Let's say you are not wealthy enough to afford a nanny or regular care giver. There are a number of reasons why you may be stuck with a baby while you do not feel well. It could be a lack of support from the other parent. It could be that the other parent is ill or away on business and you have no support from extended family. Perhaps you are a stay-at-home parent and your significant other could not take the day off. While your baby needs you, you could have a cold, flu, chronic physical illness, chronic disorder like anxiety or depression or you could be healing from an injury. Whatever your situation, here are some tips to help you to stay focused and reduce your stress during a time when most people would just call a babysitter.
First, and most important, find a routine and stick with it. Even babies in the womb love a routine. The less you fluctuate in your schedule, the happier your baby, toddler or child will be. This will cut down on tantrums. Even if you move a lot slower, your child will still know what's coming next and this will maintain some piece. If you know what's coming next, you won't have to try so hard to come up with things to do during a time when it's tough to concentrate. You most likely keep a schedule online. Keep a physical copy in a day planner or on a wall poster, depending on what is best for you. In case you have anything happen to your online/ in-phone file, you will have an easily accessible back up copy. If you have a hard copy but no online file, I encourage you to do so. This is due to the fact that you can easily edit your routine whenever needed.
Next, get some emergency meals in order.This way you can stay off your feet by just grabbing the meals you made ahead of time from the freezer. Make a large batch of something you can freeze and that you know you and the kids will both eat. If you don't have your own Ziploc or Tupperware tubs with lids, try and store in sandwich bags, wax paper secured with tape, anything you can use and seal with a label. If you already have your own labels and markers, great. If you do not, masking tape is easy to tear away and you can write directly on it. Sticky notes may seem obvious but some may not like how easily they come off. If you make labels by cutting regular paper into rectangles, try securing them to the containers with rubber bands. For food freezer friendly meals, store sealed tight for up to 4 months. For fresh fruit and vegetables, store in air-tight containers in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. If you live with someone who has sticky fingers, put your stored food in unmarked paper bags with the openings rolled shut. Out of sight, out of mind.
Lastly, this is my FAVORITE tip of all! Have toys that you never show your child unless you can't get around so easy. Of course make sure it is something they enjoy a great deal. They will be happy to see it and will keep active toddlers and school aged children occupied. Typically, a younger baby takes lots of naps and doesn't need that much extra stimuli. However, all babies are different. If your infant needs a little extra attention, try only bringing out the baby swing or rocker when you really need it. This way, they don't get used to it and risk it not putting them to sleep at nap time. For older kids, there is likely a favorite set of toys, a book or a movie they enjoy. Whatever your circumstances, be sure to limit the amount of time each item is used in one day. You should not allow them to have it all day to where they get bored. That's where your schedule comes in. Include nap time, snacks time, meal time and play time. Then, during play time they have that uncommon treat.
That is all for my tips on how to manage parenting during a sick/off day. I hope these tips were helpful to you. I hope only the best for your current health situation as well as your future!
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