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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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.

Cuddles

Make sure you sleep when they sleep. Don't worry about doing the housework.

Keeping vicks and other supplies close to hand is a God-send.

i keep myself calm by drinking lavender tea, if im calmer the kids are less likely to be as stressed

We got a trundle so when one of them are suffering, one of us will sleep on the trundle next to the child who isn't very very, and the other child will go and spend the night in mommy and daddy's room with the other parent. This way only one of us suffer the long night with the poorly one instead of the whole family, and then the following night we will switch over. And if we are lucky the poorly one will sleep the next day. We also ensure plenty of fluids are on hand day and night.

Give Nurofen before bed put a damp towel on the radiator and some chest rub to help a cold :)

As we all know, being a mummy is tough, but being a mummy to a poorly child is even tougher. None of us like to see our child poorly. My tips would be ... stay calm and reassure the child, offer plenty of cuddles and ensure the child is comfortable such as not too hot or cold. A sip of water every now and then to keep hydrated is important, and monitoring your child whilst making sure you try and settle them back down.

When our 6 month old had a cold we gave him Calpol and put some Vicks Baby Vaporub on his chest as he was congested. It seemed to help him sleep

Either sleep in their room or have them sleep in yours. Have as much as you can to hand and when you are both feeling so tired and so wretched remember that it will pass.

We make sure they have a hot water bottle and Vicks close by and make sure they have a glass of hot Ribena before they go to bed if they are congested

I always found it comforting as a child to have Mum come in my bed or go in theirs so I continued with my own child. Have everything ready to hand too.

There is not a lot to be done for a little one with a cold. Assuming you have given any medication you are happy to administer, other than lot's of cuddles, there is little more you can do.

A humidifier with a menthol oil in it could help ease breathing

Warm bath, calpol and a book never fails

Make sure you stick to your usual routine however it dosen't hurt to let them fall asleep on the sofa.At least you can keep an eye on them and then carry them upto bed.Make sure they have their fav cuddly toy and a reassuring that everything will be beter in the morning if they get a goodnights sleep.

cuddles, water, soft music and lights, and lots and lots of reassurance. Check them regularly and tell them that this is what you are going to do

we have a plug in air vapouriser which is grea for colds and helps them breathe better

If you can, and there are two of you, you can take it in shifts. Make sure you have extra bedding and towels handy if required, perhaps a podcast or audiobook to listen to to help in the dark, lonely hours, and anything else that you might need, like medicines. But the biggest piece of advice, is to be kind to yourself the next day, and don't beat yourself up too much.

My son was lactose intolerant and it wasn't diagnosed to late on, so he never sleep through the night until 18 months old. We would have about 2 hours between each feed, and then he would be sick and hungry and the cycle would start again. We used to split the nights so that one of us would stay up late and the other get up early, so that we each could get some sleep through the nights. I used to nap in the day too. I think the best way is to keep kids topped up with medicine, and if they have a cold to get a plugin for the room to help the breath. I also think a nice walk before bed helps you to stay alert and also helps a child to sleep.

If it is a sicky type illness:

• take a sick kit upstairs: bowl/bucket, kitchen towel, dettol, wipes, plastic bags
• ensure there are plenty of clean bed sheets/blankets to hand
• dress child in a button up / jacket style pj top so if they are sick all down it, it doesn't have to be pulled over their head

And get yourself in the mindset that it will be a difficult night, accept there will be mess and lack of sleep. Have an early night yourself, stay away from alcoholic drinks, stay with child in their room, much easier than dragging yourself out of bed and disturbing DH

Just more relaxed. Bed time can change and more dvds to watch. We tend to have more cuddles on the sofa relaxing and might share a bed also.

Be prepared, have everything you need in your bedroom as going up and downstairs all night will make you worse. Lots of cuddles and a browse on a site like this soon gives you comfort that you are not alone

Just take it in turns to deal with, I'll go to spare room if little one has to come into our room but we know it is just a night or two usually so not really a problem to cope with.

When DD has a cold we use a Calpol/Karvol plug in to put menthol in the air. I also give her Benilyn Night Cough medicine which has an antihistamine in it, along with Calpol.

If she feels really poorly she comes into bed with me for comfort, which then makes her sleep better.

when my children were very small , even my 3 year old . we seem to all end up in the same bed. I find it easier to keep an eye on them and they seem more settled. I always keep baby ibuprofen and baby paracetamol at hand in case they need them too

My husband and i know that when children are poorly and you are up all night that its important to work as a team to try and get through. Do it in shifts so one is getting some sleep and try not to snap at each other as it never helps. The kids sleep in our bed as a last resort but they always know its a one-off when really poorly.