Top tips for coping with a poorly toddler

The last 5 days have been so stressful, they have really challenged me and put my parenting skills to the test. My lovely Leo has yet again got an ear infection but to make matters worse his chest is also infected.

On Monday he was not himself at all and his temperature was running pretty high. Stupidly I put it all down to teething as his right back molar is cutting through. When he woke up burning hot at 5am on Tuesday I knew a visit to the doctor was in order.

Poorly Leo 🙁

The lovely doctor diagnosed Leo with a chest and ear infection and prescribed a course of antibiotics.  That was on Tuesday and now it is Friday Leo is almost back to his happy self. We are now almost out the other side of this horrible infection and I thought I would share how we managed to make it through this horrible week in one piece.

Tips for coping when your toddler gets ill …

Don’t stress if they don’t eat.
Leo has hardly touched his food all week. He’s had the odd bowl of cereal and a couple bits of toast and banana but as far as actual meals go, he has eaten nothing. This would normally stress me out loads but as he’s poorly I’m letting it slide. Sometimes when you are poorly food just is not appealing at all. As long as your little one is drinking then try not to worry, they will eat once they are better.

Even funny face food wasn’t good enough!

Be prepared for lots of sofa cuddles.
I have been glued to the sofa most of the week. Leo has not wanted to do anything other than cuddle up and watch cartoons. My friend and her daughter came to visit on Wednesday, we went to the park and Leo would not play at all. I would suggest you get your most cwtchy blanket, have a drink and snacks handy and get settled on the sofa for some serious cuddles and lots of Peppa Pig (if you can’t stand kids tv, have your phone handy and make the most of this quiet time to catch up on blog stuff).

Remind yourself how to do things one handed.
Leo is not a clingy child but this week I haven’t been able to go in the kitchen without him chasing after me, arms up and shouting ‘mummy cuddle’. I have had to reacquaint myself with the art of making toast and tea with one hand while holding Leo in the other, it’s not as easy as I remember!

Don’t feel evil when giving them medicine.
Oh wow, Leo hates his antibiotics. Like, he seriously hates it. He screams the house down and I have to pretty much restrain him to get any in his mouth. It is a traumatic ordeal for the both of us and has to happen 3 times a day, after each admission I am almost in tears myself. My only advice would be to just remind yourself even though they hate it, the medicine will make them better and is what’s best in the long run.

Everything else can wait.
No one makes a better nurse than your mum, we all know this from our own childhoods. The pile of laundry can wait and the dishes can pile up a bit if need be. Right now your baby needs you more than ever and all those other trivial things can just wait.  Don’t feel guilty about neglecting the housework, making your little one happy and comfortable is all that matters.

Enjoy some ‘me’ time.
Looking after a poorly toddler can be exhausting and some days you won’t get a single second to yourself. Once your patient is tucked up in bed spend some time relaxing and do something you enjoy. Luckily I haven’t had to work this week so once Leo is in bed I have just been crashing on the sofa with Jessy and Oli, I have been too tired to do anything else! On Wednesday we got my nan to babysit and once Leo was asleep we went to watch Avenue Q at the theatre where I work, it was nice to be out the house! A nice bubble bath with a good book sounds like heaven right now though…

Cuddles with Jessy after a busy day.

What do you think of my tips? Have you got any more ways of coping when your little one is ill?

Mums' Days
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10 Comments

  1. August 4, 2015 / 8:50 am

    It's really hard if your toddler got sick. I hope he is doing fine now.

    #TwinklyTuesday

    nhengswonderland.blogspot.com

  2. August 4, 2015 / 9:45 am

    Oh bless! Hope he is feeling better now.
    My tips are just don't get stressed, be there for them, have a bucket by their side, rub their backs if needed and plenty of water/diluted juice. And like you said not to worry if they don't eat! It may even be better not to even force them at all too eat as they may throw it all back up!

    X

  3. August 5, 2015 / 4:32 pm

    Oh these tips are absolutely spot on! The only thing we don't have a problem with is medicine because he actually gets a bit excited about it! But everything else, spot on. The last time Zach was really poorly, I'd taken him to nursery, pulled the car up, turned around to look at him and he looked so ill that I immediately drove back home and spend the day snuggled on the sofa with him! It was wonderful as I often feel like as a working mum that he doesn't get enough from me but on the day he needed me and I was there. It's so hard to deal with when you can't get them to eat though! I hope Leo is feeling better now. Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday

  4. Aby Moore
    August 5, 2015 / 11:04 pm

    Fab tips, dealing with a sick child is the pits! Really awful! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x

  5. August 6, 2015 / 3:53 pm

    Brilliant and just what I needed to read as both my boys are poorly at the moment X

  6. August 8, 2015 / 9:22 pm

    He is much better now thanks. So glad that horrible week is over, hated seeing him poorly.xx

  7. August 8, 2015 / 9:24 pm

    Yes, the best thing we can do is not get stressed..it can be hard though. He is better now, thanks. Ahh a bucket, I didn't think of that one..luckily he hasn't been sick with thus infection, thank god!xx

  8. August 8, 2015 / 9:28 pm

    He likes his medicine?oh I would do anything for Leo to get excited about his antibiotics, haha. Aww poor Zach, it is so lovely you decided to stay home with him and have cuddles on the sofa when he was poorly, I think that is all a poorly child really wants. Leo is his normal self now and back to eating normally now, yay xx

  9. August 8, 2015 / 9:29 pm

    It really is the worst thing, especially when you can't make it go away. Thanks for hosting xx

  10. August 8, 2015 / 9:30 pm

    Oh no!I hope your boys feel better soon and that you are doing ok, it's so hard when they are poorly isn't it?!xx