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.

depends on what type of illness, my youngest has had a couple of sicky bugs recently, best way I've learnt to deal with it is by making sure there is plenty of fresh bedding to hand, lots of cuddles but always put her back in her own bed to sleep

My son is older now but we have 2 standard routines, for sickness -towel & jug, doors open so he can call in a feeble voice 😂 for colds, an extra pillow, olbas oil, soft hankies & a bit of neurofen.

DS had just started nursery so we're both spending more time sick than not at the moment.

One thing I found handy was to put my dressing gown or an old soft t-shirt on over my clothes when holding him, especially in the morning before work. He seems to find it really snuggly and comforting, compared to normal clothes and my clothes didn't end up covered in any snot/vomit he produced.

We always put him to bed in his own cot so he has his normal routine but if he wakes more than usual at night we bring him in with us as he settles better between sleep cycles if he feels us close when he's not well, so we all get a better night.

Sniffles and coughing fits usually mean they end up in bed with me if they are struggling.
Sickness usually means a bowl, towels under them, and checking on them regularly in the night.

Sleeping with, lots of pillows, warm milk, soothing words and Indian ragas are what we use.

When my daughter was really poorly with tonsillitis a couple of years ago, I brought her a teddy bear as big as her. Now she's almost six, when she's poorly I bring her into bed with me at night - but I put the teddy bear between us so that she doesn't wake me up with her icy cold feet on my legs! That way, we both get a good night's sleep

warm drinks, medicine, vicks rub or for vomitting a large bucket and vigil. Any sleep is a bonus on nights like this and you do somehow cope and manage to function. Hate to see them ill and usually one of them comes down with something they all do.

My 16yr old sudden developed some kind of stress related night time vomiting towards her GCSE's that the doctor said was her body 's reaction to surpressing stress. It's hard when they're older because you can't just stick them in bed with you (plus you're older too than when they were tiny). We just sat with her in the bathroom, tried to tell her it was ok. She was sick two or three times then fine after that, so we would sometimes sit with her in her room, make sure she had a fan and always let her know we were always there for her, no matter how shattered we were!

Accept early on that you're going to be doing a night shift. Forget about sleep and get everything you need lined up. Sometimes we bed down in the kids rooms to keep an eye on them and comfort them. Knowing we can call nhs is also a comfort just to check in with someone.

Bring them into the bed with us otherwise i wouldn't be able to sleep as id be so worried about them. If it's a fever then a cold cloth on their forehead or if it's a cold wrapped up warm with a hot water bottle and plenty of tissues

I make sure I write down what medication I've given them and when as with lack of sleep I'd never remember. I also just let them in the bed with me. It's easier than getting up countless times.

If they're ill, our recipe is cuddles. We use the appropriate medicine, then do whatever is needed to make our little ones feel secure and comfortable. If that means early bed, we do that. If it means we end up having to be with them through the night.. that's fine..

Loads of love and unlimited CBeebies! For a sickness bug I always strip the bed and remake with a couple of towels under the sheets so if there's any further incidents they will be easier to clean

I either put them in bed with me or, now they are older and bigger, I might put the roll out bed in their room and sleep next to them- particularly if I need to be on hand with the sick bucket!

Lay towels down beside their bed in case they are sick in the night and then you aren't scrubbing carpets at 3am!
Do the same if you bring them in with you.

Hot shower and a warm drink before bed. Some lavender on the pillow and forehead before bed and if up in the night then cuddles with mummy

If she gets really bad, i'll bring her mattress into my room and put it on the floor but I won't let her sleep in my bed, she wriggles too much! I usually let her take a few more teddies into bed with her as well as that calms her down a bit :)

Vapour rub on chest and feet, drink and any other needed medication to hand and then snuggles until they feel better. And share a bed with them so we are close to hand if needed.

DH and I always share the extra work and lack of sleep

i get them into bed with me armed with cold flannels, steam buckets and Calpol. Then its Disney all the way

We have a 'poorly blanket' that comes out during really ill times. It seems to be comforting

Only way I have ever been able to get through these times is by popping them into bed with me (much to the disgust of my MiL) - you can soothe them, top them up with medicine etc without both getting out of bed into the cold dark night. It means that both of you get a half decent amount of sleep and can get through the day ahead.

It depends. For my 1 year old, he joins me in bed. DH ends up in his room. For my 7 year old, I'll join him in bed as he has a double. Hubby usually stay with them till midnight, then we'll swap as I'm at home and he'll need to rest for work. Lots of cuddles and alternate does of Calpol and brufen if they have a temperature. I also try to keep them hydrated as they tend not to have much of an appetite when they're ill. To boost their immunity, I mix fresh lemon juice and honey together and give it to them twice a day. Can also be done as a hot drink with crushed garlic added. They recover in no time with this natural remedy. Great for colds/flu.

We put a notebook in the bathroom and we write down when we give medicine so both me and DH know what the children have had. Works well when DH and I have to share care.

I've also slept in DD's room on a camping mattress with sleeping bag. It means DH gets sleep before driving to work but I can comfort or check on DD easily.

hot water bottle, nurofen, calpol and thermometer to hand. lots to drink and plenty of tissues. I always bring them into bed with me when small.