How to Survive Caring for Your Baby When You’re Sick

I am recovering from hand, foot, and mouth disease AND strep throat. How can that get any worse? My 1-year-old and 8-year-old had both as well. Being sick sucks. Being a sick mom taking care of a baby or toddler sucks sevenfold. You can barely get out of bed and care for yourself, let alone chase around a toddler or care for a baby. But somehow, you’ll make it and probably have to do it again before your kid is old enough to take care of themselves. So whether you’re reading this with your nose running down your face or scanning for the next plague that falls on your house, here are some tips to make it a little more bearable.

Don’t Do Anything Extra

I fell ill over fourth-of-July, and we were out of town. We came back home the next day. We had piles of dirty laundry to wash, suitcases to unpack, etc. And as tempting as it was to throw a load in the wash, I refused. I refused to do anything that didn’t NEED to be done. We had clothes to wear, so the laundry could wait. Some other things that can wait: decluttering, making a meal from scratch, walking your dog, vacuuming, tidying, and cleaning the shower.

Sleep When Baby Sleeps

Yep, back to that advice again. We need sleep as a sick mom caring for a baby or toddler. They probably aren’t sleeping great at night, to boot. I was having trouble sleeping at night, too, so as soon as my son went down for a nap, I flopped into bed too.

There is nothing you need to do more right now than to get better.

Leave them for Independent Play

If they aren’t used to this, you may only get a few minutes, but every second counts. Put baby or toddler in a safe place with a toy or two, and let them play independently. If you give them more than a couple of toys, they will have play paralysis. Also, it would be best if you stayed out of sight (use your monitor or make checking frequently), so they won’t see you and immediately want out or a playmate.

Use the TV

Yes, screen time is frowned upon for kids at least under two. But when you’re a mom as sick as a dog and taking care of a baby, you do what you gotta do. I let my son watch Ms. Rachel or Super Simple Songs, which he loves. It’s entertaining, he’s learning (I think they learn from TV despite the “research”), and I get to rest. When we are sick, we need to rest as much as possible, especially us moms.

Play Sit-Down Activities

Break out some Play-Doh, blocks, mess-free coloring books, and sensory activities (found this blog on Pinterest). Even if your child is a little young, try it anyway. I let my son play with his sister’s old Play-Doh for the first time. He enjoyed playing with something different and squishy, and I supervised him while sitting. Sitting down is precious when you’re a sick mom caring for a baby or toddler!

Remember, this is surviving not thriving.

Let Baby Sleep on You

I am prefacing this by saying only if you’re awake! But if baby sleeps longer and better on your lap, let ’em. You’ll get more time to rest and, perhaps, eat a snack.

Put On Your OOO

If you are still working in any capacity, put on your Out Of Office, so no one expects anything from you. Do not try to multi-task while caring for yourself and your kid(s). No one who respects you will expect a sick mom taking care of a baby to respond to emails. It will probably cause unnecessary stress AND keep you from getting better quicker.

Make To-Do Lists

If you’re like me, you see things you want to do but know there’s no way you’ll get to it while you’re sick. Write it down. I’ve literally written down something I wanted to donate because I saw it and didn’t want to walk all the way upstairs to the donate box. I made a cleaning list to start working on when I felt better. Even if you don’t use these lists, they help your brain let go of what it thinks you need to be doing. It’s like your brain knows it’s on the list to get done, so it can stop worrying about it.

Use Your Tools

Another way to conserve your energy is to use tools you have around the house. Make a fort, let them throw the ball with the dog (a favorite at my house), use a swing while you sit in a chair, use the baby swing, and play night-night where you take turns lying on a pillow and covering each other up. Start an activity they can play with their sibling. My son loves exploring his sister’s Barbie stuff.

This too shall pass.

Communicate with Your Partner

A big mistake I’ve made a time or two is expecting my husband to swoop in and take care of me and the kids. I envisioned he would come home from work, ask if I needed anything, take the baby, and figure out dinner while I rested. If you get this without asking, I am jealous. For the rest of us, we need to communicate what we need. Do you need him to get Gatorade or dinner on the way home? Does he need to take the baby while you take a quick nap? This last time I was sick, my husband worked 13-hour days on his feet all day, so I didn’t expect much from him either. He knew he was coming home to a crappy dinner and a messy house, but he didn’t expect anything more.

Dress for How You Want to Feel

I rarely spend all day in pajamas or sweatpants, even when sick. It just makes me feel worse. So, I wear something comfortable but cute. I choose something that helps me feel good about myself even though I physically feel like dirt. I also slap on some tinted moisturizer and mascara simply because I want to.

Eat Anyway

With strep and sores in my mouth from HFM (gross, sorry), my throat felt like I had a cactus stuck in it. I made myself eat what I could when I could. You need the nourishment, and you need the energy. So, don’t forget to eat.

I wish being a sick mom taking care of babies and toddlers was easier, but it is one of the most challenging times in one of the hardest seasons of your life. But, like me, you will come out on the other side well and be thankful for your health. Perhaps that’s why we get sick – to appreciate being well. When you’re feeling better, check out 10 Ways to Balance Self-Care and Parenting to take care of yourself even when you’re well.

I wish you well and come back to this page when an illness strikes again while you have littles. Also, I’d love to know if you have any other tips in the comments below.