Tips to keep toddler entertained during tonsillectomy recovery

[Cdoc]

Just that really! 16m DS had his tonsils out on Friday so we are now 3 days into his recovery.

We have sadly had to resort to screen time more than I would like, in particular because he is on a 7 day course of co-amoxiclav as well as calpol and ibuprofen every 4 hours, and he hates medicine SO much we have to distract him with the tv (has had so many courses of antibiotics from tonsillitis that putting it in food doesn’t work, and he gags if we hold him down).

Really I’m looking for suggestions of things we can do in the house during the 2 weeks we can’t really go out please! He’s quite young still so toys only keep him entertained for so long, and the garden does for a bit too but I’m constantly wiping his hands due to infection risk. He’s normally at nursery 3 days and with my mum a day a week so is used to being occupied!

Thanks in advance

Can I just check the 2 weeks advice you've been given? When DS1 had his tonsils and adenoids out last year we were informed that because of the new method of the operation he didn't have to isolate, and the only thing we had to be aware of was his pain levels.

However, thanks to COVID I've plenty experience of isolating with a 16 month old! Do you have a disco light? Dancing to silly music or just being in the dark with that on was how we spent a lot of time. Also den building, and any way a tunnel could be created. Water play? Paddling pool?

@Merrow thank you! Really appreciate your suggestions and actually water play has been our saviour over the last couple of days. Will try den building today as he seems to be struggling today pain wise. Doesn’t help he is cutting the tip of two canines at the same time 🤦🏻‍♀️

I did check with the nurses and they said 2 weeks before returning to nursery or groups of people/ anywhere he could risk catching a cold. Which leaves us limited! But when the weather improves will hopefully at least go out for a walk as cabin fever has really hit.

As an aside, DS has also had the new method (intracapsular with co-ablation?) so they didn’t remove the whole lot, just shaved right back.
How was your son’s recovery generally? So far it hasn’t felt as bad as some of our worst cases of tonsillitis where he’s been admitted to hospital, but I am conscious they warned us day 6/7 he could go downhill as the scabs come off. Today is day 6 and he is a lot more unhappy and crying at the smallest thing. Really hoping it won’t get too much worse given the new method, but wonder how your son was please? Thank you in advance

Remember this well! Hope your DS recovers quickly.
Any kind of messy play was always a hit here.

homemade playdough
moondust
slime
kinetic sand

den building
Shaving foam

then things like baking, make your own ice lollies, fruit kebabs.

Weird! Maybe the advice changes across trusts. They said they'd recommend he be kept from nursery it possible because he'd be sore and miserable, but said they no longer had the infection concerns they used to. It was during the summer holidays for us so there was no issue with going to nursery, but we went to the park and things.

DS1 was 4 when he had it done so able to talk to us about how he was feeling. The recovery was far, far smoother than I expected, although the pain definitely hit in a second wave with the scabs. We were told not to wait until he said he was in pain but just to keep alternating ibuprofen and paracetamol for a few days. Definitely a bit snapped of energy, but nothing concerning. He was fine eating without discomfort the day of the operation, and has not had any issues since (it was almost a year ago exactly he had it done). I think the thing that bothered DS1 the most was that he sounded different, I think he was really disconcerted, but that went back to normal too.