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Family dynamics

13th Aug 2018

Single mum and ill? What can you do to entertain your baby?

Olivia Hayes

It can be tough.

A single mother has asked for advice on looking after her daughter when she herself has fallen ill.

In a post on Mumsnet, the mum explains that she got an ear infection on Saturday and was unable to see a doctor until this afternoon.

However, she’s concerned as she’s dizzy and is scared to carry her 18-month-old up and down the stairs. She also asks for advice on entertaining her.

She wrote:

“I’m so dizzy I’m scared carrying DD up and down stairs and cooking and stuff, one whole side of my face is numb, I can’t hear and the dizziness is making me feel so sick.

“I feel awful on DD though because I can’t take her out as I don’t want to drive and don’t really feel like walking to the park dizzy, grim and in the pissing rain. I’m bored, she’s bored, I made some play dough for her this morning but it’s not really interesting her.

“So single parents what do you do when you’re ill? Is what I’m doing Ok? How do you keep a toddler entertained when you feel like shit?”

Many mums replied and said she was doing her best.

One said:

“Make the room safe, put on some cartoons of Disney movies and lay on the couch, stay awake but rest while the TV entertains and then hopefully you can get some nice long stretches of time to lay back and rest in between getting food and drinks etc.”

While another wrote:

“I feel for you it’s a nightmare when you’re ill and nothing stops you still have to do all the cleaning and cooking because that doesn’t stop just because you’re ill.

“I’ll be honest I just put films on TV that mine like to watch and leave them to play with their toys.
Providing they’re safe, being bored for a day or two while I’m ill isn’t going to do them any harm.”

What advice would you give this mum?

Topics:

advice,ill