Similisan Share Your Story - When Your Child Is Sick, What Can You Do?

This is sponsored content from BlogHer and Similasan.

Like most moms, I have my fair share of experience with sick kids--earaches, tummy bugs, colds, you name it.

My poor sick boy (sorry for the blur, iPhone pic)

Unlike most other moms, I also have entirely too much experience with children who manage to break themselves by doing things like jumping off our second floor balcony and breaking 3 limbs, at *7* years old, and then spending 2 months with 2 casted legs and one casted arm.

That would be one broken left wrist, one broken right heel, one broken left talus

Needless to say, I now have an arsenal of what-to-do-when-you're-not-feeling-well activities.

Both kids came down with pretty bad ear infections at the beginning of August--their ears hurt to the touch, it hurt to lay on them, hurt to swallow, etc. Off to the pediatrician we went--middle ear infections and swimmer's ear, times 2. Of course, like most small children, they were generous enough that Faith had it one week, then just as she finished her medicine, Ben got it.

A few of our tried & true ideas, for kids who aren't feeling well (or in the case of Faith, otherwise incapacitated):

• Since their bedrooms are upstairs, I bring down their favorite blankets, pillows and critters, and set them up on the couch so they are right by me during the day.
• I put on a kettle of chicken soup because chicken soup makes everything feel better. My mom always made soup when we were sick, and it really works! Be careful with tummy bugs though, the soup might have to wait till day 2.
• We have movie day on the couch. We have a huge DVD collection and the kids haven't seen a lot of our old favorites, so I'll bring down one of the ones that are new to them. They've loved Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Bedknobs & Broomsticks.
• We cuddle on the couch and read books--some old favorites, some new ones. I always have some new books aside that they haven't read yet, and my parents have sent a lot of ones from my own childhood too.
• I bring out one of the lapdesks so they can color or draw while sitting on the couch. I'd rather not have them wandering around if they are not feeling well, so I try to keep them happy but resting.
• We also have a lot of craft kits that get brought out for the occasion. Faith likes the bead and sewing kits a lot, Ben likes the sticker and design a picture kits. Those are great for quiet time activities.
• We'll play a few board games or card games to pass the time too, they both love Crazy Eights and Sorry.
• If they're feeling up to it, we'll bake something yummy. Much like chicken soup, cookies make you feel better too.
• They get to take a nice relaxing bath in the big bathtub in my bathroom, with bubbles or salts to make the water even better. For colds, we add mint salts to the water to help the sinus breathe.

Another great idea, and we swear by the earache relief, is Similisan (no experience with pink eye, so far, knock on wood). Similasan Earache Relief ear drops and Pink Eye Relief eye drops are safe and effective remedies to help relieve the symptoms of earaches and pink eye naturally. Similasan uses 100% natural active ingredients in their products. Pink Eye Relief eye drops relieve the redness, watery discharge and burning associated with viral and environmental conjunctivitis (pink eye). Earache Relief ear drops relieve the pain of earaches and are safe for all ages.”

BlogHer is also giving away a $100 Visa gift card to one lucky winner.

To enter, leave a comment and share with me your tried & true ways of keeping your sick kid happy.

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