Tips to Help Your Child “Get Back to Happy” on Sick Days

With a family our size, this time of year can be plagued with head colds, flu bugs, and nasty coughs. Late night wakings, cranky mornings, and nap-less afternoons are just par for the course. Sometimes I wish we could all just be sick at the same time and get it over with, but that’s never the way it goes. When one kiddos gets sick we can plan to be sick for days, if not weeks.

I would rather suffer myself than see my little one experience discomfort when feeling ill. Here are some tried and true tips for helping my kiddos stay comfortable, and “get back to happy” when they’re under the weather.  Luckily, with a little imagination and some modern technology, these ideas are sure to help us all feel better.

• King or queen for the day: Create a comfy throne recliner on the bed or on the couch. Grant his or her highness with the TV remote control, special box of tissues, special snacks, etc. You could even let your child pitch a tent in the living room and supply it with a sleeping bag, pillows, flashlight, etc. The key is to create a comfortable place where they will be happy staying put.

• Get Crafty: If your child is up for some crafts, start with a new box of tissues to decorate and personalize with gem stones, markers, stickers, fabric, feathers, and anything else you can find. Leave some plain paper around and this little craft can lead to another art project, affording your child time to relax and stay quiet.

• Get Comfy: It’s not easy to get kids to take medicine so I usually offer my kids a choice of a treat, such as jello or a popcicle, as a reward after taking their medicine. Find medicines, like those from PediaCare, with kid-appealing flavors like grape, cherry or bubble gum. It makes the medicine go down a lot easier.

• Get them Eating: It’s hard to get kids to eat when they have fever and don’t feel well. Offering small portions seems less daunting and they are more likely to pick off the plate.  Offer little bite-sized snacks like grapes, carrot sticks, cheese cubes and apple slices. And, don’t forget fluids. Offer a crazy straw or a special sippy cup to get your child to drink plenty of fluids.

• Get them Laughing: They say laughter is the best medicine. Pull up your lap top and look for funny animal videos on YouTube. Funny animal videos always make us feel better!

• A Mother’s Touch: A little TLC can go a long way. Sometimes just sitting close or taking part in the activities mentioned above can mean a lot to the kids when they aren’t feeling well.  As an added treat, try massaging your child’s feet, aching neck and back for comfort. My kids love the extra attention.

To help get kids back to happy, PediaCare is offering the “Get Back to Happy” Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of four fun prizes! One grand prize includes a two-night stay for four (4) at a participating Great Wolf Lodge® resort valued at $1,100, and all winners will receive a PediaCare ”Get Back to Happy” Family Pack each valued at $350.

Visit the PediaCare web site, www.pediacare.com , to enter the “Get Back to Happy” sweepstakes or for more information about the new acetaminophen dosing changes and a special message from celebrity-pediatrician, Dr. Jim Sears, co-host of the Emmy award-winning medical talk show The Doctors.

I have been commissioned as a Spokesmom for PediaCare and have been compensated for this post. PediaCare infants and children’s over-the-counter medicines are available at drugstores, supermarkets and retailers nationwide. To learn more about the new acetaminophen dosing system for PediaCare or Little Remedies, visit pediacare.com or littleremedies.com.