What You Need When Your Baby Gets Sick
Let me begin by saying I am not a medical doctor…of any kind. I’m not even that seasoned of a parent. I am just a mom, standing in front of you, telling you that having a sick kid is H A R D!
My son is 18 months old now. He got Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease about two weeks after starting daycare - a consequence of the oral nature of early childhood learning & how contagious most childhood illnesses are, not the rigorous safety standards at his school. Although I knew that children who attended school of any kind got sick (who hasn’t heard of the dreaded daycare germs?) I was completely shocked when my son spiked a fever.
Especially as a Pandemic Parent.
I have been working so hard for almost 2 years now to keep this kid safe that I didn’t really let myself go down the rabbit hole/anxiety spiral that is researching sick day preparation on the internet. He’ll just never get sick…right? Wrong.
So there I was in the middle of the night holding my sweaty, miserable, sweet son & feeling utterly lost.
This story has a happy ending. My son is fine. He needed lots of fluids, rest & fever reducing medicine for about 7 days, and then…as bodies are typically able to do…he began to feel better.
My partner & I learned a lot from those first few sick days, and like most things in parenting it has gotten easier to care for our son now that we have some experience, but I’m hoping to save you a little bit of that lost, lonely feeling.
Here is my list of What You Need When Your Baby is Sick:
Infant Tylenol
Infant Motrin
Medicine Doser (I like this one from Frida Baby, but you don’t need it. Every package of medicine you buy will come with a doser.)
Rectal Thermometer (I like this one from Frida Baby, but an inexpensive one from any drug store will absolutely work.)
Alcohol/Alcohol Wipes for sanitizing your rectal thermometer
Tissues (& an easily accessible vessel for trash)
Water Bottles or vessels that your child likes to drink from
Disinfectant Wipes or Spray for sanitizing surfaces
Humidifier (This helps my son sleep comfortably while sick.)
Bulb Syringe or Nose Frida (I also find it very helpful to take my son into a lukewarm shower with me to clear his nose.)
Extra Sheets, Blankets, PJs, Towels & Washcloths
A list with your pediatrician’s contact info, the contact info for a local pediatric urgent care & the contact info for your local ER (Your pediatrician should have an after hours line where you can leave a message & someone will call you back. Also, you can typically leave a message for your doctor’s nurse. Get this info organized now so you aren’t searching for it when your child is sick!)
And here are a few Tips & Tricks that work in my household:
Keep your child hydrated (Our pediatrician shared with us that there are no rules here - just get them to drink - juice, milk, water, popsicles - bottle, water bottle, open cup, sippy cup - hydration is so key in getting better & keeping your child comfortable.)
Stay on top of fever reducing medicine to keep your child’s fever low & the pain manageable. We keep track by writing on a wipe off board on our fridge. A phone alarm works well too. Your pediatrician will give you dosage information.
When my son has a fever he seems to be soothed by a cool, damp washcloth on his forehead (especially at night). He also enjoys a lukewarm bath or shower (with Mom or Dad).
Make sure you know from your pediatrician when a fever (or any symptom) needs attention. Keep this information written down somewhere that all caregivers can find it.
Change crib sheets, blankets & PJs often. I find this makes my son comfortable & helps me to feel…sanitary.
Wash your hands frequently. Again…it’s the little things that will help you feel clean & well.
Your baby can self-soothe while they are sick, but rocking them to sleep, rubbing their backs or giving them extra attention around rest may be necessary.
Because it takes a village,
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Pedialyte, Actual Thermometer (not just the head scanning kind), Tylenol & Extra Sheets/Blankets, ~Rachel, Children 3 years old & 6 months old
Frozen Pedialyte Popsicles, ~Alexandra, Child 6 years old
Forehead Swipe Thermometer, Tylenol, Popsicles, Disney Plus Subscription, ~Liz, child 8 years old
Saline Wipes, Favorite Foods, Cuddly Blankets & Lots of Snuggles, ~Katie, Child 3 years old
Popsicles & Miniature Saltines (lovingly referred to as “sal-teenies”), ~Kristin, Children 5 years old & 7 months old
Popsicles, Pedialyte, Tylenol, Applesauce, ~Rebecca, Child 2.5 years old
But really the best advice I have to offer comes from my friend, Isabel, who is 8 years old:
“I think you need a good mindset. I know that being sick is no fun, but it’s like, I know I’m sick, but…I will get better soon. ”
Wishing you well!
Love,
Erin
About Erin
Erin Hanehan is a Certified Kids Yoga Instructor and Drama Teaching Artist based in Durham, NC. She has a BA in Dramatic Arts from UNC Chapel Hill and completed her kids yoga and mindfulness certification with Growga. Erin has taught all kinds of things—from cooking classes to improv—to students of all ages, but she is most passionate about working with preK and early elementary students. Driven by a mission to help all children stand tall, find their own voice and feel confident in their bodies, Erin currently teaches in schools with Growga, online with Whole Mama Yoga and in-person with Raleigh Little Theater and Jewish for Good. She also works part-time as the PR Manager for Little Dipper Sleep.
Erin shares her life with her son, Nathan, her partner, Matt, her dog, Olive, and her chickens, Chip & Jo.
Sick Babies and Sleep - FAQs
Question: What if my child will only sleep in my arms when they are sick?
Answer: If your baby or kiddo is sick and can only sleep with lots of help from you. Don’t sweat it! Try to offer as little additional help as you can. But if it does’ work, be easy on yourself and your child, keep the stress low, help them feel better, help them all the way to sleep, and get back to the typical sleep protocol (e.g. sleeping flat, sleeping independently, etc.) just as soon as they are better
Rather than bringing them to your bed or rocking them all night, you could consider putting a mattress on their floor and sleeping there, rubbing their back and offering soothing words, but letting them sleep safely in their own bed.
If you must hold them upright for them to sleep, and you have a co-parent or another caregiver who can help, consider splitting the night in half so that you can get at least 5 or 6 hours of sleep yourself. Holding your baby while you are sleeping is unsafe.
Question: What if my baby or child gets sick during sleep training?
Answer: This happens all of the time and it’s no big deal. Just pause the process, aim to take as few steps backward as possible (but per the first question, don’t sweat it if you end up holding them all night), and then get right back on the sleep training track once they’re feeling better.
Question: Is it OK to let my baby/child nap longer when they are sick?
Answer: Absolutely! Sometimes babies will sleep more during the day when they are sick, and sleep is the best medicine. While we generally recommend putting some limits on how long a baby naps, this doesn’t apply when your little one is sick. Just let them get as much rest as they can so that they feel better.
Question: What if my baby isn’t feeding well during the day?
Answer: If your baby isn’t nursing or taking bottles well during the day, you may need to feed them more during the night and that’s OK. Hydration is extremely important when the body is trying to fight off virus or infection.