Top Ten Tips To Make Your Children Feel Better When They Are Sick

I hate it when my children are sick and I'd do anything to make them feel better. Having three children I've dealt with my fair share of illnesses over the years so I thought I'd share my top tips on how to make your children feel better when they are sick.

Prevention is better than cure - of course it is better not to get sick at all! Make sure your children know good hygiene habits and wash their hands regularly. Mine take vitamins to make sure their immune systems are well protected. You can also try the new Vicks First Defence spray for adults and children aged 12 and older. When used at the first signs of a cold, Vicks First Defence nasal spray has been clinically proven to help stop a cold in its tracks and not develop into a full-blown cold. It can also reduce symptom severity and duration.

Get the right diagnosis - it's important to know exactly what is making your child feel unwell. If you are at all unsure take them to the doctor who can advise you and give you the correct medicine.

Keep their temperature down - if they have a high temperature keep it down with some infant paracetamol. This can be alternated with infant ibuprofen if necessary. Make sure you read the labels correctly and give them the correct dose. A tepid flannel can also help to cool them down.

Ask for help - if you have other children who need to be taken to and picked up from school see if you can get a friend to help out. Ask the grandparents to help with dinner. A neighbour could pop to the shops to pick up milk for you. That way you will be able to focus more of your time and energy on your poorly child and they won't have to leave the house if they don't feel like it.

Encourage them to drink water - They might not feel like it, but it is important that they stay hydrated. Adding a little squash to the water might encourage them to drink it.

Have a little nap - a little rest can work wonders so encourage them to have a little nap if they can. I know that I normally wake up feeling better if I've had a nice rest.

Distract them - take the focus off them feeling sick for a while. Play a game or read a book together. Vicks have put together some great videos of little tricks to put a smile back on your poorly one's face. They say laughter is the best medicine and I think that's very true.

Try some alternative remedies - I know people who swear by honey to soothe a sore throat or flat lemonade to ease a sick stomach. Others rub Vicks Vaporub onto their feet before bed to help a cough. Oats in the bath are said to ease the itch of chicken pox. Ask advice from friends and family - they might know something to help that you don't.

Give them something to look forward to - promise them something fun when they are feeling better, be it a trip out or a little treat from the shops. It's nice to look forward to something.

Make the most of the quiet time - while it's not nice to see your children ill, it's quite often one of the only times they will stop running around at a hundred miles an hour. Enjoy the extra cuddles by snuggling up together and watching a film or reading a book. They'll enjoy spending time with you and knowing that you are there for them.