Help me survive tomorrow with 2 under 2

[Poorlyandfrazzled]

Eldest is 2 in September with basic speech and understanding. Youngest is 3 months old. Had a lovely weekend with DH but today my throat was a little scratchy in the morning which has now developed into my skin feeling painful to touch, a splitting headache and curled up in bed because I’m bloody freezing. Obviously picked something up from my permanently germ infested toddler but I’m panicking because I’ve never been ill on my own with both kids before. It’s completely mental even operating at full health! DH can’t help this week due to a work deadline so I am doing this solo. Any tips to make a miraculous recovery by 5am tomorrow? Or any tips for just surviving the day? My brain is too foggy to think straight 😫

Do you have any family members/friends near By who you could ask to take them to the park for an hour tomorrow?

I once manage a baby and toddle while I had mastitis that I ended up getting hospitalised with. Looking back now I don’t know why I didn’t text someone and ask for some help. Thing is people don’t offer so you have to be prepared to help.

much more doable when their older but babies and toddler have no concept of an unwell parent.

Have you got some decent medication in - day nurse probably?

Ask for help! I’d happily take a friend’s toddler for a few hours to give them some respite.

Get DH to do a couple of snack plates for the toddler in the fridge before he leaves.

Put Cocomelon on.

Try and get as much sleep as you can tonight.

Make sure you have plenty of medicine in the house, as well as food, nappies etc so you don’t have to go to the shops. Obviously delegate this part to DH.

Any helpful friends or relatives that could take toddler to park for an hour or 2?

Tv on, pj day for all, feed toddler easy snacks, do zero in the house except keeping you all alive til DH gets home.

Fingers crossed it’s not too bad. I felt similar to you one night the other week, was convinced I was getting something awful, and in the end I was fine the next day!

I’d third asking for help. We don’t do it enough - I bet someone would take your 2 year old for a few hours.

Can your DH manage to take them to the park so the 2 year old can burn off some energy first thing? And either prep food or use Deliveroo for easy grocery delivery if you have it.

Other than this discover the wonderful world of kids vintage TV on you tube and cbbs

Lower your standards. If the baby naps, let the toddler have tv time and try and dose on the sofa with them. Even better if you can by some miracle get them to sleep at the same time. Do nothing other than keeping your children alive, clean and fed. So no housework or elaborate cooking. Toast and some fruit and snacks will be easy. Try and create a safe space for both to explore where you don’t have to give them 100% attention. Also do activities where you can lie on a sofa. Try things like cosmic yoga or videos on YouTube your toddler can dance to.

It is very hard as at that age they are relentless. I am still slightly scarred by having a 3yo and 1yo when we both had covid and being in isolation with them for 2 weeks while feeling like utter shite.

Does the eldest attend nursery/a childminder? If so can you call first thing and see if there’s space for an extra day?
if not any relative/neighbour/friends elder teen who’s off school you can rope in?

if not, low standards. Tv picnics/duvet day and just survive as best you can.