Ah-Choo! Amusing a Sick Toddler

I am sure that one week hasn't gone by when my son hasn't been sneezing, coughing, vomitting or teething. It took me by surprise--are babies supposed to catch every cold and flu bug under the sun?

According to my Mommy friends, it is completely natural for little guys to be walking bug factories, seemingly catching stuff every time they put their hands to their mouths. In fact, many doctors believe that catching lots of flu and cold viruses at a young age helps build your little one's immune system. Which is gratifying when you look at the long run, but isn't much help when you have to keep a sick baby amused.

If your little one is too sick to go to play group / the park / swimming lessons or any of your usual activities, what on earth do you do to get her through the day?

Books:

Sick kids are like socks out of the dryer--they cling. Round up all your kids books and start at the top of the stack.

Alternatively, offer 'reading material' that you don't usually allow your little one to play with, such as grown up magazines. An old magazine is a great toy for a toddler--usually out of bounds, lots of bright pictures, and easy to rip into shreds.

Off Limits Stuff:

I truly believe that parents should be consistent with their little ones. However, there is always room for exceptions during a nasty cold.

There is a huge list of off-limits stuff that will be a real treat: a box of kleenex, the newspaper, the phone (unplug and you won't have any unwanted long distance charges to Kuwait), the remote control (take out the batteries--those kids can reprogram a VCR faster than you can say 'Instruction Manual'), or your sock drawer. Clench your teeth and let your little one make a mess.

Comfort Items:

In our house, my son's blanket, Elmo doll, and teddy bear are for bedtime only. But when he's sick, these possessions come out of the crib. That also goes for rules about the bottle--you will have time to enforce any weaning rules when your little one feels better.

Bath Time:

Little kids tend to get two symptoms that are particularly uncomfortable: fevers and rashes. Which makes a bath not only a good distraction, but a relief from pain and discomfort. If frequent baths don't seem to aggravate a skin rash, your child can have two or three per day. Remember, though, that sick children should be watched in the bath even more closely than usual.

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