Croup Season Is Here

Dec 17

What Parents Need to Know (and When to Call for Pediatric Urgent Care)

Croup tends to spike in winter, especially in toddlers and young children. That familiar barky cough almost always starts at night and can leave parents wondering whether to wait, treat at home, or get medical help.

At Little Big Care, our pediatric-trained providers walk families through these decisions every winter. Here is a simple guide to help you understand the symptoms, what you can do at home, and when a pediatric visit is the safest step.

What Exactly Is Croup?

Croup is a viral illness that causes swelling in the upper airway. It most often affects children ages 6 months to 6 years. Common symptoms include:

A barky, seal-like cough
Hoarse voice
Noisy breathing (stridor), especially when upset or crying
Fever
Symptoms that worsen at night

While the sound can be alarming, most cases are mild and can be treated at home.

What Helps at Home

Parents can often calm mild croup with simple steps:

Moisture or cool air - Run a hot shower in the bathroom and let your child breathe the warm mist. Or take them outside briefly for a cool night breeze.
Keep them calm - Crying can tighten the airway, so a calm environment or a favorite comfort item helps.
Hydration - Small, frequent sips of water help keep airways moist.
Fever relief (if needed) - Use children’s fever reducers as directed by your pediatrician.

If symptoms improve quickly, home care is usually enough.

When to Call Little Big Care

A pediatric urgent care visit is recommended if your child has:

Stridor (noisy breathing) at rest (awake but not crying)
Difficulty breathing or visible chest retractions
A barky cough that keeps returning or is getting worse
Fever lasting more than 48 hours
Trouble drinking or suspected dehydration
Repeated nighttime episodes
Concerns you are unsure how to handle

Our pediatric team can assess breathing, provide treatments, and help determine whether further testing or follow-up is needed. Having a sick child is stressful, but easy online scheduling and pediatric care that comes to your home or hotel is the best you can have.

Why Pediatric-Trained Providers Matter for Croup

Croup is a pediatric illness, affecting children aged 6 months to 6 years, most commonly. It can look mild one moment and escalate the next. Pediatric-trained clinicians understand how to:

Evaluate airway symptoms in children
Distinguish mild cases from conditions that need escalation
Provide age-appropriate treatments
Help parents manage nighttime symptoms safely
Know when imaging, steroids, or additional care is appropriate

This expertise helps families avoid unnecessary ER visits while keeping children safe.

When to Choose the ER Instead

ER is more appropriate for: severe injury, obvious broken bone or large wound, difficulty breathing (respiratory distress), severe abdominal pain, immediate need for imaging or bloodwork, fever in a newborn (<6wks old), suicidal or acute psychiatric crisis.

If your child is turning blue, extremely lethargic, or struggling to breathe, call 911.