Share your tips with Nurofen for Children on coping with night times when your child is poorly - £300 voucher prize draw NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

In winter children often seem to get every bug going and this can make night-times especially disruptive and stressful.
The team at Nurofen for Children would love to hear your tips and advice on how to make night times with a poorly child better - for yourself, your child and other family members. So, how do you change your bedtime routine when your child is ill? Are you more relaxed (or strict) about bedtimes? Do you bring up hot drinks, a favourite soft toy or comforting blanket? Maybe you're more likely to allow your kids to come into bed with you when they're not well.

Here's what Nurofen for Children says, "Night time can perpetuate parents’ anxiousness when children are sick. It’s often a time when parents can feel less in control - especially as sleep is often a crucial time for a poorly child - we all know a good night’s sleep usually means a healthier child in the morning. We know parents will often do anything to ensure their child gets the sleep they need".

So please share on this thread your best tips on coping with those endless nights of sniffles, sickness and coughing fits.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks

MNHQ

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• Full terms and conditions here

Nurofen for Children 3 months to 9 years Orange / Strawberry. (Weighing over 5kg). Nurofen for Children Orange / Strawberry 3 months to 12 years (weighing over 5kg). Contains Ibuprofen. For relief of fever. Always read the label.

warm bath before bed. They cough medicine, vic vapour rub on their back and chest and calpol if needed. Prop them up with plenty of pillows if they have a bad cough! x

I let my child sleep in my bed, then i don't have to get up and down all night. Keep all meds, forehead cool pads, a drink all ready. While I'm waiting for meds to work i put on the tv or iPad to keep me awake.

We have bought a humidifier for her room which really helps if she has a stuffy nose or chest infection. If she's got a sickness bug then we sleep downstairs so she's not sick in her bed.

I let ds sleep in my bed when he saw poorly, we have the tv on if he's struggling to sleep and just doze. I mentally prepare myself for a long night!

Keep any medicines upstairs at hand and also a bowl in case of sickness.

Lots of a snuggles in a low stim environment.

If they're ill I find the easiest thing is to get in with them, or let them in with me, until they're soothed enough to go to sleep. Cuddles release hormones that help you to relax and sleep better so that always helps!

We both work full time so me and my partner take it in turns to sleep in her bed whilst she sleeps in our bed with either mummy or daddy. It allows one parent to get a fairly undisturbed night's sleep and the other parent is close at hand to tend to the child during the night. It works well for our family.

Honey and lemon tea is lovely and soothing, and helps DD get to sleep when she's poorly

My tip would be to get to bed when you put your child to bed and sleep when they sleep!

We make sure bedroom is nice and warm, with the little night light, we have everything to hand, fresh water to drink, medication and a favourite teddy! I read a favourite story about the poorly teddy which is her favourite, and am on hand in case of waking up for cuddles! Keeping quiet and low-key really helps to cut stress too! :)

Lots of cuddles. Warm drink and medicine before bed and make bed as cosy as I can :)

Sorry, no story just would love to win, so thanks for the chance and Merry Christmas to all x

Try and take turns with hubby and as much comforting as possible!

Always have enough of everything! Stock up on Tissues, wipes, blankets and towels ( incase of a tummy bug!) And medicine! I always prop my little ones up with another blanket or pillow to keep their heads up!
And having a flow of water bottles is good!

I just try comfort and bring into bed with me!

Don't be tempted to have them in bed with you if it's D&V, otherwise that's always been my best solution

It's so hard. Ensure there is medicine neurofen and calpol nearby, prop them up on a pillow. My daughter 20 m has terrible asthma so gets very poorly very quickly so when she is ill, she sleeps with me so I can keep an eye on her breathing. We have the inhaler nearby. Sometimes a humidifier helps, sometimes opening the window - depends on the type of cough/illness.
Main thing is - expect little to no sleep!

I've got 9 children and all of them have been ill recently. If its a vomiting bug, we tend to look after the sick child on the sofa with a bucket handy (the sofa is leather and flooring is laminate so very forgiving for accidents) I keep them wrapped up and comfy while I sleep on the other sofa to keep watch over them. I have diarolyte made up for them to sip slowly to replace lost fluids from being sick repeatedly. If it's a fever, bad cold and flu with aches and pains, some infant paracetamol and Nurofen combined make a good combination to keep their temperature down. Sore throats we use cold drinks, ice pops and ice-cream to help and if old enough Tyrozets which helps numb the pain. It depends where the child feels most comfortable to be when ill, some want their own bed, some want to snuggle next to me in my bed and others stay on the sofa wrapped up and I can sleep on the other sofa near them to check they are OK. Daytime illness is usually spent on the sofa sleeping or watching TV so I can keep an eye while doing the housework. I've had a lot of missed nights sleep recently and had to take the odd 20 min daytime nap to catch up! Each child is different so I've had to do different things to cheer up different children when they have been poorly - so long as you are there for them, it cheers up a very miserable time for them.

Definitely agree with the posters who have said that they let sick little ones sleep in their bed. Much easier to keep an eye on them and monitor temperature etc. Keep a night light on so you don't have to wake them up.

We have found that a diffuser with menthol vapers is an absolute godsend. That, and a trusty cool flannel.

Keep them close - your bed or a bed in the same room. Cool the room temp and let them stay warm with bed clothes and blankets. Less likely to overheat.

I find lavender drops on their pillow helps as well as the window open for fresh air. If it is a bug always leave a glass of water, bowl, and clean towel in the room.

Let them share your bed only when they are poorly but be there for them at all times because they do not understand they will get better.

lucozade works wonders, had 3 poorly kids during the week (thankfully now passed it) but that's the only thing that got me through.