James and Annie both came down with New School-Year Colds during the second week of school. I was a fanatic about not getting it. I had my cousin’s shower, then my trip to NYC, then my parents were leaving town for a week. Mike caught it last week, bad enough that he actually stayed home from work twice. I thought I’d managed to dodge the illness bullet, but on Monday morning in New York I woke up with my eyes and throat torn up from sinus drainage. I’d caught it.
And guess who else is sick? If you chose either kid, you’d be right.
A couch full of sickos
James is actually in pretty good shape compared to us, with just a very stubborn runny nose. Annie and I have coughs, congestion, fever, the whole shebang.
Being sick when your kids are also sick is a crime against the universe. I hate not being able to comfort Annie the way I’d like, and I hate that James is a machine who can’t be brought down by the common cold. He’s still climbing, jumping, poking…he’s crazy.
I was going to write more here but I just had a ten-minute cough and sneeze fit where I’m pretty sure half of my brain came out of my nose. Like I mentioned, my parents are on vacation, and they are my “entertain this baby while Annie and I recover” go-tos. So I’m looking for advice: How do you entertain an active almost-16-month-old while you cough and sneeze so often you feel like your head might split in half?
I need some trick ideas and I need ’em now. Save us from this baby who likes to climb on the couch and jump off.
EDITED TO ADD:
Thank you for your tips. Our living area is now covered with pillows and a bunch of toys James has never seen before, so he’s in heaven! Last night Annie and I both had some coughing/wheezing episodes, so we went to the doc this morning. I’m touchy about respiratory afflictions, and that really terrible enterovirus made it to our state last week and I wanted to rule it out. The good news is that Annie just has a bad cold. I have bronchitis, but the doc gave me a nice prescription so I will hopefully be feeling better pronto. I’m just happy my kids don’t have it! Anyway, thanks to all of you for always be so nice about these silly little bugs. When one of my kids starts coughing I always flash back to April 2009. I always repeat to myself “they’re healthy, they’re healthy,” but it’s nice to have understanding people around us (and a doctor who is happy to confirm that they are, in fact, healthy).
Kirsten says:
Put lots of pillows and cushions around the couch so when he jumps he has a safe landing. Allow him to play in the living room with you guys when you’re chilling on the couch and block off the exits to other rooms so he can’t run off. He’s still supervised but the chance of him getting hurt is minimal. And you can relax a bit.
Kristen says:
I have no tips or tricks, just solidarity. I commented to a childless coworker the other day (we were both discussing our early September colds) that getting sick is my absolute least favorite part of parenting. I hate that I don’t get to rest and relax (aka lay around and whine and watch TV) the way I want to, and it’s just utterly unfair how your kids don’t give a damn that you’re sick and keep on demanding things from you. Last winter, my husband and I both had a HORRIFIC stomach virus, and our 2-year-old was literally crawling all over our collapses bodies on the floor as we tried not to die and threw toys in his general direction. It’s so hard! I feel for you.
samatwitch says:
I’ve had a cold for almost two weeks and have missed a lot of work. I went in yesterday and lasted for half a day while coughing the whole time so stayed home today. I can’t imagine having to look after two sick kids, one of whom is still able to be active. Luckily my cat is fairly low maintenance and is always happy when I stay home. I’m sorry I don’t have any advice but I am sending get well vibes to you all.
Randi says:
Our 2 year old is like this, and recently transitioned to a big kid bed. He kept his crib mattress and uses it as a trampoline, and he jumps off of the furniture WWE style on to it. We used to take off sofa cushions and line the carpeted floor to catch him too, and that also worked. After about an hour of jumping, Finn will usually move onto something else. The only other thing that works is putting on a marathon of his favorite show. As long as you and Annie can tolerate that, it might keep his attention long enough for a short break for you.
Good luck!
Michelle says:
You might be able to adapt some of these:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_40-ways-to-entertain-your-kids-while-lying-down_10350158.bc
Otherwise, with my 19-month old maniac boy, the only thing that works for long is corralling him and turning on a TV show.
Suzanne says:
Do you have any outdoor toys you could bring inside? We would put the Little Tikes slide in the living room at times when our boys were young. Of course surround it with pillows too, in case he jumps from that.
Nellie says:
Ohh, I hope you lovelies feel better soon!! Do you have a toddler sized basketball net? If so, stick it in the middle of the room and start off with all of you taking turns throwing it in the hoop and then have James do it all by himself thereafter. Maybe that would tie him over for a bit?
Martha says:
Would he sit in the high chair for a while (until nap time? ;)) and color, watch a video, have extra snacks…?
Nicole says:
We got it at my house too but luckliy both kids are prety much all better now. I am the last one and my cough is really hanging in there. Does he have a favorite show you can put on? And I know he loves your phone!
Cheryl says:
Well there isn’t a lot you can do. When my husband and I both had a horrible stomach bug, we just “fenced” off the living room and let him do whatever while we were on the couches recovering. Just figured we would clean up later.
Valeri says:
James sounds a lot like my son. Even when he’s sick, he never stops moving. A couple weeks ago I learned that if I fill his water table with a little water and a LOT of ice, it will keep him occupied until it all melts. Also, there is an app called Peekaboo Barn and my son is OBSESSED. I can get him to do ANYTHING if I promise him “cow game”.
Glenda says:
Get well soon. I just got my flu shot yesterday so hoping I don’t get sick.
Erin says:
This is a little outside of what you asked for, but you could try Bright Horizons Backup Care. It’s a pretty great service. They have drop-in care available in situations like this even if you don’t regularly use a Bright Horizons center. If James has no symptoms other than a runny nose they will take him.
http://www.brighthorizons.com/programs/back-up-care
Jerilynn says:
Would you consider finding a part time nanny for just sick days? I know a lot of people have had success on Care.com. Other than that, I used to have a Little Tikes ball pit and tiny slide inside the house, which would entertain my son for hours. Not sure if that would work?
Tracy says:
It can be messy but my 19 month old that won’t sit still for ANYTHING will sit at the table and do play doh for at least 30 minutes or longer. I save it for when I really need it because play doh is not my favorite thing but 30 minutes of not moving when you are sick (like I was last week) is pretty amazing.
kathig says:
feel better and take care!
Bianca says:
Ugh, I sympathise. I’m a teacher, so know the back-to-school cold all too well (child germs are the worst :p ). I’ve actually been dosing myself daily with vitamin C since mid-August in an attempt to fight it, and now that we’ve been back at school nearly a month, I haven’t had a cold yet! Perhaps next year get the kids (and you!) on the vitamin C early if you don’t already