How To Get Well Fast When You're A Parent
**Disclaimer: Nothing in this blog post should be considered medical advice. We are NOT medical professionals, just moms who have been there. Please seek medical attention if necessary.
Sickness is out there. It’s all around us. While we do our best to avoid it and build our immune systems, there will come a time when we catch a bug going around and get sick ourselves.
We wrote a blog a couple of years ago with some tips and tricks on how to help your child when they get sick, but we thought it might be a good idea to write another one with some tips and tricks for moms (and dads) on what to do when illness sets in.
Just like we mention in our blog “What To Do When Your Child Isn’t Feeling Well”, the best way to start feeling better as quickly as possible is to be prepared! Having a well-stocked medicine cabinet can really help you start fighting those germs at the first sign of sickness – giving you the best chance of a faster and easier recovery! Keep your medicine cabinet in an easy to access location and preferably, keep everything in a box together! We have one for kids and one for adults, so it takes that much less brain power when you’re already functioning at less than 100%.
Here are some items we love (and swear by) that you will find in our medicine cabinets:
Electrolyte Drink (LMNT & Liquid IV are great because they come in ready to mix packets so they don’t take up much space! LMNT can be ordered online, although it can be found in some small retail stores, but Liquid IV is now available in most grocery stores, including Walmart and Target.)
Herbal Tea (Lemon, Ginger, Green Tea, Citrus Tea, Mint Tea, Echinacea Tea, or blends that support Immune System and Wellness)
Oscillococcinum – The sooner you start taking this, the better it works!
Tinctures – I love the Feel Better Fast and Elderberry from Earthly Wellness – as well as many others from them!
Fermented Honey* (more on this below. While it can last months or even up to a year on the shelf, it takes at least 30 days to fully ferment, so think ahead and make some BEFORE you start feeling under the weather)
Cold and Sinus meds of choice (Boiron is a great brand we trust in our home for a natural option)
Epsom Salt (for a bath soak)
Pain Reliever/Fever Reducer
Sinus Rinse and Solution (having the device on hand isn’t enough – you need the solution to go in it! Or you can make your own - recipe** below.)
You can check out all of our favorite all natural products on Amazon!!!
*Fermented Honey – I mentioned this above as an item to have ready for when you start feeling sick. There is so much good germ fighting, natural antibiotic properties in this it’s crazy! It can help with almost anything from a cold to a sore throat and possibly even some minor infections! There are different types of fermented honey (I have tried Garlic Fermented Honey and Lemon Ginger Fermented Honey, personally). Check out our Pinterest Board for some different ideas! The one thing they all have in common is they use RAW honey. It is important to note that “pure honey” and even “organic honey” won’t work unless it’s raw for the fermentation process to actually happen. Once again, this typically takes about 30 days for the fermentation process to complete (although I have used it before the 30 days is up, it just doesn’t have the full effect), so you might want to make up a batch while everyone is well and healthy. It has a long shelf life, so you’re sure to use it before it goes bad.
**Sinus Rinse Solution Recipe - In a clean container, mix 3 teaspoons of iodide-free salt with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and store in a small airtight container. Add 1 teaspoon of the mixture to 8 ounces (1 cup) of lukewarm distilled or boiled water. Use less dry ingredients to make a weaker solution if burning or stinging is experienced.
At the first sign of sickness - I start making myself hot tea – and lots of it! I usually alternate between hot tea and a glass of plain water (adding some LMNT to one glass a day). Most herbal teas will help support your immune system in some way or another, so it’s really a matter of your personal preference. I’ve really enjoyed mixing some green tea with some lemon ginger tea (I added in my fermented lemon ginger honey, too!), but the copycat Starbucks Medicine Ball recipe is great, too! You can make your own lemonade or just use lemon juice if you prefer. (Again, have this on hand and ready to go so you aren’t running out the store at the last minute!)
Some other “go-to’s” I start at the first signs of illness are my “Feel Better Fast” by Earthly Wellness and a dose of Oscillococcinum (or other homeopathic medicine by Bioron). While these can be taken at any time, taking them early on can lessen your symptoms and has been shown to help you get over your cold, flu, or whatever other virus you may have picked up more quickly.
I think one of the hardest parts of being sick when you’re a parent is that there are still tiny humans who still need and depend on you. They don’t understand that it’s taking every bit of energy you have to get out of bed or off the couch and their needs certainly don’t stop just because you’re sick. While it does get easier as your kids get older and become more self-sufficient, being sick with toddlers and babies is tough! Some of the things I’ve learned during the times I’ve spent sick with babies may be helpful for the mom who might still be in the thick of it!
REST! If you have kids that still take naps – use their nap time as an opportunity to get some rest yourself. I know there’s always a laundry list of things to do, but if you’re fighting sickness, getting better needs to become a pretty top priority! (YES – YOU need to put yourself up high on that priority list when sick! This is your permission to do so!) Let the laundry and chores wait for another day – get some extra sleep or use that time to take a hot bath, because a rested body can recover faster!
Take a hot bath! The steam can help with congestion and adding some epsom salt can help add magnesium back into your system (something most of us lack already). A hot bath can help with aches and pains from illness but also forces you to get some rest – something that can be difficult for us to do, especially if it’s “just a cold”.
Screen Time is your friend! Most of the time, even when I’m sick, I have enough energy to at least get myself to the couch, however, last summer, I fought a fever of 103 for 5 days and barely had the energy to get myself out of bed to go to the bathroom! A trick I learned during that time was I pulled my preschooler in bed with me (she was also slightly sick, just not as bad as me) and I just let her watch TV and play on her tablet. When you’re fighting sickness, screen time isn’t something you need to worry about. Use it to your advantage and let the screens babysit a bit. Whether you’re on the couch or in bed, whether it’s a TV or tablet, this is certainly one of those times when screens are a blessing and aid in helping you get some much needed rest!
Need a quick and easy meal? This Chicken Noodle Soup recipe is pretty simple, quick, and easy to throw together and I swear it has some major healing properties! If you have the energy to cook, give this a try! These are staple items I typically keep in my house, so when sickness hits, I’m able to whip this up pretty quick and at the first signs. My kids also love it, so even if I’m the only one who's sick, they’ll eat it up! You can also check out some of our previous blog posts for more quick and easy dinner ideas!
Ask for help! If you have family or close friends in the area, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help. If your kids are also sick, this may be a bit more complicated to pull off, but if it’s just you, see if anyone is available to watch your kid(s) so you can rest and recover. Or if they aren’t available to watch your kids, maybe they can simply bring dinner! Anything taken off your plate is one less thing for you to think and worry about.
Illness is out there and while we do our best to protect ourselves from it, sometimes our kids bring germs home or we pick them up in our day to day interactions. While you may need a medical professional sometimes, many times, some rest and home remedies may be all that’s required. We hope this information is helpful and you are able to be prepared for whatever sickness may come your way!
What are some of your favorite home remedies, tips and tricks for when you aren’t feeling well?
Terri - General Manager at Milk + Honey Jewelry
**Disclaimer: Nothing in this blog post should be considered medical advice. We are NOT medical professionals, just moms who have been there. Please seek medical attention if necessary.