How do you all cope when a bug gets the whole family?

[Ibytam]

This is something I really find difficult to cope with. What do you all do? I have 3 kids, all of us have the flu and my partners had to go to work. I have cried all morning so far, 6 month old is screaming and screaming. Eldest who’s 6 has autism so his understanding isn’t great and he’s just beside himself. Middle child is 2 and is the clingiest 2yo known to mankind. I feel so unwell myself I actually don’t know how I’m going to make it through.

I have nobody to help, both grandparents live far away but work full time anyway. I have friends and a brother but they all also work and have multiple children themselves. Partners work aren’t happy with him having anymore time off and are threatening he loses his job, for context he’s had 3 instances off in 12 months, all genuine of course, last one being the beginning of January when he was awfully ill with tonsillitis.

I really fear I won’t make it through this day, I cannot get the baby to stop screaming, she is desperate to sleep but just won’t. She did go the doctors yesterday to be checked over but was told everything is fine and it just needs to run its course.

I cannot read this and run. We don’t have our 3rd yet, I’m third trimester and miserable though. These feelings of overwhelm are absolutely consuming at times. I had them a few weeks ago when we all got norovirus. I couldn’t cope and I was also getting dangerously dehydrated.

These feelings are temporary though. Sounds like you’re having such a tough day but honestly you’ve got this. You only need to do the basics today, safe, fed and watered - don’t worry about managing anything else. If you need to step into another room for 5 minutes and take a breath then do it. Make sure they’re all safe, even if your little hasn’t stopped screaming then just make sure they’re safe in their cot & take yourself to another room for 5 minutes to try and ground yourself. Also - don’t feel the need to avoid screen time at a time like this for your older 2! Needs must!

When the kids weee that little, I managed illness by hunkering down in the lounge with duvets and buckets and towels and muslins (depending on the illness!). Watch TV, play games like the Orchard board games, watch more TV. Snooze when you can. Eat biscuits and sandwiches and snacks and pray for the day to go quickly!

A day or two and at least some of you will feel a bit better. Things will change and won't feel quite so awful

Blankets and pillows on the sofa, throw snacks at the kids whenever they want, tv on and just survive until your DH gets home and you can escape to bed alone.

Hope you recover quickly.

How are you going now? Our family rarely ever gets sick and when we do it doesn't usually go through everyone all at once thankfully so it is broken up, if the kids do get sick then they have bed days, they stay in bed and rest, but I do remember when all my kids were younger we caught a gastro/vomit virus. I put everyone into the loungeoom on mattresses only leaving to go to the toilet, and everyone had buckets for vomiting, the ones that were old enough got gastro stop and everyone got regular doses of nurophen and panadole and we rode it out for 3 days. That kept mess to a minimum and only in one place, we didnt cook food just ate dry toast and sandwiches. It was a rough couple of days but you just have to do what you can to survive days like that.

I've had this experience with four kids including a baby. We went through a lot of children's motrin and tylenol, drank gatorade, and nibbled plain crackers. The baby breastfed but wasn't herself at all.

We watched TV all day for three days straight, and I dragged myself to the washing machine twice a day to keep the stench of the pukey bedding from overpowering us. It helped greatly to have a dryer.

I also bleached the bathroom a few times a day to prevent a hazmat situation.

The worst was that the DCs recovered and were back to fighting form two days before me and were all clamouring for food, whereas the thought of food made me gag. Nuggets and oven chips to the rescue.

I opened all the windows for a whole day when we were well again, did a massive clean, bought a bunch of flowers...

We’ve just come out of this! In my case it was take the time off work - it seems to knock Js all out and we are all pretty sleepy so we all sleep together whilst the adults manage the calpol doses. Having snacks and lots of oranges in the common area available to munch on - the baby still appreciates independent eating. And lots of tea.

We just get through it together. Good luck. It sounds so tough

I remember having a four month old and four other young children when we were all hit with a terrible flu. My DH was overseas for work at the time. I just parked myself with a pillow and blanket on the couch, cuddled with the baby, put fold out beds for the other kids in the living area around me and baby, and put on the TV. I ordered food to be delivered from the supermarket, medications, orange juice.