Sick day essentials for sleep

The second we see. runny noses or coughs come from our little ones, and our first thought is, “there goes our sleep!” But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are the most effective sick day essentials to help your little one stay more comfortable and sleep well while battling a cold or flu.

This is not medical advice; always consult with your child’s ped.

1st things first.

SLEEP IS MEDICINE. Deep sleep, NREM, helps our body heal and strengthen our immune system. The first priority when your little one is sick is to get them sleep and an early bedtime to soak in more deep sleep!

1. Cool Mist Humidifier

Cool mist humidifiers are great when the air is dry. They are also safer for children than warm mist humidifiers. Cool mist humidifiers help keep the air moist to help alleviate coughing and ease congestion during a cold. I use this cool mist humidifier all winter long because it automatically adjusts the misting to the humidity of the room. I have used other humidifiers that make the room feel like a rainforest in the morning, which is just too much, IMO. This one is easy to clean, which is really important for your humidifier. You do not want any buildup of bacteria or mold. You can also add essential oils to this, which are nice for those really sick stuffy days!

2. Nose sucker

We’ve all used the frida baby sucker and although it does the job, I can literally see & feel those germs passing through to me as I do it. And my husband refuses to touch it, so it always falls on me lol. When Charly was born, I finally invested in this sucker and have never looked back, It is super effective at getting all the boogers out before naps and bedtime when your little one is really congested.

3. Saline Rinse

This is the MVP when your kid is congested. It can be a battle to do it, but it is the ONLY thing that completely clears their sinuses. I think this is ultimately the key to a good night of sleep. We administer these in the bath right before bed when our kids are sick. Regular saline is also a winner during sick season. I use it multiple times per day to keep those little noses clear. (Use these for the littlest babies.)

4. Vapor rub on feet

Anytime my kids are stuffy or coughy, I put a generous layer of vapor rub on the bottom of their feed, under their socks, and on their back/chest. This can help keep their stuffiness and congestion at bay and helps them breathe at night.

5. Crunchy things

I genuinely believe that placing a halved onion by my child's bedside helps reduce the duration and severity of their colds. During those 2-3 nights of core illness, I consistently put an onion in their room, and it seems to lessen coughing and congestion.

That is my tried and true sick day routine for sleep. I hope it helps your family too! Cheers to healthy days ahead.

XOXO,

Nichole @ Little Peach Sleep