How to cope with sickness in a large family
There are so many wonderful blessings about having a larger-than-average family. Life feels full and varied and things never stay the same for very long with so people living in one space.
But, if there was one significant challenge as a mum of many, it’s when colds, gastro or random viruses hit the family.
So, what are some practical ways to cope with sickness in a large family?
Prevention is better than a cure!
When our children were babies, I was super cautious to avoid any and all infections. Not that I could prove that my protective approach prevented many illnesses, but I would choose to steer clear if a family had a cold/lingering cough.
We would postpone play dates or, if we felt worried, make sure children played outside as much as possible. I’ve become more relaxed but it still makes sense to me to minimise the nasty bugs.

Avoidance is one strategy, but there are also other things that can help to circumvent seasonal illness:
Why sickness is so hard
Despite our best efforts, illness is an inevitable part of life, especially if your children play in different circles of friends or large groups. This can expose them to new bugs more often!
In our family, one consequence of sickness we’ve had to deal with is the impact on our social schedule. There’s rarely a ‘convenient’ time to be ill (for parents or for children!), particularly if you have a full calendar.
Helping children to cope with the natural disappointment they feel is a good skill for them to learn. The reality is that we live in a fallen, broken world and we are mortal beings who are going to succumb to illness!
In our family, one way we combat the sad feelings is to remind our children that every social event is a ‘bonus’. It may or may not happen, based on life circumstances – we just can’t guarantee anything, including special play dates or exciting excursions!
This approach has really made a difference when we have to miss events. It can be hard for the whole family, especially as homeschoolers because we normally come as a ‘package deal’! We’re used to all attending things and so if a few children are flat or sick, it often means that healthy children miss out too.

Another challenge personally is the unpredictability of sickness. It can be stressful knowing that another cold is in the family, especially in the winter months when it can feel like a constant cycle.
The uncertainty of who will get sick next and waiting out the virus or infection can add to your mental load. It’s a time to try to be patient and to choose to let go of the need to control while routines are in flux.

Practical tips for when sickness begins
If you notice the sniffles starting (actually, most colds start with sneezes in our house!) then I try to remember to stock up on tissues and some honey lozenges.
I’m also a great believer in the benefit of essential oils so popping some blends into a diffuser can make breathing easier at night. We rub them onto chests and backs with a carrier oil to relieve symptoms.

A few years ago we also invested in a brilliant air purifier. It’s easy to move it into a bedroom or a communal space to help eradicate any airborne viruses and the filters are simple to clean and change.
Finally, my best tip is to keep meals super easy and nutritious – most children aren’t hungry when they’re sick! Soups, sliced apple and plenty of water are our go tos.
Silver linings
Even though none of us like getting sick, I think there are some silver linings we shouldn’t ignore or forget about.
Above all, getting sick is a good reminder that we just aren’t in control as much as we think we are… so many things are completely out of our hands and we simply need to ride them out.

Attitudes that make it easier
As with most things, how we choose to approach sickness can make the biggest difference.
Keep a positive mindset – our attitude will set the tone for the family.
Model thankfulness for good health and no major illnesses. Managing sickness is just a tiny glimpse into the tough reality for so many families handling chronic or acute illness.
I’ve also noticed that some of our children are more scared of illness than others. If you have a child who has a phobia of getting ill, use this as a time to teach them to trust their immune system and to learn to listen to their body.
Coping with sickness in a large family is often hard. Remembering that ‘this too shall pass’ has helped me on many occasions – what are some of your top tips for managing?
Great advice, thank you for sharing! What essential oil blends do you like best for sickness?
Hey Emily! Thanks for reading 🙂 For my babies I rub their chests and backs with lemon and lime in a carrier oil (normally coconut oil) to help as a decongestant. Both those are so gentle for babies and adding lavender for sleeps is a good idea too. I diffuse a combination of Breathe Easy/Easy Air and Protect/On Guard in bedrooms and rub in a combination of oils for my older children. Another tip is to put oils that I wouldn’t apply directly onto the skin on a tissue either stuffed down their pyjamas, under their pillow, or in the corner of their cot. Then hot oils like oregano which are great as antibacterial agents can be helping them without causing any harm. For me, I love FLOOT in a roll on (Frankincense, Lavender, Oregano, On Guard, Tea Tree), focussing on my neck and glands and then sometimes I don’t even catch the bug that’s going around the family!