Dealing with multiple sick children can be overwhelming and emotionally draining. It can be a struggle to balance taking care of your children, maintaining your own health, and trying to keep up with everyday responsibilities. While we are not medical practitioners and not inclined to give medical advice, we can certainly give you a few quick tips to help you through. It is imperative to always consult with your doctor or nurse on call first.

Where to start? 

Stay calm, children can easily pick up on their parents' emotions, so it's important to stay calm and reassuring. Your child will feel more at ease if they see that you are not panicking. Be sure to isolate if there are other children or people in the household, try to keep your sick children in a separate room to avoid spreading the illness. Always practice good hygiene, wash your hands frequently and encourage your children to do the same. Also, disinfect commonly touched surfaces to prevent the spread of germs. It’s important to cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. 

Here are our top tips for coping with multiple sick children and how to take care of them. 

  1. Take their temperature regularly: The first thing you need to do when your child is sick is to take their temperature. This will give you an idea of how high the fever is and how to proceed. If the temperature is at 38°C or over, it is considered a fever and you need to take action. 
  2. Keep them hydrated: Dehydration can worsen the symptoms of a sickness, so it's important to keep your children hydrated. Offer them liquids that would provide electrolytes such as water, clear broths, frozen water or icey poles. 
  3. Provide them with comfortable surroundings: When children are sick, they want to be comfortable. Keep their room at a comfortable temperature and provide them with plenty of soft bedding to snuggle in. You can also place a cool compress on their forehead to help bring down a fever. 
  4. Encourage them to rest: Sick children need rest to recover. Encourage them to stay in bed and take naps during the day. Make sure they have a quiet and peaceful environment to rest in. Kids may need lots of cuddles to reassure them they are ok.   
  5. Check breathing: Babies often struggle with breathing due to blocked nasal passages and thus you should clear this for them with a manual or electronic nasal aspirator. Toddlers and older children should just blow their noses or have their noses cleared with a saline solution or spray that can be obtained from your local pharmacy. Clear breathing passages settle babies easier and calm them for sleeping soundly.  
  6. Ventilate the room: It is a good idea to keep the room’s air fresh and ventilated. Some parents prefer to clear the air with an air purifier in the room. You can add some essential oils, lemongrass or lavender to soothe your babies’ breathing. 
  7. Over-the-counter medication and vitamins: There are several over-the-counter medications that can help relieve the symptoms of a fever or build your immune system. Always follow the recommended dosage on the packaging and see your doctor. 
  8. Seek medical help if needed: If your child(ren)’s temperature is high, if they are not responding to over-the-counter medications or if their symptoms persist or worsen, it may be necessary to seek medical attention. Your child’s doctor can help you determine the best course of action, follow their instructions for care and any necessary medications or treatments prescribed.  
  9. Take care of yourself: It is important to take care of yourself as well. Make sure to get enough rest and eat healthy food to help maintain your own health.  
  10. Invest in the necessary instruments: We’ve listed a great bunch of options from Mother’s Choice recommended to mum’s dealing with sick kids. Use what you are most comfortable with and that would give you peace of mind during trying times. You don’t need all of them, but they really do help. These items are easily obtainable from your standard retail outlets or online stores and we’ve linked some here for your convenience. 
    1. Nasal aspirator 
    2. Medicine dispensers: 
    3. Thermometer: There are multiple options, but you should use what you find most comfortable to use: 
    4. Complete healthcare kit: Contains a few basics in one kit Complete Healthcare Kit

With motherhood comes the typical emotional ups and downs such as when your kids are sick, and this can be truly demanding, but you can get through it. Remember to follow the quick tips as laid out. Don't neglect yourself in the process. Your kids need you to be healthy first to take care of them adequately. 

We wish you a speedy recovery as you navigate your way through this difficult time and hope that our quick tips were able to provide you with some peace of mind and help you manage the situation.