Nurse Hat

As special needs parents, we wear many hats. Maybe our least favorite is the nurse hat. Our kids feel sick. They often can’t explain what is bothering them and we want to do our best to help them feel better and get back on the mend.

In addition, many of our kids are on medication. Often, they’re on more than one medication which can make over the counter options trickier for us. Check with the doctor about prescription interactions before giving any over the counter medications. Over time, you’ll learn what your child can safely take with the specific doses of medications they’ve been prescribed.

Bedside Manner

The best nurses make the patient feel cared for. There are lots of things we can do as parents to make our kids feel loved and supported while we relieve their symptoms. Depending on what is making them ill, the following ideas are all simple, homeopathic ideas that might help.

1. A cozy blanket on the couch to allow for easy napping
2. A favorite show on TV to distract them
3. Lots of fluids
4. Cool damp washcloth to put on their forehead or eyes
5. A tissue box within reach with a garbage can to throw the dirty ones
6. A barf bucket (many special needs kids or young kids can’t make it to the bathroom)
7. Throat soothing lollipops (make sure your child is sitting up)
8. Electrolytes (like Pedialyte) if your child will tolerate them
9. An ice pack (not directly on skin and not more than 20 minutes at a time)
10. A heat pack (feel it yourself to make sure it is not too hot)
11.  A forehead thermometer makes taking their temperature easy and quick
12. Lots of love followed by lots of handwashing – we don’t need you sick too!

Best of luck! I’ll be hoping you can take off your nurse hat and put on your summer fun supervisor hat soon.