How do you deal with baby DC when you're ill?

[Nameochangeo1234567]

Ok I realise none of you can come and watch my dd so guess I just want to moan! I'm a FTM to 5 month old DD and I am so illl and I don't know how to deal with it!
DP works Ft, I have no family near bye and she won't let me put her down! I must play constantly, I've even tried a cartoon but she won't even look at the bloody screen!!
I can barely get out of bed and just finding it really hard, what do you do?? How do you all cope?? I'm pretty sure it's flu so I am allowed to sound like a winey child and complain in my eyes!

[Nolim]

Can your dp take a sick day or family emergency day?

[Whoishillgirl]

Ouch! You have my sympathy. Me and dh both had food poisoning when ds was a baby. We lay next to ds on the playmat clutching our sick buckets and weakly waving toys in front of him. Will your dd let you cuddle her when you are lying down? At least then you don't need to expend energy being upright.

[blondiebonce]

Have a lot of sympathy! This was me last week! Lots of cuddles on the sofa and keep to the bare essentials. Everything within reach, don't be hard on yourself about the state of the house/getting you and baby dressed. Do you have a jumperoo or anything? Our jumperoo changed our lives!

[feezap]

Hi Nameo,

I can't help but totally share your pain, I posted the whinge below earlier.

Its so hard when they need constant entertainment and your body can barely move! Any ideas mners?

As the title says, how do you cope?!

In the last two weeks I have had a hideous d&v bug followed by a cold which now seems to have turned into a fluey thing. I am weak, my whole body aches, I feel sick and painkillers are doing nothing for my headache.

I am breastfeeding my 5 month old DS (who also has a cold and is finding it hard to sleep) so a good night's sleep is out if the question. He is also a very active baby so cuddles on the sofa and duvet days are not an option.

Today between my dh and my parents DS is being looked after between feeds so I can rest but I seem to be getting worse rather than better. And I'm starting to feel guilty for not playing with DS and putting on my parents so much.

Any tips on how to get better while still looking after and entertaining my DS?

[Jackanory1978]

You have my full sympathy! I'm laying here in bed right now feeling really really ill, but I have to drag myself up in 15 minutes & collect my super energy charged toddler from nursery. Just the thought of driving/dinner/bath....argh!!

[mumofboyo]

I hope you're now beginning to feel better
If not, is there any chance your OH could take a few days off sick/emergency holiday/parental leave (or whatever it's called) in order to care for you and your dc? That's usually what happens in our house.
Failing that, the only thing you can really do is to take as many painkillers as you can, lay on the floor and just wave books and toys at your child.

Change nappies only when really necessary - not ideal but not much else you can do if you feel like crap.

If you're ff then have your OH make up the bottles in the morning, or buy one of those large bottles of the readymade stuff, so that all you have to do is warm up the milk as needed. If weaned and you don't already, use jars and readymade baby food.

Eat as much or as little as you can but make it quick - toast and biscuits! Have a bottle or lidded cup with water or flat lemonade so you can sip it regularly.

It's shit being ill, even more so when you have young children, so lower your standards as much as you can, do the bare minimum and look after yourself.