An unexpected sick day can turn even the most organized household upside down. When young kids fall ill, it’s a scramble to figure out who’s staying home, what supplies are on hand, what you might need to go get, and how to keep mess—and germs—from taking over. From keeping the right tools nearby to creating a cozy, contained spot for your child to rest, there are plenty of small steps that can make a big difference. Here are some practical tips for cutting down on the mess and stress of a sick day, so you can focus on what matters most—helping your child feel better.
Set Up a Sick-Day Station
Designate an area of the house where the sick child can rest with minimal disruption to other spaces. This can be a couch with protective coverings or a specific bed. Stock this area with all essentials for the type of illness you're dealing with. Things like tissues & a trash bag for them, wipes, a water bottle, maybe some hand sanitizer, whatever they may need. You can also have a spot for things the parents will need, like a dedicated spot on the counter to keep a thermometer and any medication. Maybe even a sticky note to note that time you've given a dose - it's funny how that type of knowledge can disappear relatively quickly as you get older. Having everything in one place cuts down on trips around the house, possibly reducing the spread of germs and mess.
Use Waterproof Layers on Beds and Furniture
Use a Vommat to line the dedicated bed, couch, or chair that your child is resting in or on. My youngest actually likes to lay on the floor when she's down and out so we just lay a Vommat out first. Vommats are ecofriendly disposable sheets that protect surfaces from liquids like vomit to make cleanups easier. But even if you're just dealing with a cold, if there's lots of sneezing, using a Vommat to protect your surfaces can help reduce the risk of spreading germs. When you remove the Vommat, you'll be removing any germs they coughed or sneezed out as well and your furniture will be clean. Or as clean as it was before you put the Vommat on :).
Consider Wearing Old or Easy-to-Wash Clothes
Encourage the sick child to wear old clothes or layers that are easy to remove. Having a few changes of clothes nearby means you won’t have to go far if there’s a mess, keeping the disruption low. Button downs are nice if you might have trouble going over their head!
Use Sanitizing Wipes for Quick Surface Wipe-Downs
Sanitizing wipes are ideal for quickly wiping down surfaces that may have been exposed to germs, like bedside tables, door handles, or the couch area. A quick wipe-down can help reduce the spread of illness throughout the home, especially on high-touch surfaces. Having these within reach keeps everything cleaner and helps prevent germs from traveling.
Invest in an Air Purifier to Reduce Germ Spread
Running an air purifier in the sick room can help reduce airborne germs and minimize the spread of illness throughout the house. It’s a hands-free way to keep the air cleaner when dealing with illness in the household. Here's a link to Wirecutter's reviews of the 7 Best Air Purifiers of 2024. They're an investment but the peace of mind they provide may be worth it.
With a little planning ahead, you can be prepared to minimize the stress of an unexpected sick day. Here's a shopping list of things to have on-hand:
- Vommats
- Sanitizing Wipes
- Tissues
- Hand sanitizer
- Your favorite pain reliever/fever reducer
- Air purifier
- Electrolyte drinks or popsicles
You've got this!!
Featured image by Luz Brunetti on Unsplash
