Being Sick With Kids

Having a sick child is no fun, especially if they are throwing up. You can’t do anything for them other than try to make them as comfortable as possible, give them some medicine, and let them rest. As a parent, it is often heartbreaking to see your child in a state where you can’t really do anything at all - you want to be in their place. However, when you are in their place and are the sick one, it is actually worse.

While you feel bad for your child, and don’t want to see them suffer, you can still do things for them. When you’re sick, you often don’t feel like doing anything either. However, you’re still responsible for taking care of your child. You still have to get up, make food for them, make sure they’re safe, and keep them at least out of major trouble. You can’t lay and sleep all day long when you’re sick.

Ideally, you have someone that can take care of your child when you’re sick. If that’s the case, then you can get some needed sleep. However, there are times where you can’t find anyone to take care of your child last minute. That means that you’re going to be put in the unfortunate situation where you have to actually do some work while you’re sick. When you’re out of it, it’s one of the worst feelings.

You don’t have to entertain your child all day long. If you’re sick, you’re simply trying to do the very minimum you can to keep them fed and safe. In these situations, you give them the simplest foods you can, even if they aren’t healthy. That means that cereal for breakfast is an option and frozen foods that you warm up in the microwave for lunch and dinner. You can get back to healthy when you’re healthy again.

In terms of activities, expect to use a lot of screens for the day. Put whatever they want on the TV that will keep them entertained. Give them your phone to look at pictures or play their favorite game. Let them play with blocks and other things on their own. Ultimately, let them do whatever they can on their own safely. It’s only a day or two that this should be necessary while you recover.

While they’re playing or watching or doing whatever they’re doing safely, you should be resting. Put a show on the TV and lay down on the couch or floor and rest. Take them to their room to play with toys, and lay down on the floor in front of the door so they can’t leave without crawling over you and rest. Take nap time with them. Rest in any way that you can throughout the day - don’t waste energy on anything unnecessary.

If you need some extra sleeping time, ask a neighbor to watch your child for an hour or two. Even if you normally wouldn’t ask them, there are times where you absolutely need to sleep. The longer you’re sick, the harder it becomes to watch your child. You’re actually better off making one day really bad vs trying to string it out over multiple days. Get as much rest and sleep as you can.

Being sick with kids is simply not fun. It’s exhausting, and all you want to do is sleep. Do everything you can to sleep - you’ll get back to routines after you’re over your sickness.