When We’re Unwell, We Need to Rest And So Do Our Children

When we’re unwell, the message from our body is clear: slow down, rest, and recover. Yet so many of us try to do the opposite. We push through, keep going, ignore the signs, and then wonder why the illness lingers for days (or even weeks) longer than it should.

Our immune system works best when our body is allowed to pause. Sleep, low stimulation, warmth, hydration- these are basic human needs when we are unwell. As adults, we often override them because life is busy, and we’ve been conditioned to “push through.” But pushing through only keeps stress hormones high, suppresses immunity, and delays healing.

And this applies just as much to our children.

When little ones are unwell, sleep is medicine. Their bodies do exactly what ours want to do,they shut down, rest, nap longer, and sleep deeper. Waking a sick child from a nap is only necessary to offer hydration or meals… never to “protect the routine” or maintain a wake window. Their body knows what it needs. Letting them sleep is the quickest route back to recovery.

The same goes for us. Rest is not laziness; it’s physiology. When we stop fighting our body and allow rest, recovery is faster, symptoms are shorter, and our energy restores in the way it’s meant to.

When you or your child is unwell, the priority is simple:

Pause. Rest. Sleep. Reset.

Your routine will be there when you’re better.

Your body needs you now.