What do you let your DC's get away with when they're feeling under the weather? Tell Nurofen for Children for a chance to win a £250 Love2Shop voucher! NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

Nurofen for Children have asked us to find out which special privileges and treats you use to distract your DC when they’re under the weather.

Here’s what Nurofen for Children have to say: “Our research shows that a quarter of parents find the health of their child the most difficult subject to make decisions on. As parents, you want health advice you can trust. Nurofen for Children is trusted by parents - 9/10 parents who used it would recommend it to a friend*. If your child is struck down with cold, pain or fever, Nurofen for Children offers products to help manage their symptoms. It starts to work in just 15 minutes to bring down a temperature and is clinically proven to last longer than paracetemol to relieve a fever.”

So, what do you let your DC's get away with when they're feeling under the weather? For example, are they allowed to watch TV or play with consoles for longer? Or are they allowed to eat as many sugary snacks as they like? Do you have any special games or inspired tips to keep them entertained when they're poorly?

Tell us how you spoil your kids when they're poorly and you'll be entered into a prize draw to win a £250 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

*Survey of Survey of 2,000 parents by OnePoll. March 2014
**Survey by Mum's Views of 225 mums ‘9 out of 10 mums who used NfC would recommend it to a friend’. Last accessed August 2013

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• To enter the competition simply post a comment below telling us how you spoil your children when they are poorly
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So, are you a bit more lenient on your Darling Children when they’re feeling under the weather?

I definitely am more lenient, wouldn't think of asking them to tidy or tell them off, I treat them the way I want to be treated when I feel ill.

For example, are they allowed to watch TV or play with consoles for longer?

Yes, definitely. When they're ill, it's a great excuse for a duvet day on the sofa watching Disney movies!

Do you let them set up camp with a duvet on the sofa?

Yes, they curl up with their duvet on the sofa.

Or are they allowed to eat as many sugary snacks as they like?

No, but I do make them they're favourite food - within reason, and try to make sure they drink lots of warm drinks.

Do you have any special games or inspired tips to keep them entertained when they're poorly?

When dd was younger I used to read lots to her when she was poorly or we would play with her dolls. Now she likes to have "girly time" watching movies.

All 5 of my kids love getting into my bed when poorly! Nothing beats that I'm told!

When they're ill they get to lie on the sofa with the tv on, but only because they don't want to do anything else. I wouldn't expect them to do anything when unwell.

Certainly no sugary snacks usually toast but they're awful at drinking at the best of times so get squash if I can't get them to drink enough water.

Stay in pajamas all day and have control of the remote!
I also do more craft/playdough/drawing (quiet activities) with them.

Definitely more lenient, it's best to be kind and show a good bedside manner.

The only treat we allow when ill is frozen pure juice lollies, yogurt or sorbet. I'm happy of they have that as it's a simple way to get fluids in.

TV on, lots of snuggles on the sofa and then in my bed.

Clean pjs each day, that feels nice and clean sheets too when they start to perk up.

Little amounts of easy food- crumpets, toast, raw chopped up veg, whatever they feel like.

Stories and sticker books, fuzzy felts, play doh, colouring, chess or card games

We don't have game consoles but allow some games on the iPad. Not too many, we encourage sleep! They are 3 and 6.

My kids really like getting their hair, back and tummies stroked, so we do lots of lolling around!

If I have a DD home ill we have a duvet day. We will snuggle up on the sofa in our PJs and watch tv/films. Tea is usually Heinz Tomato Soup with bread and butter.

If DH is the one that has to take time off he tries to occupy them with slightly more educational activities bless him. Ironic as I'm the teacher.

I like to dig out favourite films to watch with my DS when he's off school. There are some films which are great for feeling nostalgic for the days when I was off sick from school myself! We often don't bother getting dressed and just lounge on the sofa, sometimes we open it out into a sofabed so we can really sprawl out. I like making a plain, watery chicken soup as it's what my mum gave me to get better, I won't give sweet treats though if they have a dodgy tummy.

Yes I definitely am more lenient on some things such as lounging on the couch watching TV, bottles and dummies. Basically anything she uses as comfort I am more lenient with her having. But I am stricter on things like bed time and eating the right foods as these are the things that will help her get better quicker.

I'm definately more lenient when they are are not feeling well. I like to dose them up with medicine and get them comfortable on the sofa or in their bed and find them something nice to watch on t.v. I also like to offer them nice things to eat/drink, something soothing.

We have a 'special quilt' tha only comes out when someone is sick. And he sick person is allowed to lay on the sofa with the special quilt and no one asks them to budge up.

And I'm probably a bit nicer when someone is sick, I'd offer them more drinks, their favourite food, a hot water bottle etc. But like pp, I still insist on eating healthy meals, proper bedtimess, and where appropriate, fresh air.

I let them watch TV under the duvet with a hot water bottle, or stay in bed with an audio book.

I don't let them have unlimited sugary snacks - but I might buy them Lucozade or peppermints or something that I got when I was ill as a child - and I will cook whatever they fancy eating for the evening meal (within reason obviously! I usually try to steer them away from rich foods if they are ill, but they usually just request toast anyway).

If I can get out to the shops, I'll get them a magazine or a new book or small toy or something else to do while they are recovering.

My boys definitely like to be babied when they are feeling poorly. Lots of cuddles, plumping the cushions on the sofa and getting out the soft, snuggly blankets. It helps them feel better if I speak in a soft voice and let them choose movies to watch :-)

Currently sitting with my nearly 2 yr old on my knee, snuggled under a blanket, watching peppa pig on repeat and eating ice pops and grapes from he got up and think we shall only move for toilet/nappy changes and more ice pops.
This is how sick days should be!

when ill, the DCs get to watch a lot more TV, snuggle up in our bed if they want, and generally get spoilt with limited attempt at balanced diets. DC1 when ill tends to live off yoghurt.

I don't understand people who expect their DCs to just solider on when ill. Acting like a grownup when ill is bad enough when you are a grown up, you shouldn't have to do that when poorly as a child.

If my DS are poorly if they feel like getting up I let them rest on the sofa with a duvet and download a film.

I usually ask them what they would like to eat then buy it for them.

They don't have any extra sweets but may have a bottle of Lucozade if they are not eating properly.

I always take special care of them, give lots of cuddles and reassurance and try to ensure they are not in any discomfort by offering regular pain relief.

They do like a gentle massage so a warm bath and a back rub generally helps them before bed.

I definitely have more patience and tolerance when she is under the weather but I am lucky all she wants is cuddles, so when she ill I have a little clingon. So we snuggle up on the coach under the covers I watch TV and she sleeps x x x the house is always a mess but if she is ill she is my priority o yes plenty of fluids

When the DCs are ill, I like nothing more than to cuddle them on the sofa and watch DVDs. Last time DS (nearly 7) was ill, I was disappointed because he just wanted to sleep in his bed all day (but I did get quite a bit of work done, which I suppose I wouldn't have done if we'd been watching 'Bolt').

My son is a bit too young for treats etc as he's only 4 months old but when he wasn't feeling well a few weeks ago I put my fleecy dressing gown on because he likes how soft it is against his face and we had cuddles all day.

When he's a bit older it will be duvet and pillows on the sofa, with food of his choice. Lots of extra cuddles too for as long as he still wants them.

We have a sofa/duvet day. With extra hot drinks, plenty of cuddles and painkillers only if necessary. Chocolate buttons are in attendace too...!

We have much more time on the sofa, snuggled up with a dvd.

More cuddles and TV/film watching, and ice lollies are excellent for making small girls feel better I find!

I think when my kids are ill its the time I most feel like a "mummy" rather than the token babysitter/washer upper/cook or cleaner. The kids get ill and its an instinctive response like "stand back IM NEEDED"

My girls are both brought into my bed when they're ill in the night, they settle better and i can launch with the sickbowl at the first heave!

I get all the relevant medicines in, make them as comfy as possible and make them a lovely bed on the sofa. Then i sit watching rubbish whilst i stroke their head or their feet. All they want is a mummy cuddle.
They get treats like ice lollies or yoghurts to get fluids in and things like hama beads or sticker books if they're housebound. But mostly its a time when we can reconnect in the rush of life, that time that makes me think this little person who is getting so independant only really wants me right now. And its a treat to indulge that!

When they are unwell, we spend a lot of time snuggled up in our big bed, reading, watching videos, playing games. Like TheDoctorsWife46 says, it is in some way a treat to indulge them for a day or two and abandon everything not completely essential.

No room for leniency. I can pretty much tell their temperature from their behaviour. 39C they're planked out on the sofa, with a blanket, not caring about any treats. 38C, they're in a foul mood with me, each other or the entire world and we go into damage limitation mode. The only thing I'm more "lenient" with is their diets, as they're recovering, with an emphasis on calories and getting their appetite back, rather than reasonably balanced meals. DS1, in particular, ploughs his way through an awful lot of toast before he starts eating properly, again.