Best tips for coping with 20m DD while I'm ill??

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I have been ill for over a week now, found out yesterday that I have a bacterial infection and now have antibiotics.

How do other people cope while ill with DCs when they have no back-up? No family or close friends nearby and DH is having a horrible time at work at the moment and can't take any time off, and has just had to work over the weekend.

DD is getting very bored with Cbeebies but I just don't have the energy to get out of the house much and am struggling to keep it together most days. Feel very guilty now the days are getting nice and sunny but the last thing I feel able to do is get out and about to the park etc, although I have made myself, and then feel totally wiped out and feeling worse than before. I know I will get better but feel so down at the moment and bad for DD .

Baking
Playdoh
Crafts
Wellies on and into the garden
Soft play if you can manage it
Dvd's
Out for ice cream

a couple of low effort, new toys to keep her interested eg aqua draw, doll and little pram (can get for £5 from Toys r us). Also sticker, colouring, toys that she used to like but may like again eg mine still loved stacking toys, shaper stakcers at that age

Thanks, they're all good ideas. She loves stickers, but may be stickered-out by now! I love the idea of Playdoh, one of my old childhood favourites. Think a trip to the shops is in order.

Don't think I can face soft-play, am sweating at the thought of it, and DD just tries to climb up the slide from the bottom up and gets mangled by kids sliding down from the top, so I have to hover by her the whole time.

assuming she is confidently walking, can you manage to get to park? DS now spends an hour just running about chasing a ball and I have to very little.

Trixie, she is a confident walker (only been walking a few weeks though, she was pretty late) but just goes wherever she feels like it, which usually isn't where I want her to go! Managed to get to park this morning, she loved it, but it's all a bit hap-hazard and am knackered now.

The most important thing here is to be nice to yourself.

I'm not advising ignoring her, but there's no need to try to hard to keep her 'entertained'.

I would advise doing the minimum - keep her fed, bathed and clothed. Some cuddles. Perhaps a story.

A small bit of boredom won't do any harm, as long as she's not distressed. You'll have plenty of time to make it up when you're better.

You sound like a lovely mum. Hope you feel well soon.

too hard, I mean.

Thanks Heathcliff , luckily she does have periods of time when she's happy to potter around by herself, so I'm making the most of those!

poor you. I'd advise some more kiddie dvds and regular channel changing to keep her watching...Won't hurt for a few days! And lots of kiddie ready meals. The Annabel Karmel ones are nice..

Thanks,yes, might have to invest in a Night Garden dvd, she absolutely loves that! Not tried the ready-meals, might have to resort to a few of those, running out of home-made stuff in the freezer, unless I can stir myself to make something else tomorrow.

Not an ideal meal but in a rush, DD has pasta, assorted veg and an Ella's Kitchen pouch mixed in. The pouch contains a reasonable balance of 'goodness' plus the extra substance makes it more palatable for DD. Bit better than waffles and nuggets The kiddie ready meals are okay too (DD doesn't like them but DH can testify to their tastiness!)

Can you pick up some cheap toys from a charity shop? Just something that won't matter if it get trashed if you're not watching her closely.

Another vote for a park if you can manage it. DH and I took DD on saturday for about 30mins and she ran around the whole time, and promptly went to sleep for 2hrs that afternoon.

Poor you. I hope the antibiotics work quickly! How about a trip to the library? If you can't face soft play take dd to a sofa shop! Rest when she sleeps - absolutly no housework. Ask dh to cook you meals to reheat while he is at work.

I think the drugs are working now, thank god! We had a little run around our (very small) garden this afternoon, which was a success. DH is off work tomorrow, so I will be getting a lie-in .

i second the dvd idea...

or just put on another kids channel? nickjr neone?

jigsaws, my DD is ace at jigsaws as I had morning sickness for 8 months. You can do them lying down. M&S do some good children's food.

All great ideas, thanks all. Unfortunately we don't have Nick Jr, so no Peppa...but we do sometimes watch it via the Ch 5 Milkshake website, she loves Peppa.

Can you get a list of bits together and get DH to pick up in lunch hour on on way home. If you can afford it just spend some dosh, my kids liked the Chicken Socks books by Schultz (usually in good toy shops or on amazon) craft books with a little case full of everything you need for the activities.
Agree with others - jigsaws are good, easy lunches sandwiches and fruit - let her have it on blanket on floor as an indoor picnic. Simple card games - snap,happy families etc that she can play with you when she wants mummy attention but you are feeling low.

Don't stress - a week of less than healthy food and a too much TV/DVD's isn't going to hurt

would she enjoy playing in the bath

I have done this when when stuck at home with ill children, for the healthy siblings, sometimes they LOVE the novelty of an afternoon bath... perhaps you could put extra bubbles in and choose some plastic cups / funnels / spoons from the kitchen that arnt 'normal' bath toys and let her get on with it

(while you closely supervise so she doesnt drown (aka sit on bathroom floor with a magazine)

I have this problem as when I am ill I have no one to help either. I usually lay on the sofa and they watch telly and I make toast for all meals! I know that's really crap but last time it was when I had flu (and it was real flu) and it was very close to impossible to even fetch them a drink.

Thanks for all your lovely suggestions . I'm finally feeling much better now, I think normal service can just about be resumed!

Glad you're feeling better op. Just read this and wondered with some of the posters, if that's what you do when you're ill, what on earth does normal service look like?!!

On no blimey, I'm very very far from being some sort of supermum! I think I was trying to do far too much last week, being a bit PFB about DD. I'll know next time that she won't spontaneously combust from not going outside or from watching too much telly!

Just remembered at that age ds loved it if we took all of the cushions off the sofas and brought quilts and pillows down and made a soft play in the living room... Was very comfy cosy