Kids with croup can seem fine during the day, but have the croup "bark" cough for a couple of nights. Often it is worse the second night (although that has never been our experience).
Yep, cold air is the best. But remember, you don't want a cold child, just a cold airway! So a few minutes at a time is fine. I have heard that it's the change in atmosphere that helps, so going from the cold, to the steamy bathroom, and back into the cold is the best way to help. If after a couple of goes at the night air you are still concerned then it might be time to head to the hossy. And if your child is very lethargic or unresponsive, but still suffering with stridor (which is the wheezy sort of sound they make when breathing in), then it's definitely time to head to hossy.
Croup does come along with a virus, so that's the part that contagious, not the croup so to speak. It sounds as though he may have had mild croup Mel, hopefully it's all over now!
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