How to Take Care of Baby When You're Sick
As if raising small humans weren't challenging enough, sometimes, nosotros also have to do it while we're feeling our absolute worst. Only how are you supposed to keep your kids alive — and entertained! — when you lot experience like yous can barely go on your caput to a higher place (the toilet basin) water?
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Parenting while sick seems similar an incommunicable chore. Yet, time and once more, people from all around the earth somehow manage to keep themselves and their kids functioning during common cold and influenza seasons. Are they heroes with magical powers? No dubiety! Simply we'll let you in on a little cloak-and-dagger: they're not doing annihilation you can't do.
Since our pregnancy books and parenting classes didn't seem to cover the how-tos of parenting while ill, we thought we'd become straight to the everyday experts who have lived through the less-than-ideal situation to get some answers. Alee are some of their best tips and advice so you can tackle germ season like a pro.
Become creative
Chances are, yous're barely feeling energetic enough to shower, let alone come upward with a listing of activities to proceed your energetic kids occupied. Having games, books, and crafts, or other tasks ready to go tin brand a world of difference for a restless toddler. Lisa Alemi of Movement Mama Move tells SheKnows she created "a special activity handbasket" specifically for ill days. "The basket has activities that we don't ordinarily get to do together, so there is some novelty and excitement nearly information technology," Alemi says. "My son gets to color with markers, read iSpy books, play with felt boards, organize his sorting games, and other activities that are easy for him to complete on his own while I rest."
If you lot want to make game-time even more fun, look no further than your linen drawer. "The easiest thing to do with little ones is to make the lounge or living expanse into a camp," empty nester life coach Lesley Benson says. Take hold of all of the essentials — pillows, blankets, rugs, duvets — and accept your kids build the collapsable utopia of their dreams. "It's astonishing how long their attention spans tin can exist kept on this," Benson adds.
Another perk nearly forts? You can hands build them around the couch, which is likely going to be your habitation base as you recover. Lifestyle blogger Marquis Clarke of SimplyClarke swears that building forts and picking out a movie lineup keeps her kids entertained plenty that she tin sometimes even send a few emails. "This helps kids feel similar nosotros are doing something fun, even though we are actually relaxing on the couch," she says.
When your kiddos demand a interruption from coloring, take them assistance y'all out by playing doctor, suggests Michelle Harris, founder of Parenting Pathfinders. They can bring you lot water, check your temperature, and fifty-fifty fetch an water ice pack or heating pad. "This will not only keep them engaged simply will help build empathy," she says. Plus, it gives parents an opportunity to speak openly with their children and remind them that even adults have hard days. "Be honest about how you're feeling instead of pretending that everything is okay," Harris adds.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't be afraid to set reasonable limits. "I break my time up into small chunks. If I look at the mean solar day as a whole, the stop will feel similar forever," says Jessica Randhawa of The Forked Spoon. "But if I work in 15- to 30-minute segments, it all seems more than bearable. For example, 15 minutes of games, 15 minutes of reading, and and so maybe 30 minutes of screen time or television."
Bend the screen time rules
Yous've played difficult. Now you need some well-earned rest. Friends, it's time to plow on the Television set. Were those gasps of horror I heard? Yes, I know. Screen time has gotten a bad rap, and for good reason. The science shows excessive screen time can lead to developmental delays and attention problems. But folks, the two episodes of Manus Patrol y'all allow your kids watch while you're retching into a saucepan isn't going to forever ruin your kids. Plenty of parents, such as Shannon Serpette, who is the primary editor at Mom Loves Best, take turned to the screens — and their kids survived!
"When I had the flu and I had a baby and a toddler to take intendance of, I'll exist the first to acknowledge I had absolutely no restrictions on their screen time use," Serpette says. "Was it i of my prouder moments letting them binge-sentry Caillou for a couple of days direct? Nope, just I was sick and I had to go along them entertained while I was down for the count. Do what you lot need to do and don't judge yourself for it."
You tin can all the same make screen fourth dimension an interactive experience, adds Carson Quinn, founder of Zindsey.com. She recommends parents "even so engage during a show, pointing out things and asking questions." If you are feeling guilty (or just a little ill of hearing "Allow It Become" for the umpteenth fourth dimension), at present's the time to download any number of educational apps for kids.
Lower your dining expectations
Eating might be the final matter on your listen, simply kids can't afford to skip a meal. Brand information technology easy on yourself by having items on hand, says Kate Wehr. "Don't worry about 'real meals' for a couple of days," she says. "If people are able to eat, put out fresh fruits, crackers, cheeses, yogurt, peanut butter toast, anything quick and easy." Make certain to pack in all of the Vitamin C you can get too. "Nosotros pare citrus together," Quinn says. "Clementines and grapefruits volition continue our allowed systems boosted and little hands (er, attention spans) occupied."
Another way to exist prepared is to "freeze a few dinners that you tin pop in the microwave to feed the little ones," says Rachel Ferruci of Tools2Tiaras.
If fifty-fifty that is too much, many moms recommended ordering dinner or getting groceries through a commitment service. Or, if you take family and friends nearby, ask them to come past with a homemade meal — even ameliorate if they stay and play with the kids for a flake.
Inquire for assistance
Recall when you lot had a newborn and anybody offered to help? At present'southward the fourth dimension to take them upward on their offers, says Laurie Ulster. "When you need it, especially when you're sick and your kids are picayune, ask [for help]," Ulster adds. "Parents are not superheroes even when we feel similar we have to be."
Call the grandparents, your siblings, other parents from school, or your neighbors. Hell, fifty-fifty call your friends at the crack of dawn, as Jaimie Seaton did when she, her three-yr-old daughter, and newborn son had a stomach bug. "I hated to do information technology, only I chosen a friend at 5 a.yard. and asked for help," Seaton says. "Her married man was not happy, but I was genuinely afraid for my children's safety. This astonishing woman came to my house and took care of us all day. Information technology can be tough to ask for help simply sometimes it'due south necessary."
If you need to and accept the means, hiring a bodyguard is a great route. "I work to take a healthy network of sitters that I can telephone call when I need them," says Aubry Parks-Fried, head of content and strategy at Sittercity. "Having merely one become-to has left me in a bind ane too many times when my health didn't align with my sitter's schedule."
Getting sick can be especially hard if you're far away from family. But tech tin help. "I encourage my family members to FaceTime us throughout the day, as it helps make [my daughter] less bored," says Liz Jeneault of Faveable. Screen time wins again!
Go easy on yourself
Finally, ditch the thought that you take to practise information technology all. "I of the best things I did for myself when [my sons] were younger was to requite up on beingness perfect," says educator and single mom Kaywanda Lamb. Accept that the meals won't be equally lavish, your bedtime stories will exist a little shorter, and your patience is going to exist a bit thinner. "By and large, giving myself grace, turning off the vocalisation that said I had to be perfect, and working on getting over the sickness helps," Lamb adds.
Above all, "accept care of yourself," says lifestyle blogger Holly Chubb of Decorated Being Blest. Rest, drinkable plenty of fluids, have a hot shower, and eat what you can tum. Taking the time to tend to your health teaches children about self-care and gives them an example of how to deed when they're adults. "You are setting the tone for their future," Chubb adds.
These tips won't necessarily make you feel better, just hopefully, they'll make being ill suck a picayune fleck less.
Source: https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/2146318/parenting-while-sick-how-to/
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