This report describes the caring experience of a 2-year-old child with croup in an emergency room. The period was from 08:10 on September 27(superscript th) to 10:30 on September 29(superscript th) in 2008. The author assessed the child's condition with respect to the child's physical, development and family assessment. Furthermore, the author also applied the skills of physical examination, interview, direct observation, and chart reviewing to collect data. The results indicated that the health problems of the child included ineffective breathing pattern, hyperthermia, and withdrawal behavior. Through direct care, demonstrative, guidance and therapeutic play, physiological and psychological problems of the patient were solved. Throughout the process of care, we gained better understanding of the withdrawal behavior like resisting or crying, which aggravated the severity of croup. Therapeutic play could improve the withdrawal behavior of the child, increase the compliance to treatment, and avoid exacerbation of croup symptoms. Therefore, we would like to share the nursing care experience so as to provide further reference for clinical care.