Do you make your toddler rest when they’re sick?

[Anonymous]

Toddler has a cough and was sent home from daycare with a fever. He hasn’t had a fever since we picked him up and though he does have a cough, he’s still his happy and rambunctious self. He wants to go outside and run around, climb things, etc. Should I let him or should I be making him rest? He’s only 1.5 so that would consist of putting his favorite tv show to get him to sit still for an hour.

FTM mom here so excuse my ignorance!

[Anonymous]

I’ve never had to or wanted to ‘make’ him rest. If he’s really sick he’s a bit lethargic and we lay around or I take him for walks in his stroller. When he enters the ‘sick but not feeling it’ stage I just let him play as much as he wants and be mindful for any sleepy cues.

[Anonymous]

We don't do screens but would encourage sitting and reading books, taking a bath, etc.

[Anonymous]

Yeah kids often don’t actually feel the at bad when sick it seems. Sometimes they do and it’s noticeable and then they will rest on their own. I personally try not to do too much but definitely don’t force resting. Maybe we go on a walk in the stroller for example. No playgrounds of course but he can play around in our backyard if feeling up for it.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP. Thanks for all the advice! Let him lead -- got it.

[Anonymous]

Agree with what others said. Also don’t force him to eat/finish food if he seems to have no appetite. But make sure he has some water.

[Anonymous]

I talk to my kids a lot about listening to their bodies. I do it for food and I do it for illness related stuff.

I model it is well. "I'm feeling tired right now so I'm going to rest for a bit." That sort of thing.

But a kid who is really sick will act accordingly.

The one thing I will say is that if you give a moderately sick kid some Tylenol, they will in fact feel better & not rest.

I definitely give my kids medicine if they really need it, but fevers are a sign to rest / slow down so we try that first.

[Anonymous]

I don’t force rest. If he is tired, he rests. But most coughs don’t slow down a kid at all, and that’s fine.

[Anonymous]

Wait, I can make my toddler rest??