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When Germs Strike

August 23, 2016 By: Liz10 Comments

Caring for your sick child is exhausting even for a super mom but I have a few tricks up my sleeve for you. I found myself in this position last week and I hope to bring a bit of hope and some tips to keep the day moving along with your sanity intact.

You know those days when your child is fighting a cold, too sick for school but seems to be a ball of energy at home. Those days can just suck for a parent and you may be left feeling like throwing in the towel. Next time your house is turned into a sick warden, try a few of these tricks to save your sanity.

Sleep is a Must

Your little one will put up the biggest resistance for sleep but we all know that rest will heal. Instead of forcing traditional naptime on sick days I opt for movie time rest. The living room quickly becomes a slumber party with blankets, pillows and a movie. My daughter picks the movie and we snuggle into the sofa together. Usually within minutes she is asleep and the healing powers of rest begin. Take the opportunity to get a bit of rest too, it could be a long day and night ahead with caring for your sick child.

child coloring

Activity Zones

Have you ever noticed that a day home with a sick child can feel like 3 days rolled into one? I work outside of the home so on sick days 10 am can feel like 3 pm. It’s funny how your little one can go from weak and cranky to full-fledged wild child before lunchtime. Its days like that I wonder how the daycare teachers manage to keep their sanity.

child playing with blocks

Avoid child boredom and mommy meltdown by setting up mini activity zones around your house. Keep your child busy with light activities throughout the day to take their mind off feeling sick and help you take a minute to rest.

I find this trick extremely helpful on days when I’m caring for a sick child with a cold. She’s tired, cranky but not bedridden. If I’m not careful I find myself getting tired, cranky and crabby before the morning snack.

Keep the activities simple and use the supplies you already have in your home. Our favorite activities that won’t make a giant mess:

  • Play dough station
  • Legos and blocks
  • Coloring books
  • Paint set and white notepad
  • Tea party time

Tested trick – set a timer on your phone and move to the next station after the buzzer. This keeps it fun and new for your child. My daughter gets so excited when there’s another activity to tackle that I find myself getting some rest in between the “activity zones”.

sick child playing with cat outside

Change of Scenery

When weather permits I aim to spend a bit of our sick day outside to uplift our spirits. Soaking up Vitamin D and some fresh air are healing for the mind, body and soul. Just a few minutes every other hour or so during the day will make a difference.

When I’m feeling depleted and my child is getting antsy I find a few minutes on our front steps or backyard to be pure magic. A change of scenery combined with fresh air really can turn the day around.

Tested trick – giving medicine to my daughter has been a piece of cake until this last cold. The morning dosage was a losing battle with purple cold syrup on the carpet, a cat running away terrified and a wild child on the loose. In an effort to avoid another mess on the carpet I opted to move the medical station to the back steps. The simple move is my new lifesaver. She was almost excited to take her medicine and kept saying it was cool to be outside.

Take care of yourself

Stay hydrated, fed and avoid burnout while making your child as comfortable as possible. Don’t try to cram in household chores between the activity stations or naptime. It’s ok to let things slide because you don’t need to be the next sick one! Sick days pretty much turn our home into a tornado and I’m absolutely ok with the mess.

Stay healthy all!

Comments

  1. 6

    Carrie says

    August 24, 2016 at 11:42 AM

    It’s awful when one of the kiddos gets sick!

    Reply
    • 7

      Liz says

      August 24, 2016 at 3:44 PM

      It really is hard to watch them deal with sickness, even a minor cold.

      Reply
  2. 8

    Tutu4r says

    August 24, 2016 at 5:47 AM

    A diffuser going in the house with some YL essential oil like Thieves or Peace and Calming or Citrus fresh, Purification will also help to kill germs in the air, freshen the stale inside air and help everyone breath easier. Some RC diffusing at night also helps ward off a cough and congestion. Thieves household cleaner diluted and sprayed on surfaces helps to sanitize the house too! All natural, all pure YL oils are truly miracles in tiny bottles to help the entire family!

    Reply
    • 9

      Liz says

      August 24, 2016 at 3:47 PM

      We have the oils going as soon as I get a hint of a cold or germ coming. It’s a miracle! It really does help the longevity of the cold and keeps us all breathing better.

      Reply
  3. 10

    Shann eva says

    August 23, 2016 at 8:44 PM

    Great tips! I love the activity stations! I have twins, and when they are sick, it is really tiring on mommy. I think this would keep them from getting bored, and keep me from getting burnt out. Thank you!

    Reply
    • 11

      Liz says

      August 24, 2016 at 3:46 PM

      Thank you! I’m planning to bring out the crayons and goodies with every sickness. It’s as simple as putting things in different places around the house and it kept my daughter entertained.

      Reply
  4. 12

    tara pittman says

    August 23, 2016 at 2:28 PM

    When my boys are sick I let them veg in front of the Tv. They get plenty of rest that way.

    Reply
    • 13

      Liz says

      August 24, 2016 at 8:09 PM

      It’s so true…TV is pure magic for our little ones. It’s a total treat when she gets to watch her shows.

      Reply
  5. 14

    Heather says

    August 23, 2016 at 11:42 AM

    Oh goodness, it is never fun when a little one is sick. In our home it starts with one, two days later it is the next one, two days later the next and so on. Then there will be a week of nothing, I think I am good to go, and then I will get sick…always the way!

    Reply
    • 15

      Liz says

      August 23, 2016 at 12:36 PM

      It’s so true, a tiny cold can take down the whole house and of course everyone is fine and then bam we get sick. Thankfully my little one bounced back but it was a long day!

      Reply

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Welcome to Urban Beach Baby!

I’m Liz, a beach mama trying to bring the aloha to our city life. Since my daughter was born it’s even more important for me to fill our home with that endless summer feeling. My paradise comes complete with sand between my toes, salty sea air, and that sun kissed glow. Read More…

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