Looking after baby while ill

[Blueroses99]

How do you look after a baby while you feel completely rotten?!

DD had a virus last week and is not 100% but definitely much better but she seems to have passed to me, my mum and my sister! DH took care of everything over the weekend hoping I would be better by today as he is back at work. If anything I feel worse not better.

DD is almost 1 but a preemie so closer to 8 months corrected. So she has no interest in CBeebies/DVDs and can’t feed herself.

Any tips while I lie here feeling sorry for myself...?

If you are really ill, get help. I had a terrible infection when my ds was a few weeks old (fever, chills, sweating and shaking, delirious). My dh had to be at home for a few days to take him while I rested.

If you can manage well enough without someone helping, lounge around at home and watch tv while baby plays or feeds, co-sleep together in bed for naps so you get some sleep too, and pretty much hand off to your partner and go to bed if you can in the evenings.

I have twins and the only time I called for help when they were babies was if I wasn’t actually safe to look after them (eg couldn’t stand/pick them up).

In a bad cold, feeling rubbish situation I just sucked it up until
DH got home.

However different people have different levels of tolerance for these things so call in help if you need it.

Take paracetamol, plenty of drinks and sleep when she sleeps. Can you manage till DH gets home?

I think I can manage on my own, just struggling

My mum and sister would normally drop everything to help but are also ill. I just know from experience that I will be ill for longer if I don’t have a chance to rest. I have been given an inhaler and got paracetamol so hopefully they will help.

I know it could be worse but my head is pounding so hard I can’t think straight.

Thanks for the tips

If you are struggling for breath, eat a banana and drink a string coffee. Both help improve the oxygen levels in your blood.

Can you go to bed when DH gets home? Have you got something you can all have for tea?

*strong coffee. String coffee sounds a bit unappetising

I just know from experience that I will be ill for longer if I don’t have a chance to rest

You’re right, it probably will but unfortunately with small kids that’s often the way it goes. You poor soul.

Make sure DH knows that he’s on duty as soon as he arrives home. In these circumstances a DH that arrives home bearing a takeaway for dinner is always very beloved.

No bananas at home, we are low on groceries at the moment 🙈 I could do with a strong coffee though.

I’m counting down til DH comes home and takes over. Will suggest takeaway too, thanks!

As little as you can to get you through. A lot of us have been there. It’s really shit. Just as long as you are both safe then nothing else really matters. If your child is almost 1 I hope you can get a couple of naps with them.

The only time I have had extra help was when my youngest was 2 months and I had horrific d&v. I needed my husband to help hold him to my breast while I vomited in a bowl over him. Not my best night!!

It is so hard - in fact I think being ill with small children is the hardest thing about parenting and no one ever mentions it!

I have preemie twins, now 18 months and as hard as it was at that age, it’s much harder now they can run around and climb things! I had a terrible sinus infection recently with vertigo and it was so bad I had to get my DH to take a couple of days off - I couldn’t walk, let alone take care of them.

Are you sure she won’t watch CBeebies? Twirlywoos was a big hit with mine from about 7 months. I’d put them in bouncers with that or those black and white baby relaxation videos on YouTube.

I’m currently in the same boat OP but starting to feel better today thank god. Been the absolute worst weekend. Had no help available and have a fever, vomiting the lot. Basically I just set up camp in the bedroom. Brought playmat, bouncer, loads of toys in and just let DS play whilst I spoke (whispered as I’ve lost my voice) to him. Just try and have everything to hand, drink plenty of fluids and don’t feel bad about not being able to do loads. Hope you feel better soon!!

I’d text DH and ask him to bring the takeaway with him. If you’re short on groceries, could you do an online shop?

You just get on with it.

If you are that poorly your dh can take emergency parental leave to look after your little one

I actually find it harder now my son is older - when he was that age I could pop him on a mat or in the bouncer and be nearby. Now he's tearing through the house! I totally sympathise though - I used to get horrible post natal migraines and low blood pressure and on a few occasions I had to get DH to come home as I wasn't safe to be alone (fainting).

It's bloody hard slog - being a parent is the one job you never get holiday or sick leave from!

You just get on with it. there are times when that’s simply not an option though. I had D&V so bad when I was PG with DC2 that I couldn’t stand, just lay on the bathroom floor. If I tried to get up I fainted.

Most of the time though, yes, you just have to get on with looking after the DC.

Thanks for all the support, I am feeling much better today. I suppose I did ‘just get in with it’ in the end and I can see how things could have been so much worse.

I was just knocked for six and need to be much better prepared for if (well, when) this happens again. DD is starting to be more mobile so I can see how that’ll make it more tricky.

DH thinks he’s coming down with something so we might be heading for a role reversal soon...

Glad you are feeling better! I have fibro and migraines and think a play pen (or close doors if room is safe) a den of cushions, a box of toys and books and finger foods, tv on, crawl onto sofa with a blanket and hope for the best