Looking after baby when both parents are sick

[Ayopopaya]

We are having the week from hell! DS (6 months) has a stomach bug we ended up in hospital about, then bumped his head rolling over and ended up back in A&E and now me and his dad both have the tummy bug, as do my parents so they can't come over to help. We are inching through the day trying to take turns and get some sleep but it's so hard as we're both feeling horrendous and he's too young to plonk in front of the TV... how do you manage when this happens??

Dh and I both had strep throat when dc1 was about 9mo and felt like we were actually going to die. My folks were away, and his Mum works practically round the clock.

This is what we did-
Lowered our expectations - baby fed and bum changed was basically it.
Laid out all the baby crap on the floor and rotated dc around playmat, bouncer, moses basket and buggy.
Tv on. Lots.
We set our clocks for 2 hourly between 7am and 7pm and took turns to go lie down in bed. Switched every two hours.
Night time we just hoped for the best tbf.

It took about 4 days to get through the worst of it and start going out into the garden again.

Do just what needs doing, eat and clean yourselves, nothing else matters.

Definitely lowered expectations and just did what we could - last time my husband and I caught a stomach bug and were both really sick but our 19 month old was fine and full of energy which was hard to deal with!

He's not too young for TV.

Pop him in his car seat in front of it ( or similar secure, comfortable place) Obviously not for hours and hours...but an hour here and there, so you can deal with your poor selves will be fine!
It will get better but it sounds grim right now.💐

Keep everyone alive and wait for it to pass.

We've had this happen a couple of times as have no help from family. Just had to lower all expectations, put out all their toys on floor and let them explore, if you are feeling well enough you could try setting up the toys differently eg when we all had Covid when my little one was 6mo I sat her in laundry basket with all her usual rings and balls etc and she had a rare old time while I lay on couch feeling like rubbish! We also tried sleeping in different rooms to stagger getting ill so that one person is feeling more up to it for the childcare. But that doesn't really help if you both have stomach bug. You have my sympathies, it is awful. Hope you feel better soon.

Took it in turn to lie in bed, and lie on the floor next to child. Three hour shifts. Anything goes for food (cereal and toast probably).

Take it in turns to look after DS. Just do the bare minimum of parenting, feeds, food, tv, play mat, nappies. Everything else can wait until you’re better.

We cope precisely like you outlined OP.

Fingers crossed you’re all better soon!! This time next week it will probably be a distant memory.

Thanks all, yesterday was very hard work but we made it... thankfully he's still sleeping a lot after his illness so at least got some downtime. Still a bit rough today but miles better 🙌