Lone parent, son has a cold, I have a cold. Dear god I need help!

[MissBootyBass]

I'm exhausted. My 8 month old son has his first ever cold. He's suffering with it and no amount of saline will keep up with his snotty nose. His temp keeps coming up after Calpol wears off. He is miserable, only wants milk, not sleeping at night. Poor sod is not well at all.

I've now caught his cold. Fine. It's just a cold. Life goes on. Problem is, I'm exhausted. I am not sleeping as DS is awake every thirty minutes. I now feel rough as. I don't remember a time where I felt this tired. It's real genuine exhaustion.

Can anyone offer any tips on how to get through this just me and DS without falling apart?

Never thought a cold could break me like this!

Bump

You poor thing, that sounds miserable. Make yourself a nest in the lounge with huge amounts of water / drink on the side and try to dose in-between him waking.

Do you have any friend who could come over and look after your DS for even two hours so you can sleep?

No real advice OP but if you were living close to me ( near Glasgow) I’d help you out 🤷🏻‍♀️ Food, baby sitting or errands ..

Hope someone can sort some help for you🌷

Gosh this is my biggest parenting hang up... illnesses! Im lucky to have DH and family around but what your dealing with sounds utterly shit. I would litterally lock doors, windows, curtains, the lot and just battle through. When youre out the other side, you will look back on this as something you have achieved and too bloody right. Also, gross but ive defo done it when ds had bronciolitus, suck the snot out of his nose. Ds slept for 2 hrs after i did that, no regrets here and yes i will tell him when hes older!!!

I’ve been a lone parent since pregnancy and have luckily only had a few occasions where we have been ill together. You poor thing, because it sucks!

Hunker down, goto bed or make a nest in the living room - wherever you will be comfiest, personally I always choose bed. Can you get snacks, water, medicine, milk, nappies etc and put them by your bed. Put baby tv on the iPad. Snooze as much as possible - I used to curl my arm around Ds so I would feel him move but o could close my eyes.

Amazon prime do 2 hour delivery on groceries to a lot of areas now if you need anything.

Just know, that this time next week it will all be a horrible distant memory and you will both be okay. It’s temporary and it will pass

Also, I have a bucket in the airing cupboard with my “sick kit” in. It has baby wipes, Dettol wipes, medicines, change of bedding, a towel and a change of clothes for both me and Ds in. I know that if either of us puke in the middle of the night that I can just grab it and it’s got everything I need in.

This brings back awful memories of my years as a single parent, when both my toddlers and I got norovirus and I had three nights running of no sleep, while either vomiting myself, mopping up their vomit, or both!
It’s grim, OP, but you just have to soldier on through it. It will get better. If you have any relatives nearby (mine were 250 miles away, sigh), perhaps they’d come and give you a break?

You poor thing i feel so sorry for you, don't you have anyone who could help? Even if its just for a couple of hours so you could have a sleep.

Had a very stressful day. Ds decided not to sleep at all. No naps. He's now conked out. Hoping he will sleep for at least a couple of hours! Argh!

Sudafed, painkillers and lots of drinks for you. Hang in there!

Just keep reminding yourself that this is temporary. It's pretty unlikely you'll both still be feeling so rubbish in a week.
Agree with previous poster...when you are better, make up a sick basket full of everything you need if little one and or you gets ill.