what do you do when children are ill?

[zwolfy]

I just ask because I don't know if I have been really lazy today - both children ill with sickness and fever - so aside from changing clothes and bathing them and putting washing on - we have just slept, watched telly and I have listened to a radio play whilst they slept on the sofa with me. They are 3 yrs and 2 yrs old.

DS (2.10) has got a stinking cold and chesty cough. We have been in for the last 2 days, we have watched TV, played with toys, been on the computer, been to Tescos and he is about to go down for a nap. That is all. Everytime we have left the house he has asked to go home again. Poor thing.

There's no point making them do anything they don't want to when they are poorly.

it's not making them do anything - it's me being lazy - we have not read any stories just listened to audiobooks and watched tv.

Pretend they are not (as it is really hard to take the time off work). It has worked so far.

My DS (22 months) was really sick all weekend, and he's not really been sick before. After we went to the docs and got him some medicine, we went to the supermarket and stocked up, then stayed in. He was miserable and tired and wanted to be comfy, so I put on his favourite show (bloody Charlie and Lola...) made up a little bed in the living room and pretty much left him to it, just gave lots of cuddles and made sure he was drinking. I figure sleep is the best thing for illness, so keep them close to warm drinks and bed! All you can do is be lazy when they are ill. Keep things calm and relaxed.

Ah, the old parenting guilt has set in has it? It's pretty much all i do when DS is poorly because he won't let me out of his sight and just wants cuddles. Besides which, it's what they need sometimes - just to chill out with mummy or daddy having lovely cuddles. While i hate to see DS ill, i secretly love the 'sit down, do nothing except provide love, care and cuddles' that is so rare these days!

it has been known for dh to leave the house for work in am with me sat in rocker with a poorly little one only to return that night to us in the same position. I achieve toilet stops, manage to direct my older ds to the fridge if he is home and that is about it.