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Taking Care of Your Baby When YOU’RE Sick

Taking care of your baby when you’re sick can seem impossible. I remember when my son was nine-weeks-old, I got a stomach virus and literally could not hold him for three days. It was terrible. My husband had to take off work and all I could do was lay in the fetal position myself, while he took care of our baby. I was lucky that time that he was able to take the time off work. Usually there’s a one-day limit. If I’m really really sick, he can take off one day, but that’s it. Tell me, who gets better in one day? Usually I spend the next day or two battling the shivers that come with fever, crying, and wishing upon wishing that I could hire a nanny.

Right now I have a cold. My kids have colds too—surprise. If you, like me, are battling your own illness, but still need to take care of your baby, here are some tips:

1.Try to avoid getting sick in the first place – I know this sounds self-explanatory, but you’d be surprised at the number of moms I see kissing and snuggling their baby’s when they’re sick. “But they need my love,” they say. Yes, they do, but they need you to stay healthy for them, too. Even kissing a sick baby on the cheeks can lead to you getting sick. Sick babies typically produce a runny nose, which they often wipe onto their cheeks. These germs can infect you in a matter of seconds.

2.If you’re sick, or if your baby is sick, wash your hands often – You likely already do this, but when someone in the house is sick, you need to do it even more. Hand washing helps prevent the spread of germs and is one of the greatest defenses you have to avoid getting sick yourself.

3.If you’re already sick and don’t know how to take care of your baby, my first bit of advice is to relax. Moms are used to trying to “do it all.” Give yourself a break. Yes, you’ll still have to feed your baby and care for him or her. But you don’t have to be down on the floor playing or outside taking walks. Your baby will be fine while you recuperate. Do what you can. Leave the rest until you feel better.

4.Leave the chores – Taking care of yourself will help you get better faster. Instead of putting laundry in while your baby naps, take a nap with him. Instead of cooking for yourself or you and your spouse, order pizza or microwave some soup. Don’t add additional stresses to your already hectic day.

5.When all else fails, if you can, enlist help. Call a family member, a friend, or a neighbor, and see if they can help care for your baby while you’re sick. This isn’t always possible, but if it is, then I suggest it.

There’s no way around it—parents get sick. I never realized before I became a mother how impossible it is to get sick when you have children. Moms don’t get sick days. They don’t get to lie on the couch all day with one-year-olds tottling around. It’s not easy, and often, it’s downright hard. But if you can at least realize that you don’t have to be super mom every day of your life, it’ll make those sick times a little easier to handle. Good luck. Stay well.

How do you handle things when you get sick?