How do you parent when your kids are sick?

[pinkpeony08]

Same thing here. Lots of screen time, sometimes reading books. The reality is if I am home with a sick kid, I often have to get some other stuff done. Usually if they are home sick, they are really too miserable to do much besides lie on the couch. Same for me if I'm home sick.

My daughter just had a horrible GI bug where I was bribing her to drink anything. Didn't work. Ended up with two ER visits in one weekend.

[icedcoffee]

This is how I parent too. So far when DS has been super sick he was under 2 so in that case we basically just made him nap most of the day, but now as he gets older I’d plop him in front of the TV with whatever snacks or beverage he wants.

[namasteak]

That’s what we do too.

[Velar Fricative]

If my kids are sick, they're not up for much besides watching TV. So yeah, all the rules go out the window.

[minniemouse]

Same here. When they are sick all rules go out the window. It’s also how we handle snow days, since I work from home. The kids get as much tv as they want and whatever food they can forage from the pantry themselves. 😂

[redheadbaker]

Same here!

[pooh8402]

Same. Double if I'm sick.

[dcn]

Yep same.

[knx9211]

What kid wants to do crafts anyway when they’re sick?

[mbcdefg]

I’m supposed to do crafts with my kid when we’re all feeling *well*?

/sarcasm, lol

[jnibean]

May 15, 2019 21:16:57 GMT -5 mbcdefg said:

I’m supposed to do crafts with my kid when we’re all feeling well?

This. And I do arts and crafts for my job (K teacher)!

[loira]

I don't know about the rest of you, but we papier mâché used kleenexes into a sophisticated lampshade!

But seriously, we let her do whatever she wants, while I struggle to stay calm and patient.

[shauni27]

the only difference is that if it is nice and depending on what kind of sickness, we might go outside for a bit for some fresh air. But otherwise it's TV and milk and whatever snacks the kid will eat.

[achi]

Basically all the screen time and whatever food/drink I can get into him.

DS is very croup-prone, so when he's got it I bundle him up and take him for a walk twice a day to help open things up. He's nearly 4 so he's not a fan of his stroller but will tolerate it when he's sick.

[kath16]

if they are ACTUALLY sick on a given day, we generally just do whatever they're up for.

if it's that day between a fever and a green light to return to daycare, I do try to make a day of it. at least to get them (and me!) outside/out of the house

[sometimesrunner]

Same here. They can have almost anything they want when sick. (like, no milk products, but they can have 5 popsicles)

[momin2013]

Absolutely the same!

[mskitkat]

Sesame Street, toast, and as many popsicles as she wants while we snuggle on the couch. That’s pretty much all *I* want when I’m sick. I indulge her the same way.

[CloudBee]

It depends. DS receive low dose maintenance chemo every Friday afternoon, and usually spends the rest of the day parked on the couch. Same goes for most Saturday mornings until he gets his pep back. If he's nauseous he gets as much screen time as he wants.

If he has a cold, staph infection, sore throat, etc., I do limit screen time. Nausea I understand he feels better if he remains still. The other stuff? I try to get him to sit on the floor on a blanket and tinker with Legos, or lay on his bed looking at books. I do allow screen time, but I don't let it fry his brain all day in these instances. But my kid's behavior is better when he has limited screen time.

Today he had some appointments at the hospital, and I didn't let him know I had the iPad with me until the doctor needed time to talk to me one on one. Prior to that he played with Legos and read. He goes into zombie mode and I don't like it.

[pandora89]

All the screen time and cuddles on the couch.

[gastro]

My oldest doesn’t even want screen time when sick. He usually likes long warm showers and just to be left alone on the couch or bed. I don’t limit the screen time if he wants it and he can eat whatever, as long as it’s not gobs of candy.

[Aquatica]

Same especially when we're both sick. Snuggles, broth, crackers, toast, and other bland/soft foods and no dairy. Lots of snuggles on the couch and I usually sleep in her room for a few nights since she will wake up coughing.

[galaxy8227]

May 16, 2019 11:22:56 GMT -5 kath16 said:

if they are ACTUALLY sick on a given day, we generally just do whatever they're up for.

if it's that day between a fever and a green light to return to daycare, I do try to make a day of it. at least to get them (and me!) outside/out of the house

Same here 

[shauni27]

May 16, 2019 11:22:56 GMT -5 kath16 said:

if they are ACTUALLY sick on a given day, we generally just do whatever they're up for.

if it's that day between a fever and a green light to return to daycare, I do try to make a day of it. at least to get them (and me!) outside/out of the house

We do this too. Nothing like major, but outside play. In general, just being outside perks him up and makes him feel better--and distracts him!

A couple of weekends ago when he had a fever between 101 - 104 we would go outside a little bit every now and then and he was as happy as a clam. Then we would come inside and rest and cuddle.

[macmars45]

Signing in. DS (3) was barfing in the middle of the night. AND we have no working washer until they deliver it at some point today. All the barf towels and bed stuff are in the garage.

My plan is Blippi or truck tunes on youtube, read books and whatever pedialyte or water I can get in him. And then if that stays down, whatever toast/apple sauce/banana/rice he'll eat. And then if those stay down, whatever he'll eat.

[sunflower17]

Sounds normal. Mine is little, but everything goes out the window like meal schedule etc. want a snack? Cool. Random nap? Ok.

[starburst604]

DD has only been sick once, and it was before she really found TV entertaining. So she laid around on me while I watched TV! But yup, it would be an all day TV fest if she was sick now.