experienced User

I would say that everything you did was absolutely fine.

It is an old wives tale that if you go outside in the winter with wet hair, that you can catch a cold/pneumonia...did you know that????

You cannot 'catch' a cold by splashing in the water, nor will it make the cold any worse.
Colds are caught thru hand/mouth, so.....splash away there.....

And, if her cough is 'productive' that is a good sign..and..if she swallows the phlegm...that is ok too...it won't hurt her..ok?

Susie.

Small Town Dad

replied on August 15th, 2007

New User

Thanks, Susie!

I see you're a registered nurse, and I think your professional opinion is valid and correct. I appreciate your input.

Anyone else here agree (or disagree) with this advice??

Today it's about 83F, and I'd like to take her to the big pool to let her try it out. She just has the very last traces of her cough (coughs 2-3 times per day, 2-3 coughs each time, quite loose phlegm). This would be okay, right??

I want to be careful and cautious with my daughter's health, but I think my lovely wife's caution borders on paranoia here...

Thanks,
Small Town Dad

susie3827

replied on August 15th, 2007

Experienced User

Dad: I just saw your post tonight, so this message comes AFTER your decision to take her to the big pool or not....

Did you take her???

My answer would have been a heart-felt YES!!!!!!!!! by all means..go and splish/splash like there was no tomorrow..lol....
Like I said..colds do not come from things like being in a hot place, and then putting the body into something cold...
the old saying "Bundle up, or you'll catch a cold" is just an old wives tale..Tell your wife there is absolutely no truth to it.

I would be more concerned about her drinking from a common water fountain, than being outside with a 'cold'...you don't know what germs are on that water fountain if she happens to accidently touch her lips or mouth to the top of the spigit.
Or...I would be more worried about her playing with a toy that was from a child who had had a cold, than splashing around in the pool.

Tell your wife, don't worry...colds are as common as apple pie, and although they CAN lead to something serious...in all likelihood, with the average child, in good overall health, there will be no untoward effects.

I have to know....
did you go or not????
Please reply at your earliest convenience.
Thanks,
Susie.

Small Town Dad

replied on August 16th, 2007

New User

Yes, We Went to the Pool

Hello again!

Yeah, yesterday we took her to the public swimming pool. She was in the kiddie pool for a while (which, frankly I think was a bit riskier than the adult pool, as I think the shallow water there doesn't get filtrated quite as thoroughly for some reason), and then I took her for an accompanied "swim" in the big pool. I did try to keep her face out of the water, but at one point (when she was hanging on to a sidebar), she did dip under for just a moment, but I doubt it posed much risk.

And today we had her in the little wading pool at our house.

She STILL has that darn cough - 3-4 times per day, 1-4 coughs each time - and it still sounds loose and "productive" but it's just not finishing. I think we'll go back to the doctor in a couple days if it's not gone (as she will have had this cold a bit over 2 weeks). She has NO other symptoms and is happy and active otherwise. I'm not worried about this cough, but I would like it to finally finish up.

(BTW, we live in southeast Poland - just in case you were wondering who's on this forum. My wife is Polish and I'm an English teacher. The pools are up to snuff, healthwise, with most that I've seen in the U.S. Actually, in some respects they're nicer. Medical care is basically close to American standards, unless you might need some high-level surgery for some obscure problem)

Thanks agains for the advice!

-Small Town Dad
(who just realized that his stupid username choice abbreviates as "STD" - brilliant!)

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