WATCH: Oh, Kmart!
Pamela Poole: Talk About a Choking Hazard! What I Never Expected to…
Sick with a toddler
Filed under: Toddlers Preschoolers
It had just become quiet in Nolan's room, finally. Two hours of "mo book, one mo book,den dat's it, I promit." He never keeps his promises, though, and we must have read twenty books before his eyes faded.
I sat down at the glowing blue light of my computer and my stomach felt faintly nauseous, and as I opened my word processor I wondered idly whether I'd remembered to eat that day. Yes, I had. Chili for lunch. Oooh. Ughh. Chili.
It came suddenly. I sprinted to the bathroom at full force, didn't quite make it, apologized profusely to the sink. Gross. Realizing, suddenly, that I was shaking, I wrapped myself in a duvet and lay down on my bed. Just for a minute. But ten minutes later I was pouring sweat and bolting for the bathroom again. And again.
I don't know whether it was a stomach flu or food poisoning (because the word "chili" still makes me want to heave) but it was bad. The next day I felt like eighty-year-old jello wedged on sticks. A rotten jello-person who nevertheless had child-tending duties.
Nolan took it easy on me, a little. He slept in till almost 7:00, and only got up once in the night. In the morning, he allowed me to cover him with a blanket and sit beside him fitfully, stroking his hair and watching Toopy and Binou. He didn't try to force me to ride on his scooter or play cars with him, and for that I'm endlessly grateful.
Sick used to be kind of nice, in a way. It meant a day off work, to curl up in bed, to relax and feel the cold of pillow fabric all day long. But with a kid, there's an elevated panic to it -- I can't look after my toddler when I'm unable to look after myself. I can't cook him dinner when I can't look at food without wanting to toss every cookie I've ever ingested.
I've been drinking gingerale like mad, but would love to know - what are your get-better-quick remedies? I'm willing to try them all.
I sat down at the glowing blue light of my computer and my stomach felt faintly nauseous, and as I opened my word processor I wondered idly whether I'd remembered to eat that day. Yes, I had. Chili for lunch. Oooh. Ughh. Chili.
It came suddenly. I sprinted to the bathroom at full force, didn't quite make it, apologized profusely to the sink. Gross. Realizing, suddenly, that I was shaking, I wrapped myself in a duvet and lay down on my bed. Just for a minute. But ten minutes later I was pouring sweat and bolting for the bathroom again. And again.
I don't know whether it was a stomach flu or food poisoning (because the word "chili" still makes me want to heave) but it was bad. The next day I felt like eighty-year-old jello wedged on sticks. A rotten jello-person who nevertheless had child-tending duties.
Nolan took it easy on me, a little. He slept in till almost 7:00, and only got up once in the night. In the morning, he allowed me to cover him with a blanket and sit beside him fitfully, stroking his hair and watching Toopy and Binou. He didn't try to force me to ride on his scooter or play cars with him, and for that I'm endlessly grateful.
Sick used to be kind of nice, in a way. It meant a day off work, to curl up in bed, to relax and feel the cold of pillow fabric all day long. But with a kid, there's an elevated panic to it -- I can't look after my toddler when I'm unable to look after myself. I can't cook him dinner when I can't look at food without wanting to toss every cookie I've ever ingested.
I've been drinking gingerale like mad, but would love to know - what are your get-better-quick remedies? I'm willing to try them all.
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
Boy Fakes Kidnapping to Avoid Parent-Teacher Conference
An 11-year-old kid in Spain pulled a Ferris Bueller, except his white lie was a little more extreme. He was supposed to have a parent-teacher conference, but really didn't want to go. So instead of faking sick, which is what a normal kid might pull, he faked his own kidnapping. He sent his dad a text saying he had been kidnapped.
-
Web Tool Could Help Parents Diagnose Flu in Their Kids
A web-based tool could help parents figure out whether their sick kids have the flu, but it could also lead to ER overcrowding.
-
Learn about Kids Cold Season and Nasal Congestion
Many parents have traditionally relied on over-the-counter medications to help relieve their child's nasal congestion. But this is the first season since Health Canada ordered the relabeling of many of these products. How to adopt a back-to-basics approach when caring for a sick child.
-
When to Take Your Child to the ER
Your kids are going to get sick occasionally. Nurse Mark returns to The Lab to quiz Daddy Brad and Daddy Clay on some common parenting medical scenarios. When do you go to the hospital emergency room and when do you stay home? Topics include a laceration
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
9-19-2007 @ 6:16PM
~Monica said...Tylenol 1's (with codeine). Takes the edge of the sickness and, for me, makes me feel rested. Weird, I know. Not sure if it has the same effect on everyone but for me that does the trick every single time. Gingerale is also a hugely important one on my list as is white toast with butter. Work my way up to Campbell's chicken noodle soup.
But if I were stranded on a deserted island and could only have one thing, it would be the T1's.
Get better soon ; )
http://www.raisinglucas.com
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 6:56PM
Gia said...When it comes to a stomach related sickness there isn't much you can really do to get better, fast, except for rest, let your body fix it's self. When I get a stomach bug I end up calling a family member or friend (that I trust) to watch my kids, for at least over night. With doing this you get your rest, your child is exposed to your sickness less, and is less likely to get the same bug. But you can also try drinking certain types of Tea's- peppermint tea, chamomile tea, ginger tea, sleepy-time tea, all help settling stomach's. Also use honey instead of sugar, honey is gentler on your stomach. For food stick with things like toast and crackers then work your way up to soups and then continue working yourself up to other foods.
It also is hard when you get a bug that hurts your muscles all over your body, like the flu, and it just utterly hurts to move. With that I take ibprofen and that helps but sometimes when it gets really bad I have to do the same as before and call a family or friend.
But unlike stomach bugs, the flu, colds, and other bugs can be helped with taking extra vitamin C. You can also take things like Zinc, echanacia, and multi-vitamins. There is also stuff like Zicam, and Airbourne.
That is all the things I can really think of. I hope you feel better, very soon. Goodluck!
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 7:38PM
Amy said...I did sick-with-a-sick-toddler-and-a-sick-husband-and-7-months-pregnant. Worst. Week. Ever. Rotavirus sucks. She ended up in the ER, vomiting blood. Horrible, horrible.
Get someone else to take him, if you can. Otherwise, just go to bed. Take videos and all his favorite books. Break all the rules. Bring food that he can eat at room temperature (cookies, bananas, whatever). Block the door so he can't leave the room, let him play, and doze. It's all you can do.
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 8:07PM
queenoqueens said...I will *never* forget the week that me, my husband and my then 2ish daughter all had the flu. Oh, and the time I had the stomach flu while I was nursing my infant daughter every 2 hours (praying that I wouldn't hurl on her). There's nothing worse than having to parent when you're sick....I totally feel your pain.
I second Amy's notions of breaking the rules. It's totally justified, and sleep and good meds are the only 2 things that will help. Alkaseltzer Plus Cold medicine and Nyquil are my elixirs of choice, but sleep trumps all.
Feel better soon.
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 8:03PM
Jessica said...This is going to sound crazy but......this sounds suspiciusly like the bug that is going around here.....IN FLORIDA.
(kristin, i am so busy at work now that i don't ever get to read anymore but wanted to let you know i am missing your posts dearly---i'm going through withdrawal)
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 9:02PM
Tasha said...I totally understand. It could be that I'm sick with a 2 yr old that has a double ear infection and an allergic reaction to ants and a husband with viral bronchitis. Yep. I feel your pain. And all my own too! I agree with the Alca Seltzer plus cold. And as much rest as your little one will allow.
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 9:10PM
Katrina said...Oh I feel your pain!!! Im 8 months pregnant and oh SOOOOO sick right now. Im also lucky enough to have my 3yr old at home-sick as a dog AND my 17 month old as well who of course started this whole sickness days ago and is still suffering (so I guess since this is day 1 for me and the 3yr old we have a few more to go). DH is military so that leaves the completely sick preggo to deal with it all. Its horrible. None of us can keep anything down to even take anything.
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 9:39PM
Amanda said...I have been there!
Try some hot tea with a ton (like a cup) of sugar. Last time this happened to me, this helped tremendously. Mild enough to keep down and the extreme sweetness gave me energy.
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 10:25PM
Ann Adams said...I second Amy. Break the rules. He'll be fine with snacking food. Do not cook - it's not necessary. He'll think it's a picnic.
And feel better soon.
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 12:33AM
Tamara said...Oh you poor thing! Our family was big on the Saltine crackers and 7UP, couldn't be Sprite, too fizzy. And then dry toast, then toast with butter. I hope you feel better soon, lady!
Reply
9-20-2007 @ 7:48AM
Clarissa said...We always drink lots of tea with lemon and honey!
Honey has healing properties and the lemon helps sooth the tummy as does the tannin in the tea.
Reply