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.

I made sure my DC's went from cots straight into single beds, simply because at some point I knew I'd need to be sleeping with them when they're poorly. Cot beds or toddler sized beds are not big enough to get in with your child and taking them into your own bed is not always convenient or helpful to get them to sleep.

Always of plenty of medicine to hand with clean syringe or spoon. iPhone and headphones for some entertainment for me while they snuffle!

Snuggle them up into bed with you if they're struggling to sleep, that way at least you are comfortable whilst comforting them

We have a nice hot bath and then get her chest covered in snuffle balm.
We then proceed to a hot chocolate or warm honey milk.
Afterwards we have a nice ol' cuddle on the sofa with our favourite blankies and a little bit of medicine.
Finally, off to bed with her hootie (a little owl that you microwave and it keeps her warm and smells of lavender)

We stay on the sofa and watch night time cartoons until settled then go upstairs. Nurofen, chest rub and tissues in tow.

We are going through this at the moment as DS is full of cold, he woke the other night at 3am so instead of disturbing my partner who had work that morning I got up with him and we lay on the sofa having cuddles and watching tv till we both drifted off for a few hours.

When my kids have been poorly overnight I have been known to sleep in the floor in their room for reassurance as they can touch my hand etc, but I have never had them in our bed.

When they have been very hot I have sat them at 2am in a cool sitting bath, used olbas oil on the pillows and had soft music playing in the background. Anything it took to try to make them comfortable enough to fall asleep.

I always try to make a special effort when children feel unwell, sometimes its a longer bedtime story, sometimes its tempting them with their favourite treat (even if that means a sweet) But above all just making them feel safe and cared for

I give my little one Calpol and rib Vicks on his chest at bedtime. He knows we are close by and this re assures him. Keep a night light on and keep our bedroom doors open. I will stay with him til he falls asleep and if he wants he can come and snuggle up with me. He loves his bed warmed with a hot water bottle.

sleep in my bed

When my daughter has a cold, i make sure she has lots of warm drinks, cuddles and treats to cheer her up, like her favourite magazine xx

We make sure we have everything ready, medicine, towels, bucket etc and just keep things calm and quiet and have a good cuddle with teddy. I find they can feel.it if you panic so.keep it cool

I try to keep things as normalised as possible. Keep them dosed up on meds when they're in the thick of an illness, particularly at night.

Mushy easy digest food, warm bath, warm pj's, milky drink, meds, sippy bottle for extra fluids if needed. I then have one of those syringe med things, brilliant invention the bottles that take those. You can fill blindfolded (without turning the lights on and waking everyone) and then with no mess from spills throw the used syringe in the sink to clean in the morning.

If i can give them a meds top up without fully waking all the better.

Medicine, extra hugs and rest and our favourite when bunged up is to place a hankie with Olbus Oil onto a hot radiator. It feels the room and clears your head.

lots of re-assurance, cuddles and take their mind off it with stories

make a little care package to take up to bed and keep your child in bed with you. if you can, get someone to go to the shop for you to get something easy in for breakfast and maybe an energy drink too! haha

Plenty of drinks and TLC. I usually let them sleep in my bed with me so I can keep an closer eye on them

make sure they have medicine just before bed and keep it handy for through the night!

I stock up on appropriate medicines depending on what it is. Right now my son is having a bad spell with his asthma. I have him in with me at night so I can keep a close eye on him. I keep a low light on so I can see him to check on him in the night without dazzling him with the big light. I have a waterbottle and book for me, so that I can keep myself going if I am not managing to sleep.

I used to raise the head of the cot when he was snotty, a steamy bath before bed always helps too.

a cold flannel on the forehead is always soothing

Sacrificing your own sleep is something all mums should be prepared to do. Keep calm, be patient and relaxed in front of your porrly child and try to create the conditions in which he or she feels loved and cared for.

Accept it's going to be rough! Normal bedtime routine then I get myself sorted in case I have to decamp to the spare room & co sleep which is the easiest way of doing things I find. Layer towels on bed & have a supply of sheets, towels, spare pj's for both of us. Wipes, night light, bowl, tissues, muslins, thermometer, meds to hand. Charged tablet & headphones, water for both of us, bin bag. I alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen, making sure the latter is last night dose as its effects seem to last longer for ds.
If it's likely the next day is going to involve changing arrangements I email nursery & work ASAP so I don't have to rush in the morning or we get a lie in . Lazy day if possible, let them sleep to catch up.
Oh and SPARE TEDDY out of view in the event of vom spillage!

Encourage them to doze off when they need to perhaps with a story read, on tape or CD.

Coffee in a thermos flask!

our son is good when hes ill, he still sleeps through. but when he was young I remember staying up with him sleeping on me while watching tv. hubby then took our daughters to school, and I napped during the day when baby did.

my advice would be catch up on sleep when baby sleeps.