Share your tips with Nurofen for Children on coping with night times when your child is poorly - £300 voucher prize draw NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

In winter children often seem to get every bug going and this can make night-times especially disruptive and stressful.
The team at Nurofen for Children would love to hear your tips and advice on how to make night times with a poorly child better - for yourself, your child and other family members. So, how do you change your bedtime routine when your child is ill? Are you more relaxed (or strict) about bedtimes? Do you bring up hot drinks, a favourite soft toy or comforting blanket? Maybe you're more likely to allow your kids to come into bed with you when they're not well.

Here's what Nurofen for Children says, "Night time can perpetuate parents’ anxiousness when children are sick. It’s often a time when parents can feel less in control - especially as sleep is often a crucial time for a poorly child - we all know a good night’s sleep usually means a healthier child in the morning. We know parents will often do anything to ensure their child gets the sleep they need".

So please share on this thread your best tips on coping with those endless nights of sniffles, sickness and coughing fits.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks

MNHQ

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• The prize is £300 Love2Shop vouchers
  
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Nurofen for Children 3 months to 9 years Orange / Strawberry. (Weighing over 5kg). Nurofen for Children Orange / Strawberry 3 months to 12 years (weighing over 5kg). Contains Ibuprofen. For relief of fever. Always read the label.

[ThomasRichard]

I have this with DD at the moment. I pop her in bed with me so I don't have to get up every 20 minutes. It works beautifully.

[SpecialStains]

Have everything you'll need on hand and the syringe/spoon sterilised. Warm steamy bath before bed.
Mental preparedness for a long night, and stick on an audiobook while rocking your child to sleep, if you're going to be up for a while.

[LifeIsGhoulish]

Just get into bed with them. Or put them in your bed with you.

Unless they have D&V. A D&V night is spent on the sofa, with buckets, wipes and soothing DVDs.

[foxessocks]

Depends on the illness but my dd had a sickness bug the other day and she came into our bed because she was upset and it was easier than keep getting up. Not that we got any sleep anyway! She has had a cold this week and we go in and give her a drink if we hear her coughing a lot but she doesn't come into our bedroom. Ds has also has a cold but he is still in our room anyway so it's just a breastfeed for him as and when he gets upset!

[NickyEds]

Warm bath, medication and into bed with me is how I've always dealt with illness.

[lottieandmia]

I agree with others it's best to have a sick child in your bed. I always give alternating paracetamol and nurofen for dd3 because she often runs temperatures of over 40 when ill.

[CMOTDibbler]

I'd rather bed share with a poorly child than be up and down too. A nice long, warm bath before bed, and a few drops of olbas oil on a tissue on the side seem to help too

[asuwere]

Agree with others, its much easier to let them in your bed. At least that way you can still get sleep.

[Yummum19]

My daughter has been poorly the last week and she's spent every night in bed with me. I make sure everything's on hand - medicine, water and a nice cuddly blanket and then just lay and watch Disney movies on the tv!

[Loosechange1]

For a runny nose, Vicks Vapo rub on the pillow / back and Vaseline under the nose are my go to.

Paracetamol - having caught a lurgy from my grizzly toddler and felt terrible I decided of in doubt try Calpol.

Do what works - in my bed if needed. DH and I often divide and conquer, if one stays with the child the other gets up in the morning.

[Loosechange1]

As in, bring the poorly child into my bed if needed. Otherwise it sounds like I hold a satanic ritual in my bed to exorcize the lurgy.

[Flanderspigeonmurderer]

Prepare yourself as much as possible. Clean towels, sick bucket, wipes, water. For coughs and colds I'm willing to try anything, so painkillers for fever, cough syrups, nose sprays, menthol. A nice warm bath before bed helps. And I get to bed early myself if I think they will be up in the night a lot.

[ReadyForAcuppa]

1. -I try not to focus too much on the sleep I'm not getting instead I go downstairs, make a cuppa, put something on the TV that I dont really need to watch and just snuggle with my poorly one!
   
2. • Sometimes I put them in a camp bed in our room so that I can keep an eye on them!
     
3. • My boy has been coughing this week and Ive let him co sleep as hubby is away so there is room!
     
4. • Alternating between Paracetamol & Ibuprofen keeps down High Temps too!
     5)- I also heard that putting a menthol rub on the soles of feet can help get rid of a cough! Ive no idea if it works but I try it anyway!

[Pinklady1981]

With my 16 month old,if he has a cold or cough i use vicks at night also put on the bottom of his feet then pop socks on. Old wives tale but it works! Also use olbas oil just a few drop in his cot. Sometimes i put a rolled up sheet/blanket under his mattress to elevate his to relieve congestion.

[HerRoyalFattyness]

When mine are poorly they come and snuggle in mummy's big bed for the night. It works a treat and means I'm close by to deal with any puke or phlegm.

[MakeTeaNotWar]

We either sleep together - in my bed or theirs - or if they're vomiting, i cover the sofa with sheets and towels and we camp out in front of the tv for the night. Keep meds, flannels and a drink close to hand and hope they drop off eventually

[GruffaloPants]

Definitely let them in bed with you, or get in bed with them. Some painkillers and ice cream usually help too.

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

I start them off going to bed in their own beds, but have a low threshold for bringing them into bed with me later in the night so I can keep a closer eye on them / deal with problems quicker / give extra hugs as needed.
I make sure everything is to hand - spare bedding, syringes, medicine, bucket etc. so there's less fumbling in the dark or turning lights on.

[Lovewatchingrainfall]

Lots of cuddles and reassurance. I used to bring Daughter in to bed with me but learnt that after two weeks of being poorly she was not leaving. So now I make up a bed on the floor and it feels like a sleepover. Also making sure that the medication is spread out enough during the day to make sure it is given just before bedtime so that she is tired helps.

[Ashhead24]

Yep in bed with me.

[chibsortig]

We bed share when the little ones are poorly as then we are instantly on hand for cuddles etc. I always keep the room well ventilated but warm, fresh air circulating helps and stops the room feeling stale.
We pick a parent who's going sleep through and then the one who's on night duty gets the lay in whilst the other does the usual morning routine and sorts the other children out if they are well.

[TinyTear]

Cosleeping helps... it means i can kiss her forehead easily to check temperature and know if I need a top up.

she goes between me and DH but on top of the duvet (while we are under it) covered by her blanket.

She is 20 months so not a worry she will get covered...

if it's just a cough, not a temperature, she stays in her bed but i use olbas drops to freshen the room and have a BIG supply of cloths and towels near by in case of those coughing fits that end up in a little sick

[mouldycheesefan]

My dd gets hot when she has a cold and then she can't sleep. We use forehead cool patches which are great for cooling down I use them myself as well. We also wrap a freezer block in a tea towel and put that in the bed. Olbas oil on a tissue in the pillow case helps as does Vicks on the chest. A breath of fresh air through an open window can ease the stuffy air and also a nasal inhaler.

[NerrSnerr]

We have lots of cuddles and make sure we have everything we need upstairs, so drinks, medication and etc. If she won't go to sleep we will bring her downstairs and settle down there with the telly on, I find the distraction will send her off.

[voyager50]

Let them sleep as long as they need to, keep them hydrated and let them watch tv on the sofa with the duvet - it worked for me when I was little.