please read - question about sleep and bedtime habits when DC is sick

OKay...when your child is sick...do all sleep rules go out the window? Will you let them sleep in your bed? sleep with them? let them stay up late? etc etc?

DD is sick..not just a cold...very sick...double ear infection...plus a bad viral infection on top of it. Up until today she was running 103-104 fever. But, its lower now and she is still crying for me to sleep with her and doesnt wanna go to bed etc.

Im afraid to start bad habits (we went down that road once before and I dont wanna ruin thinngs because when she is not sick she is an AWESOME sleeper. she is 3.5 by the way.

So...do I break the rules when she is sick and hope she bounces back into routine when she is better? or stick to routine?

I feel like Im being a hard a$$...

Message edited 12/12/2009 8:18:11 PM.

Re: please read - question about sleep and bedtime habits when DC is sick

when ds is sick we try and be alittle leniant, but ds has never slept in our bed andwe have never slept in his room so we will not even do that when he is sick.... we will go and sit in the recliner and watch tv at whatever hour... hoping he falls asleep in the process

Re: please read - question about sleep and bedtime habits when DC is sick

When I was a little kid and got really sick my mom would sometimes sleep on the floor in my room. I remember it was so comforting to look over and know she was there and it helped me sleep. I was still in my own bed so I didn't get used to being somewhere else but she was there if I started coughing and needed Vicks or needed to get pulled up on the pillows, etc etc. You may want to try that for a night esp if DC has a high fever. I would keep putting her to bed the same time regardless of how she is doing, or even a little early so she gets more rest. Hope she feels better soon

Re: please read - question about sleep and bedtime habits when DC is sick

she keeps nodding out and then calling me in to sleep with her in her bed. I keep laying there for a few minutes to calm her and then walking out. It looks like its going to be a long night.

I would have no problem sleeping with her...but Im afraid when she isnt sick anymore...she will still want the same and we will wind up having sleep issues and possibly having to do CIO all over again..

ugh

Re: please read - question about sleep and bedtime habits when DC is sick

I've slept in Ella's bed when she was sick. I usually wait until she falls asleep and then leave if she's peaceful. It doesn't happen that often - but on nights like you described, I've done it.

Re: please read - question about sleep and bedtime habits when DC is sick

I am usually the stickler around here about sleep and routines, etc., but when Ava is really sick and loses sleep over wanting one of us, I give in because it's just better for all of us to get some rest. Then, when she's better, I fight my battle with her on sleeping alone in her bed. But, I've noticed that the older she gets, the less likely she is to pull that on me when she's feeling better. I think she knows the rules and routine now, so she knows that once she's better, it's back to the routine. Because the alternative is that she NEVER gets to sleep with us, sick or not. She's learned that by now.