Sick toddler and bad behaviour

[Mouscadoo]

Just wondering if it is normal or expected for your child's behaviour to be worse when they are sick. My nearly 3 year old has had a cold on and off the past 2 weeks but her behaviour has been so bad during this time. She normally has very good manners but she has been so rude. For example if she wants something it's "get me this now" and lots of shouting. She has been pushing and hitting her sister who is 10 months. We have been giving her calpol, baths, vicks etc to try and relieve her symptoms but it just isn't budging. I've never had to give her a time out or anything but she has had to be put out on the step today a few times.

I generally try to be empathetic and take the stance that there is communication behind behaviours but I can't tolerate the rude demanding behaviour! Is anybody else's child like this when sick. Maybe I'm expecting too much but she is very smart and generally know what is okay and what isn't. She has very good language also. Anybody else? Or any good advice please?

It's pretty normal for behaviour to deteriorate and also for them to regress a little when they're sick.

She's probably out of her Roy time as well.

Yes! Our 2yo was very ill last week with a bad cold and was horrendous. As you say, refusing everything, grumpy, demanding, very difficult to deal with!!!
He is better now and back to his old self thankfully.

Yep my little one has chicken pox and her behaviour has been horrific compared usual. We normally know she is getting poorly if she starts being naughty, as generally she is quite mild mannered.

It’s normal. I started a thread about this bloody cold, we’ve had it nearly 3 weeks now and it’s showing no signs of buggering off - the coughing at night is driving me mad. It’s turned DD into a right little madam but I know it’s just because she’s cranky and tired.

Mine isn’t three she’s 1 and a half but she screamed out of anger and frustration a lot when she got the flu. Very very tired cranky baby! I tried to be understanding but it was hard. Then when she was well she wanted to sleep in husband and I’s bed and refused to go down in her crib for 2 weeks straight. 😫 It felt like it took so long for her to bounce back.

I think of it like this. Toddlers get cranky and misbehave when they are tired. When they are sick they’re tired 24/7 because their bodies are working very hard (harder than an adults probably) so it’s only natural they will be in a bad mood. Once her fever has been gone for 72 hours I started slowly reinforcing the rules. She can’t run the place forever. Even if they are sick there are certain things we just will not tolerate though. At the age of one though there’s really not much I can do to discipline her yet. Just remove from the situation or distract.

At three I imagine I might enforce my discipline of choice when sick only if they are doing something harmful or dangerous like hitting or doing something that could harm themselves.

I am so relieved to hear its not just mine but sorry you are all dealing with sick kids aswell, especially at Christmas! It's been so hard.

Im sympathetic to her being sick but feel I have to draw the line somewhere with the behaviour..hard to find a balance.

Of course it's normal for them to behave worse when they are feeling ill. Aren't most people more grumpy when they don't feel well