How to keep toddler entertained when they’re feeling under the weather!

[hm4912]

I’m sure we are all in the same boat right now with this nasty cold going around, DD is 2.5 and very bunged up/not herself completely. Don’t want to take her out in the cold unnecessarily and trying to avoid seeing friends incase of them catching it. She’s watching a bit too more tv than I would like… any ideas how to keep her entertained for more than 10 mins would be amazing please!

I have already done baking and building a den, painting…

I think a bit of fresh air and daylight morning and afternoon helps them (and us) just make sure well wrapped up.

Are you feeling ok yourself?

I would try a longer daily bath in a well steamed-up bathroom to help loosen congestion, you could get a good session of water play in there.

Mine is younger but just had this cold, fever up and down constantly for about a week. Whenever they were well enough to enjoy it (basically once the Calpol kicked in...), I took them to the nearest park for fresh air but I took the pram because they got tired much quicker than normal. We've also been to the outdoor section of the local garden centre where they have goats and rabbits. Trips to the supermarket if well enough.

Indoors - dance party, baby yoga, stickers, colouring (scribbling...). But yeah, nothing sticks for very long.

For bathtime, I got some bath crayons on the advice of Mumsnet! They've been a hit.

Just let her rest and watch TV. She’s sick and needs to recover, not be kept busy with tons of activities.

Is she feeling poorly and tired, or is it more she's bit ratty with the cold, but still full of energy?

If she's feeling really rough, nothing wrong with flopping on the sofa in front of the TV. If she maxes out on TV despite feeling rubbish, colouring, sticker books, play dough, duplo, simple pretend play with cuddly toys/plastic figures, rinse and repeat and repeat and repeat. (DD2 didn't really do TV aged 2, even when ill enough to be in hospital.)

If feeling better, definitely try a long bath. Anything water-safe can become a bath toy to change it up – plastic containers, ladle, etc from the kitchen are popular here. Make a little obstacle course or play games running up and down the hallway if she needs to burn some energy. Chasing a ball you throw to bring it back to you is a good one if you're feeling worse that she is. Yes, it looks very like fetch. Improvise a game of skittles, preferably with a big ball to make it easier for her, again lots of running back and forth.

Just let her watch tv 🤷‍♀️ do you want to build dens and paint when you’re sick?

Snuggle up on the couch with her and watch a Christmas movie. She's ill, she needs to rest. Imagine you weren't feeling well and someone came along and took you to the park.

If she’s ill then watching tv and quietly lying down is fine.

People who are ill with flu-like viruses (which I assume you mean as that’s what’s doing the rounds) don’t benefit from doing activities.