https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 11:34:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-term-sicknesshow-do-you-manage#post-2356501 Sat, 14 Nov 2015 16:27:34 +0000 Eminthevalley 2356501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following! I believe my LO's are close in age to yours. 2 year 9 month old twins. One is on his 3rd double ear infection in 5 months, 5th this year overall, 7th or 8th lifetime. It just seems like it never really goes away...I'm questioning whether some days that I just find difficult when they seem to be "well" are actually just "sickness oncoming" days, and feeling guilty about that. I pretty much do our normal routine, still take them outside, to the park, story time etc except on the very worst days. They go to day care 2 days/week and I don't send them when they have fever or are obviously sick, but with sniffles I do. Food...don't even get me started. I give them bites of what we're having but they also eat a ton of buttered noodles. Bed/naptime is the same. They wake up at 5am or before most days and I can't control that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-term-sicknesshow-do-you-manage#post-2350384 Tue, 10 Nov 2015 09:39:22 +0000 AggieDaze 2350384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lion: So glad that he is playing and having fun! Mine was begging to stay home last week too ;) </p> <p>Today might be proof that when he's asking to stay home, you might go ahead and do whatever you need to do... but just be aware that you may have to go home at a moment's notice. I bet preschool and other activities are a helpful distraction when he feels bad. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-term-sicknesshow-do-you-manage#post-2350348 Tue, 10 Nov 2015 09:26:56 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2350348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: Oh that is so awesome! Yay for tubes! I have heard nothing but good things. Hopefully they can get us in very soon! I am so glad E is feeling better. </p> <p>Side note, I called C's preschool and they said he is having a blast and playing with all the other kids just like usual, so I feel much better &lt;3 He broke my momma heart this morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-term-sicknesshow-do-you-manage#post-2350305 Tue, 10 Nov 2015 09:03:34 +0000 blackbird 2350305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When E's sick, I cut her a lot of slack on stuff. Right now she has a cold and she's been kind of a monster and throwing loads of tantrums. But I also know it's temporary and that there is a direct cause for it, and once she's not sick, she'll be fine again. I would just put some comfy jammies on and let her watch tv </p> <p>The tubes should hopefully fix it! Actually now that I think of it, E hasn't had an ear infection since she had hers put in, and she's had a few colds ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-term-sicknesshow-do-you-manage#post-2350245 Tue, 10 Nov 2015 08:30:48 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2350245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamasig: @AggieDaze: This was my thought too :( We did take him to preschool kicking and screaming today though, because we pay a fortune for it whether he goes or not and to afford it I have to be able to work from home. They were going to call me if he didn't calm down and he has been there an hour...so fingers crossed he is happily playing. He just kept saying over and over that he wanted to stay home and play with Momma. So so sad :( For a kid who has never ever had any sort of separation anxiety (he typically is off running to his classroom or the nursery or wherever the second he is out of the car because he can't wait to go play) this is so heartbreaking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-term-sicknesshow-do-you-manage#post-2349961 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 21:34:47 +0000 AggieDaze 2349961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with @mamasig. It'll suck, but you can break bad habits later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-term-sicknesshow-do-you-manage#post-2349958 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 21:33:18 +0000 Mamasig 2349958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Because you can tie it directly to when he is sick, I would probably give in a lot. I'm super grumpy and whiny when I'm sick. If his poor ears bother him that much, I'm sure he's miserable. If it were my boys, I would try to be extra patient and comforting as hard as it is. I look at myself right now in my 1st trimester and I feel ugh. Poor toddler probably feels worse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/long-term-sicknesshow-do-you-manage#post-2349950 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 21:22:30 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2349950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put long term in quotes because I recognize that what we are dealing with is far from chronic. </p> <p>LO has had ear infections on and off for the last 8 months, and we are meeting with an ENT this week about having tubes put in. While I am hopeful this is going to help and hopefully things will be much easier after, I am curious how you handle tantrums, lack of appetite/picky eating (and 4am screaming from hunger as a result), and separation anxiety if these all seem to stem directly from the sickness. LO has been all out of sorts for such a long time now. I would assume these are just normal toddler behaviors, but there is a very clear difference between his temperament when he is sick vs. when he isn't. I can tell an ear infection is coming several days before the other symptoms appear, just based on his behavior. And I can tell when the meds start working, because he is his normal chipper self again.. :( </p> <p>So, do you let your kid get away with more and let go of some of the normal rules or expectations during extended periods of sickness? Or is it better to keep things consistent? We have had a lot more screen time and I have not been trying to get him to eat our normal dinner (he is now eating pretty much exclusively applesauce pouches, baby teething crackers, pepperoni, and oatmeal. sigh). But now he has started not wanting to leave the house. We were in the car on the way to the YMCA today and he screamed hysterically the entire drive that he wanted to go home. I gave in and took him home, but I wonder if this is the right thing to do. </p> <p>Anybody have thoughts on this? What would you do? </p>