It can be difficult as a parent when your children fall sick to know what the right thing to do is. The only thing you want is for them to get better as soon as possible, and fortunately, there are plenty of steps that you can do to help the process along. Here are some top tips for taking care of your children when they fall sick.
#1 Get your children to speak about their symptoms
Unfortunately, only your children know what they are feeling, so it is important to encourage them to speak openly about their symptoms, what/how they are feeling, and when things begin to change. It is also important as their parents, to listen carefully to them. This will enable you to take the right steps to nurse them back to health. Allow your children to use their intuition to guide the healing process.
#2 Increase fluids
You should try to give your children plenty of fluids to drink, specifically water. This is more important than usual, as your children may be losing water due to fever, vomiting and congestion so you need to replace the fluids that have been lost. In some cases, the medicine you are providing your children with may dehydrate them. Hydration is key to keeping your children’s bodies functioning optimally. The human body is largely made up of water and impacts many physiological functions such as breathing, digestion and circulation. Water can also be refreshing, and reduce the risk of additional symptoms such as headaches and fatigue.
#3 Get lots of rest
When your children are unwell, it is best to let them rest. Their body will be under a lot more stress and pressure than usual, as it fights off the infection or illness. This means that their body can use all the rest they can, so their body can focus its energy on getting better. This can be difficult, especially if you have restless children who don’t sit still easily. Try to read them a story, get them to read a book, put on some music or a film to help them focus on something.
It is also important, as the parent, that you get some rest. It can be exhausting looking after sick children, so you need to ensure you are physically and mentally able to be there for them, by looking after yourself too.
#4 Seek medical attention
If you suspect your children have more than just a simple cold, or they are in pain, then you should speak to your doctor, nurse practitioner or local pharmacist. They will be able to advise you on what is wrong with them, the best steps to treat the illness, and prescribe you the right medicine, such as paracetamol for children. If your children are sick for more than a few days, you may wish to seek mental health support for yourself during this difficult time. Your doctor will also be able to help with this.
If your children are sick, it is important to take steps to take care of them at home, as well as yourself, for the best chances of getting better.