Managing sleep when your child is ill

Ongoing colds and illnesses through infancy and the early years often frustratingly impact sleep, just at a time where you’re trying to embed changes.

If your child has a stomach bug, keep them well hydrated with normal milk feeds or water (as age-appropriate) during the day and stick to plain, starchy foods, avoiding too much additional dairy. If babies or toddlers have already stopped night feeds, you won’t need to return to topping up with milk at night during a short period of vomiting or diarrhoea, unless there's serious dehydration or it's advised by your GP. Always consult a doctor if you're concerned about your child.

If your child has a fever, nasty cough or sore throat and no longer has milk at night, offering a few sips of water is sensible, though most of the time your child doesn’t need additional water overnight.

If your child usually happily sleeps in a cot or their own bed, avoid bringing them into your bed when they're unwell, as they're more likely to sleep fitfully in a different environment and it's harder to regulate their temperature with duvets and additional body warmth. If you're concerned and want to monitor them overnight, set up a temporary mattress in their room instead.