Two weeks into the school year and we had our first sick day. And as usual, both my twins got sick at the same time. And while one of my boys just had some sniffles and coughs, the other was much more affected by whatever virus they had picked up. We had a rough day with coughing, aches, a fever - my poor little guy was miserable. Fortunately after about 36 hours (and a visit to the doctor) he was feeling much better, and my mind was at ease that we had weathered the worst of this illness.
Worrying is just part of being a mom, and it seems to multiply when your kids are sick. It is so hard seeing your kids feeling so awful, and you wish you could magically make it all go away. Of course you can't, but you can do a few things to help ease your own mind when your kids are having a sick day. These easy tips will help you to get through those sick days with a little less stress, so that you can focus on taking care of your little ones and getting them back to health (and back to school).
Worry Free Ways to Survive a Sick Day
Be Prepared
It seems like kids always get sick in the middle of the night, and even if they don't, the last thing you want to do is have to run out to the store with a sick child. So you should always have your sick day essentials on hand. Stock up on your kids' favorite drinks (keeping hydrated is key to feeling better) and be sure to always have a good supply of any over the counter medications that your kids may need.
It's also a great ideas to keep a few sick day activities stashed away - some extra coloring books, a new puzzle - quiet activities that can help keep them entertained when they're not feeling well. These sick day printable packs are a great idea to help with boredom too.
Relax the Rules
One hour of screen time a day. No eating on the couch. Moms always have rules but on sick days, it's OK to bend a bit. Don't beat yourself up or give in to mom guilt if your kids watch more TV or your housekeeping goes out the window on sick days. When everyone is feeling better you can go back to the status quo but on sick days, concentrate on getting through the day.
Don't Go Google Crazy
I am so guilty of doing this. I think a lot of new moms or moms to small children are. Your child gets a cold and you end up on the Internet searching symptoms and come across something awful. Don't do it. Bookmark a few trusted sites (like the American Academy of Pediatrics' HealthyChildren.org) if you have a question, but don't go down the rabbit hole and send yourself into a panic.
Call the Doctor
It is OK to have worries and questions when your child is sick. And it is perfectly OK to ask those questions. If you are concerned, or something just doesn't seem right, call your doctor's office. Don't feel guilty or put it off because "it's probably nothing" - call. That's what they are there for, and I have spent so much time worrying over things when a quick call or visit put my mind at ease.
Monitor Temperatures (and more) with TempTraq®
I always say that sleep is the best medicine when you're sick. And when my kids have fevers, I hate having to wake them up to check their temperature or worrying that their fever will spike in the middle of the night. So when I found TempTraq I knew I had discovered something to keep my worries at bay and to help us all rest a little easier.
TempTraq® is the only wearable Bluetooth® Temperature Monitor in the form of a soft, comfortable patch that continuously monitors body temperature for up to 24 hours. It's pretty amazing - simply apply the patch to the underarm and you will get continuous temperature readings for your child for 24 hours. And if their temperature goes above a certain level (that you can customize), it alerts your phone. No more waking up your kids to monitor fevers or worrying if they have spiked a fever while you're asleep.
You can monitor more than one patch at the same time, which is awesome for moms like me whose kids always get sick together. You can also make notes, record medication dosages, baths, or food/drink intake. And you can easily email the information to your doctor or other caregivers. How genius is that? No more worrying or wondering - you can have all the information at your fingertips.
TempTraq is accurate and safe (it is an FDA approved medical device). And most importantly, it gives you peace of mind so that you can get back to what you do best - caring for your child.
Learn more about where you can Buy TempTraq now - it's a must have for your sick day kit and to help make your sick days worry free.
