Giving antibiotics to your baby- should I or not?

[Holymoly321]

Hi, my DS is only three weeks old but has been given antibiotics by the doc for a cold. His breathing is very noisy - esp at night, and it sounds like he is very 'phlegmy'. He's also sneezing during the day. I'm not sure about giving him the antibiotics becasue I don't want him to build up a resistance to them at such an early age. Am I being silly? Should I just give him the antibiotics? Have to admit that I have already given him one dose as he sounded so stuffed up.

[spidermama]

Personally I think they give these out way too freely. IME babies get better from these colds and their immune systems are given the chance to respond and to mature as a result. I always feel proud and glad when my kids get better, all by themselves, as I know the immune system is that bit more experienced as a result.

If you do opt for anti-biotics, remember to give your ds pro-biotics to replace the freindly bacteria which have been indescriminately destroyed by the anti-biotics.

[Aero]

Did the doc hear something on his chest. Unusual to be given ab's these days and they won't be much good for a cold which is viral. Perhaps he thought his chest was rattly and has given them to you as a precaution. Sorry - not much help. I'd give them if advised to, but sometimes I've been given ab's to hold and see if infection develops, which in Dd's case recently, it did.

[Holymoly321]

THe Doc did say he heard something in DS's chest, but I'm still slightly reluctant to give themfor just the reasons outlined by spidermama. Maybe I'll give it another night and see how he goes.

[Aero]

I probably would too and re-assess tomorrow. He is very young, and I only tend to take my children to the doc when I believe them to be really poorly. However, I took ds1 when he was very poorly and the doc said it was a cold - viral blah blah blah. In a nutshell, he had pneumonia, thus my confidence in doctors is not what it was pre children! It probably started as a virus. I guess, young as he is, you will know your own child best and will be fit to judge whether he's able to fight this on his own.

[haven]

antibiotics given to such a small baby. In my opinion a small child already has a weak immune system. The cold virus weakens it up it leaves the door open for dangerous bacteria to step in. The antibiotics are there for a precaution. I do agree though with others anti-b are given out far to easily. But, sometimes when people go to the doctors they are unsatified unless the doctor writes out a perscription for something.
Infants have an especially hard time will illnesses. choose wisely.