Hacks for Surviving a Sick Child * Moms and Crafters

Big thanks to SearchRx for generously sponsoring these tips for when you have a sick child. SearchRx is a free service and app that allows you to get the best bang for your buck when filling your prescriptions. This post contains affiliate links.

I was making progress, finally got my head above water, was on track with my calendar…

And then M got sick.

Having a sick child can really set you back, cost you your sanity, and be hard on mom. You may find lots of tips for helping your child get better out there – but I’ll leave that to your pediatrician. My goal is to help YOU survive…

When your child is not feeling well, you might feel overwhelmed. Lost. Helpless.

Very often, your sick child’s feelings are reflected in you. Your job is to be invested in your child’s well-being, to be her rock, but where is YOUR support?

I remember when M was a young toddler, and he kept vomiting. He was lethargic, it was Sunday evening and every office was closed, and a quick call to the doctor confirmed we needed to go to the ER. I felt very afraid, sitting in the ambulance, hugging my listless baby – the same one that I can never get to calm down.

I remember the first time we had to fill a prescription. I did not know where to go, what to do next. I didn’t know if I was overpaying, if I was getting the best rate.

Between new experiences, extra expenses, and a fussy child, things can get tough. These simple tips for surviving a sick child will help you get through those days without half the nightmare.

12 Life Hacks for Surviving a Sick Child:

1. Save time and money on medication –

SearchRx is a super simple website and app that helps you get the best deals on medicine, and features money-saving coupons on FDA approved medications. Simply search for the prescription you’re trying to fill, type in your location (or use your phone’s GPS feature) and go pharmacy-hunting without stepping foot out the door.

One of the first times Baby Y got sick was when we were out-of-state. This adds to the confusion of it all… SearchRx is perfect whether you’re looking for a local place, or you’re on the road – you have all the info you need at your fingertips.

They offer the following features:

Price comparison
Coupons you can clip!!
Extremely easy interface even your mom-brain can get past!
Save, text or email the coupon
Drug information built into the app

I use it as a tool to remember the names of medications my son takes too!

You can download SearchRx in the App Store or Google Play.

2. Break the Rules –

Rules were made for breaking, and a sick child is the best time to break them. Give extra screen time – it’s not like it’s taking away from your child’s active time, right? Allow PJ’s at meals and maybe even a soothing candy in bed!

3. Track doses on medicine bottle –

Just make a little chart with a permanent marker and track which doses your child has had and which she hasn’t.

4. Another cool way to keep track – Or if you’re more of a type A mom, print a free medicine tracker. Let your kid tick it off or place a sticker to make it more exciting!

5. A spoonful of sugar…

Use a small lollipop to get the medicine down. Use the syringe to measure the medicine in a cup, and allow a fussy child to dip a lolly into the medicine until it’s finished.

6. Hand over the reins –

M officially decided he no longer likes medicine… until I let them take control of the syringe. He also gets to play with the syringe afterward. For some reason, it’s the funnest toy ever.

7. Whet the appetite.

Healthy smoothie pops, shakes – these are some ideas to get your sick child eating. But keep in mind that nutrition is cumulative. If your child will only eat rice cakes for two days, but eats well the rest of the time, he’ll be okay!

8. Keep ’em hydrated –

Make soothing tea popsicles to help a sick child get more fluids. I also let M drink water through the medicine syringe, or I give him some calm water play – those both get him drinking.

9. It’s in the head –

A colorful bandage on a headache or stomach ache can work wonders to improve the mood of a 3-year-old. Granted it does nothing to relieve the pain, but it’s not just about the physical pain when you’re three…

10. Keep ’em clean –

There’s almost nothing that’s more frustrating than having to clean up vomit all day. Clumsy Crafter made a “Happy Bowl” for an upset stomach, to train kids to be neat when they’re sick.

11. Get that temp –

Take temperature in babies more easily using a pacifier thermometer. This works for bigger kids who are too big for rectal temperature but aren’t quite big enough for keeping the oral one in place.

12. Warm those chills –

Put blankets and towels in the dryer for a few minutes to help warm them (but don’t let your tot see you putting the blankie in the dryer – you’ll have other problems.)

SearchRx does more than find me places to buy medications. It serves as a support for me when my kids are sick, so that I don’t have to schlep around too much. It helps me save money so that I can treat myself to that coffee that I so desperately need. And it’s easy to use so that my overtired brain doesn’t need to navigate complicated resources.