If You're Normally TV-Free or Lite, What About When Your LO is Ill?

[SparklingGemini]

We're very, very, very light on the TV with DD.

But, unfortunately, she's been lethargic and throwing up all morning.

I'm debating popping in a movie and snuggling with her since all she can do is lay around and be sick. But a small part of me is screaming "NO TV!" because its so deeply ingrained in my beliefs.

So, if you typically limit TV, how does that change when your kiddos are ill? Do you change your thoughts and limits? Do you try to get creative and entertain them without the TV?

[elmh23]

When my kids are sick, the tv will go on. They don't like to do anything if they're feeling truly sick and the don't want to listen to me read a story either, so the tv goes on and they zone out. And, yeah, my limits go right out the window when someone is as sick as your dd seems to be. That's when I get in survival mode!

[tbone_kneegrabber]

well ds is rick right now too. He has a fever and wants to nurse constantly. We are usually light on tv, but he has wached a lot yersterday and already today and probably will watch even more later. Right now my choice seems to be between him nursing my nipples off or letting him watch tv. So tv wins!

[bugleg]

We do YouTube videos when the LO is really ill or if her teeth are bothering her alot. It's not the best solution, but the 'survival mode' thing resonates here!

[shanniesue2]

If we're going to have any screen time, I like movies or videos from the library instead of TV (just to avoid the commercials). But we never got an HD converter, so TV isn't even an option in our house. And in the case of a sick LO, I think some screen time is okay.

[LilacMama]

Even when I'm sick now, as an adult, I want chicken soup, gatorade, movies, and my mom taking care of me! It's a great, healing tradition!

[tinuviel_k]

We don' watch any TV at all, and limit movies... but when my daughter is sick the movies come on! She literally cannot sleep when she is sick, and baths and movies are the only two things that are able to distract her. it is either a movie marathon for a couple days or my little one crying in misery. We go for the movies with no guilt.

[karemore]

We do no tv on weekends, no tv in the summer, and very limited the rest of the year. (only PBS and dvds)

BUT when DD is sick, she's allowed to watch PBS kids or movies. She wants me to read to her when she's sick so I read as much as I can. But if she's too lethargic to play, she's allowed to watch something.

DD has no trouble understanding that we go back to normal routines once her energy level is back.

[InMediasRes]

We are TV free, but we have absolutely no limits on TV when DS is sick. I try to stretch it out though, so that he watches a movie and then does something else for a while before we do TV again. He likes books on tape and music too. Sometimes he likes just snuggling and talking, but I'm always worried about me getting sick too because he likes to be right in my face.

[lula]

We are light tv (occasional tivod Mythbusters or similar programs, while traveling on planes and limited movies-never actual "tv") However, when illness strikes we have unlimited movies. My daughter is often not supposed to be running around while she is ill and movies make that situation easier. Also, my kids rarely sleep in chunks (yeh for sporadic naps) while sick so the movies can help me get some sleep.

I find it helps to have a set system of what movies, tv etc will be available for children if/when they get sick. I love having a whole list I can turn to when my child gets ill.

Note-I am not light movies or dvd's for myself so I think I have less "guilt" about my kids watching. We use sick time to do film history lessons...yes, because I'm a freak like that...

[Llyra]

We don't really watch TV per se, but we do have some DVDs and old VHS tapes that my kids watch on a very limited basis, plus a Netflix sub. I limit it a lot-- my kiddos probably watch about four videos a months.

But when they're sick, all bets are off, and we allow unrestricted viewing. I do sometimes have trouble, though, at the end of an illness, helping the kids to understand why all of a sudden we're back to restrictions again. So it's good to talk about that part ahead of time-- we watch TV when we're sick, and that's okay, but when we get better again it's time to do other things all day.

[carfreemama]

No TV here, either; but we do have "movie nights." When dd is sick, she can watch TV as much as she wants. Yes, I try my best to interact with her and do other things; but when she's really sick, even the sound of my voice can irritate her. So dh brings home videos from the library and it's entirely her choice how much she watches. Why shouldn't she have a little "guilty pleasure" when she feels miserable? She can't really read yet (she's 5), so she doesn't have that option. When I'm sick, I get dh to bring home trashy magazines and read those. But even I like a movie when I feel crappy. Also, I think it gives dd a sense of control to get to choose something when her body isn't feeling good. Thankfully, we don't get sick very often (touch wood)! Not sure if our rules would change if it was a frequent occurrence. There is usually a bit of a "detox" that has to happen for a day or two post-illness, but nothing major. Honestly, there's not much I wouldn't do to help my babe feel better when she's sick. One time, she had a NASTY virus with a fever of 104 for over a week (maybe scarlet fever). She'd been asking for purple Crocs for MONTHS. Well, when I went to fill a prescription for her, the sports store was right next door. On impulse, I went to buy her the shoes. I swear they did more to make her feel better than the medicine did. She wore them in bed and slept with them on. It's all about morale.

[TiredX2]

Another vote for "movies when sick." The kids know that being sick is basically a screen time bonanza

[rzberrymom]

We don't have a tv, dvd player, etc. So, we do books on tape when DD is sick.

[bethanyclaire]

We are light on the TV time around here normally but a sick kid equals unlimited TV. To this day that is ALL I want to do when I am really sick. It keeps my mind off of feeling crappy. My kids feel the same way. I'm happy to put on movies or TV shows when they are truly feeling awful (if they are still capable of playing and want to be up and around then they aren't sick enough for unlimited-tv though... lol).

It is all about what keeps them the most comfortable and keeps my sanity. I tuck them into bed or onto the couch with a glass of water, some crackers and a movie.

[Hoopin' Mama]

Unrestricted tv when ds is sick and lethargic.
If he's home with a cold but not lethargic, we a little tv and then long warm baths with eucalyptus oil and lots of tub play, board games, and reading.

[daytripper75]

All bets are off when the little ones are sick. If tv keeps them happy and rested, it can be on constantly.
<-because dd wanted that smilie.

[AirMiami]

We're both sick today! My baby is only 8 months old, but I will admit to letting myself have a half hour of peace thanks to some Barney today. We were up a LOT last night, and it wasn't even her fault since I was making frequent bathroom trips. That's quite a lot to me for a baby, but if she were older, I'd let her veg on TV all day if she was very sick.

[MtBikeLover]

I do very limited TV with the kids. When they are sick, they can watch TV, but I still try to find other things to occupy them first.

DD woke up with a fever of 102 today. I read to her for about an hour and then she slept for a few hours. When I called to check on her, she was watching TV with the nanny.

We do have the problems though of them watching too much TV when they are sick and then wanting to keep watching after they are not sick anymore. That part is frustrating!

[katiesk]

we don't have a tv - just a laptop that we sometimes watch movies on.

dd is still really little and probably should not watch any movies yet, but also has not really been sick that much...when she is a bit older i will let her watch movies when she is sick. all day long if she wants.