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Parenting

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Original poster

So, if you don't use the electronic babysitter how do you entertain your LO when they're poorly/teething?

14 replies

ElleOhElle · 14/01/2013 19:17

My DD is 21 months today she missed her nap, so come 3.30/4pm was pretty miserable. She is also teething so that just added to the general misery. I would have taken her for a walk in the buggy but she would just have asked for her dummy and then fallen asleep (not great at that time of day) so I played with her, did different activities with her but she was on the edge; The slightest thing would set her off. She's not a very cuddly baby so it's not like she'd sit and have a nice snuggle with me. In the end I put her on the sofa, switched on 'In The Night Garden' and she was happy for 20mins before dinner.

I just want to know how parents who don't like their children watching TV cope when they're in this kind of mood.
What do you do? How do you entertain them, keep them from whinging and generally being miserable?

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teacher123 · 14/01/2013 19:38

Watching with interest... My 8 1/2mo DS has been ill for a month with viral coughs and wheezes and then today got diagnosed with yet another chest infection... Yesterday he was one poorly miserable overtired mess as his naps had gone to pot with all the coughing. The only thing that kept him from total meltdown was the very hungry caterpillar on repeat!

Original poster

ElleOhElle · 14/01/2013 20:46

Maybe everyone does use the TV after all ;)

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Bananapickle · 14/01/2013 22:08

When my Dd had an ear infection a couple of months ago the only thing she could do was snuggle up and watch tv, so I put on various Disney movies. When she felt like it she got up and had a little play but that would only last about 15 minutes before she collapsed back on the sofa.
I don't think it hurts them to just rest up in front of the tv when they're under the weather because they're often not capable of much more. It would like trying to make is work when we're feeling rubbish when all we want to do is do nothing!

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chezziejo · 14/01/2013 22:10

Guilty as charged. Thomas the tank and gruffalo are my heros we do other things too but dd is only 8 weeks old and its a life saver as she takes forever to feed.

poocatcherchampion · 14/01/2013 22:14

I was going to come on all smug and say I put a poorly child to bed.

But in the situation you describe, we'd watch friends. :-)

PoppyWearer · 14/01/2013 22:16

Yup, TV, I cuddled a poorly 16mo earlier in front of CBeebies.

steppemum · 14/01/2013 22:24

I am pretty strict with tv, and always have been, but the one time they do watch it is when they are ill. In fact when they are ill, I let then veg all day in front of it if that is what they want. Usually they then nap as well!

cassell · 14/01/2013 22:47

I v v rarely allow any tv maybe one thing once a month.

So with my 8mo I just bf him if he's teething/ill and that'll prob be the default remedy until I stop bfing probably at about 18mths-2yrs.

For my older one (3.10) then reading stories (again and again and again) is usually the best answer and has been since I stopped bfing him at 18mths. Going out in for a walk in the buggy when he was younger also worked - even if only to the corner shop - a change I scene/fresh air would distract him enough. Ds1 also likes colouring together or listening to his favourite songs and me singing them to him. Actually ds2 likes the song singing too - god knows why I can't sing to save my life

If they're ill then I generally assume I'm not going to get much else done while they're awake. It's hard work though.

Original poster

ElleOhElle · 14/01/2013 22:52

Funny, I was waiting for the barrage of abuse for not being able to cope without TV. Thank you lovely mumsnetters for making me feel better about my parenting skills.

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Original poster

ElleOhElle · 14/01/2013 22:57

cassell I admire your strength. I did try everything you've mentioned except BF (stopped at 4mths) and buggy (for reasons above). Maybe I just give in too easily, she just genuinely seemed miserable with whatever I tried.

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cassell · 14/01/2013 23:06

Tbh I don't think it's strength it's just because I've never used tv with the dc then it's just not something I consider as an option when I'm thinking how to settle them iyswim? For example (I was talking about this with a friend earlier actually) as I've never tried a cigarette it would never occur to me to smoke one to destress but someone who had smoked previously or did occasionally and found it helpful might think of that as an easy solution. don't know if that makes sense or not!

Dh on the other hand will switch on the tv after less than half an hour looking after ds1 as it seems to be his default option (we argue about this).

Sometimes they're just miserable though and there's not much you can do to soothe them.

RubyrooUK · 14/01/2013 23:27

I also use the telly when DS is ill.

When he is well, DS (2.5) wants to do all sorts of things - reading, drawing, play dough, train sets, dinosaurs, puppets....TV is one of them but by no means the favourite. If he feels too rubbish, then TV will do. Whenever he is better, he wants to do all his usual activities again, so I feel pretty alright about it. It doesn't make him go off his big loves like reading; so if he feels rubbish and needs a passive activity, I'm fine with it.

Sadly he hates the buggy so much that it's not really an option when he feels rubbish (or well) and he begs me to stop singing when he is unwell and irritated "No Twinkle! No clap your hands! No Nellie Elephant!"

So the electronic babysitter is my friend....

MoelFammau · 15/01/2013 00:50

I don't actually have a TV so it's not really been an option so far. What do I do... picture books, warm bath, cuddles, walk in the buggy mainly. Luckily I live next to a sort of exotic animal and greenhouse thingy so I take her there to watch the fish...

Piemother · 15/01/2013 01:11

Dc1 self medicates with the tv. She wants to watch when she's tired and wants to wind down or if she wants some rest time. She only ever wants to watch huge amounts when she's ill and I let her.

It's a good health/mood indication too. Today we came I. At 4.30 and she was sitting in her special chair watching cbeebies like a zombie so I cracked on with an early dinner and she was in bed asleep at 6.30! If she was feeling ik she would have been pottering in her playroom or dancing in the kitchen

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