Congrats to our winner Alek!
Last week I shared how to beat the sick blues and I loved all your comments. Thank you for sharing all your best mom tips! Having sick kids really is the worst. Luckily there are several things we can do to make the time go better for everyone. I listed some of our favorite things in my last post, but one thing I forgot to mention was baking. This isn’t an activity we would do if they had a stomach bug, but if they have a cold or cough it really helps to pass the time by and keep their mind off of being sick. Of course I wash their hands EXTRA good and we don’t deliver the baked goods that day. The best recipe I have found to make with my kids, is jello cookies. You can use the dough as play dough and the kids have a blast! The kids love to cut out shapes and this activity keeps them entertained for hours. It’s a lot of fun! Give it a try! 
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Coupon
Mucinex is offering a $2 off coupon here so you can try it for yourself!
Giveaway
Enter to win a $100 CVS gift card. To enter leave a comment telling me: Do you bake with your kids when they are under the weather?
Rules
No duplicate comments. You may receive 1 total entry by leaving a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 3/6/2013 – 3/31/2013.
Be sure to visit the Children’s Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers reviews and find more chances to win!
Maureen
What a cute idea Jello comes in all sorts of colors. :)
Mami2jcn
I haven’t baked with my kids yet, but it sounds like a neat idea!
Angela
We bake all the time, sick or healthy! It always helps!
Diana
I bake with my kids all the time, but when they are sick, I usually do the cooking. :)
Tanya
I’ll have to try this! I have a house full of sick kids and I think they could use some entertainment. Thanks for the idea!
Meggan Hayes
I usually forgo baking with my kids when they are sick and spend the day on the couch with some blankets and tea. But, when the kids are well we bake together often!
Leslie Moore
Not yet, but this recipe looks like the perfect one to start with!
Barbara
What a great recipe and activity at the same time! I haven’t baked with my daughter on a sick day yet, but will give it a try with the Jello Cookie Dough next time. Thanks for the tip.
Karyn
I usually don’t bake or cook with them when they are sick but I like the idea of letting them play with some play dough (especially homemade as it can be thrown away after use). Thanks for the great idea!
Brandy H
We bake all the time, they seem less into it when they aren’t feeling well. My oldest is home sick today, two are off to school and the youngest is always home. Wish I could use this recipe but it’s got butter and my son is so allergic to milk, we’d land right in the ER with an anaphylactic reaction. :( Might just make it myself since I”m trapped at home now!!
Karen
No kids yet, but when I am under the weather I usually do not want to leave my bed. I will accept any baked goods friends feel like sharing :)
Susan
I don’t bake with my kids when they are sick, I give lots of extra cuddles and always put the wet rag on their head.
marybeth i
I found that they usually are not up for baking. We will watch movies, read or play video games
Cassie
We don’t normally bake together when the kids are sick. We spend most of the time just sitting on the couch cuddling.
Storm Buxton
Yes, we love to bake. One of our favorite times to bake is when it is cold outside. A fun indoor activity for us.
Meghan
It depends on how sick they are…my 6yo loves to bake cookies & cakes…don’t tell we do a lot of baking when he’s not sick :)
Heather
When my kids are sick, I’ usually the one doing the baking and such. They are just laying around. Maybe I should try involving them.
Lyssa
Not yet – mine are too little but that is certainly a great idea!
Christin
I haven’t before but it’s a good idea. We usually snuggle a lot in front of the tv!
Jessica
Sure! If they’re up for it!
Meryl W.
Not at my house, I’m an RN and just can’t do that…too much sharing of germs, and there are germs that can survive baking. I do bring out bubbles and play-do though…and have a new coloring book waiting for sick days.
Sandy Speed
I have baked with my son when he was under the weather. Baking made the day go by faster, occupied his time so he didn’t wallow in feeling icky, and if he was contagious with something, I baked stuff for everyone and he made stuff that only he could eat, that way no one was left out or exposed to something yucky. Baking just naturally makes a kid feel better somtimes.
Misty O'Brien
Not usually. when my kiddos are down and out they dont want to do much else than sleep.
Sabrina
No we haven’t when sick but we may have to try it. Cute idea!
Ashley O.
It depends how sick they are… if other people in the family are going to eating what they are helping me make I wouldn’t want the other siblings to get sick. I do think baking is fun for the whole family!
Corey
My nephew and niece love baking! It makes them a little happier when there under the weather and they throw on their aprons and get delicious treats!
Desiree B
i let them pick a treat but i cook it
Selena
Fun!!!! My Livvy would love to make that! :-)
Lisa
I wish I was a baker, but their daddy is and they love the mixing and watching the cake rise in the oven. It’s magical for me to see them bonding this way with their daddy!
brandy
I haven’t yet. My son loves to help bake, though, so it may help on sick days!
Vickie Heydenreich
We ALWAYS bake…sickies or no sickies…we are always on the lookout for something new to try!!!
Cynthia Gonzalez
Yes, love making brownies and cookies with them.
Celina
I actually have both kids home sick with me today. And it’s pretty much been a cuddling on the couch day. I’m not much of a baker – but I do love to cook and the kids do help. Even my 17 month old can wash veggies and stir ingredients. We make cards when family and friends are sick . . . maybe they’ll have to be delivered with some jello play dough! (perfect for adults too!)
Dana
I’ve got a sick one right now and I made him banana chocolate chip muffins, but he did not help. Yikes, snot would be everywhere!
Angel
Too sick & they just want to lay around so I’ll do the baking. This is a cool idea though!
Kelly at Smart School House
When they start to feel a little better, baking is always such a fun idea! It puts a smile back on their face and has just enough movement to get their minds off of feeling terrible (without over doing it)!
Lisa Criswell
I usually bake FOR my kids when they are sick…they stay cozy in bed.
jodi a
I don’t usually bake with them when they are sick, but I try to do it often when they are well
KtCallista
I don’t think I ever considered baking with sick kids. There are days when their energy levels, despite being contagious or otherwise ill have been a bit much, but baking wasn’t one of the things I considered. I might in the future!
Rosanna
We cuddle on the couch when sick but baking sounds a lot more fun!
Lisa
We love to bake together but not when they are sick. I would have to throw out whatever they touched! We aim to not spread germs when we are sick. :)
meghan
Not usually when they’re sick
Heather Zeh
Not when they’re sick but any other time yes! We love baking.
Michelle
Love the jello play dough!!
Heather
In December I was resting after an early morning biopsy and I awakened to my darling girl (15) in the kitchen making jello and fruit juice pops for her 12 year old brother. He was running a fever and she put him to bed and went right to the kitchen to make things she knew he’d like! I like to bake healthy things they love while they are unwell and when they are on the mend they are my best taste testers, but they are a little bit beyond baking together to keep their minds off their sniffles I guess!
Amy C.
I wish my boys liked to bake with me!
Jayme
I do bake with them but not anything we would share. Just a small batch of cookies or a cheap box cake to have fun decorating.
Becki Wagner
When my kids are sick, they would rather I make them cookies while they are snuggled in bed with cartoons on.
Tammy C
Soup. Warm cookies with a cup of hot tea!
Krystal V
Nope. We tend to just do movie feast and cuddle.
jenn
if they were contagious no. If they were just under the weather yes :)
Hope
Not when sick , if they are home from school sick they are SICK , but we bake all the time , my 14 year old is quite the pastry chef..
Emali
I agree with baking, sick or not!!
Heather
I love this idea! Yes, once my kids start to feel better, we bake and cook together… From homemade soup to cookies or cupcakes!
Julie
My little one is just 11 months old. This post inspired me to bake today…and it is Mommy who is sick today!!!!
:)
Rachel @ BubblyNatureCreations.com
I love this idea! If they are up for it we surely do!
Katherine
I don’t bake with the kids when they are sick, but they are in the kitchen when healthy
Kel White
I always try to get my daughter to help with dinner or just making something in the kitchen. One is a great bonding interaction and two its helps her with Math-science you name it.
Liza
I don’t bake with the kiddies when they’re home sick, only because when they’re home they’re totally out of it. I will bake for them though :)
Amy McBrien
My son was sick with pneumonia for the 2 weeks prior to Christmas and I had already stocked up for Christmas baking! Ended up making butter and ricotta cheese to use the cream and milk that didn’t get made into treats! He loved watching the butter in my stand mixer!!
Jennifer C
I bake with my daughter sometimes when she is sick, but I usually end up doing all the work! That’s ok though as long as it helps her feel better.
Holly
When the kiddos are sick I usually bake and they cuddle up to a movie! We do bake a lot together though when everyone is feeling healthy! ; )
Heather Bansemer
I do bake and cook with my children when they are under the weather. However, if there’s a fever, or worse (vomiting) they are kept lying down and resting. I have found that when they take part in making something healthy when they’re not feeling their best, they’re more likely to consume it, or play with it – as is the case with your post.
Chenoa Sowa
I love baking with my kiddo anytime. Many times, when he’s just starting to feel better (and regaining his appetite) we head to the kitchen together and make just what sounds good!
shaneil
I don’t bake with my kids but I do bake for them
Jenni
I don’t have kids but I remember my mom taking me into the kit hen and letting me help her bake and cook. Today I’m 23 and a pretty good cook and baker if I do say so myself and I have my mom to thank for my passion to cook. I think that etching your kids to cook helps keep the away from unhealthy fast food stores and can be a great bonding moment between parents and kids, I know my mom is my best friend!
Carolyn
I don’t have kids, but when I am sick, I’d love it too if someone baked for me. I think with all the germs though that I probably would save baking for another time. When we got sick as kids, one thing that my Mom always made for us is what we called drinking jello. You just use the jello mix and instead of cooling it down, drink it while it’s hot. It always tasted good and I”m sure the hot drink did wonders for us.
Keke Fairfax
Baking is always a pick me up.
Blair
We do not bake when the kids are feeling icky. Instead we come up with silly games to play like tupperware lid floor hockey. :)
Rachel H.
Thankfully, my boys haven’t really been sick yet. My 2.5 year old loves to help me bake, though!!
Julianne J
My kids aren’t old enough but I definitely will if they are up to it in the future.
tammigirl
I bake for them, depending on what’s wrong with them. And sometimes I bake with them. Stomach viruses need not apply. :) My cousin’s girls are sick – all three of them. I’ll have to share this idea with her.
Karen
My daughter just had her tonsils out two weeks ago and when she started feeling better (after two days) we baked Mexican Hot Chocolate Cupcakes (with cayenne)!! I told her she wouldn’t be able to eat them but she didn’t mind. She said she wanted to bake them for everyone else. They were amazing….just like her! ( wish I could share the photo. They were muy caliente e muy bien.)
Raimee Piedmonte
My 4-year-old loves helping me in the kitchen and a little cold doesn’t stop him from cooking and baking LOL snuggles help most though. Best part is watching him narrate his own cooking show for his 7-month-old brother! ;)
Megan
So fun! I’m going to try that! No we usually don’t bake. My little guy seems to be getting sick, so this is a great idea! Thanks!
Brit Kohl
Hmm, we don’t usually bake when he’s sick, unless it’s muffins. He doesn’t usually want to do anything but lay on the couch and watch movies and snuggle up with Mommy(he’s 6, so that’s about the only time I get snuggles anymore, I take them when I can get them, lol). :-)
Amy Jones
i dont but after reading this i think im going to try it. thanks fir the great ideas.
Brooke
I love to bake with my kids, but when they are sick I try to keep their germs out of the kitchen.
Afton
I never thought to bake with the wee ones when they are sick. I will have to try it! I love the jello cookie idea- but I’m not going to wait til they are sick to try it out! ;)
Sarah
I do not bake with my kids when they are sick…I am way too germ-phobic! I will make them smoothies and let them rest. They only bake with me when they are healthy and have washed their hands! ha!
Rebecca T.
Baking something that you play with is a pretty good idea, but I hold off on baking anything they or anyone else will actually eat. We bake a lot during other times, though.
Amanda Buccieri
Yes! My daughter loves to mix the dry & wet ingredients! She has her own cupcake apron & measuring cups! We also make pretend cookies with playdoh & cookie cutters :)
Jessie C.
We bake together all the time, it cheers them up especially when they’re under the weather.
Michelle P.
I don’t bake with my kids when they are sick. Our traditions are to get a new puzzle and work on it together while they are home sick.
Kristen M
My kids enjoy baking. I probably bake FOR them more than with them when they’re sick. But as long as they aren’t sneezing into the food I have no problem with them helping. :)
Erin
I am a professional baker, so there is ALWAYS something sweet being created in the kitchen, sick or not!
Linda White
No if they are sick they dont need to be up. They need to be resting and not spreading germs to other’s food by cooking. We cook and bake at other times.
HilLesha
My son loves playing with his LEGOs. :)
Elena
We didn’t bake yet, but it sounds like a good idea!
Margaret Smith
No we don’t bake together but instead read, play games or watch movies together.
Kelly D
If my kids ask me I will usually make something easy with them when they are sick- last week we made dog treats when my daughter wasn’t feeling well.
Stephanie V.
yes, we make chocolate chip cookies if not too sick
ROSE O.
My daughter is too young to bake yet but she does like to watch me bake and eat the results!
Cynthia C
Yes, I have baked with them. I just made sure their hands were impeccably clean!
Carol
I don’t bake with sick children.
Julie
Not usually- too germy, but I do make her favorite foods.
Stephanie Larison
No, I don’t want to spread the germs around.
Laura @ Casual Fridays
I have never cooked with my kids when they are under the weather. It has never even crossed my mine but maybe next time I will!
Anastasia
They’re usually TOO sick for that, but I like to bake while they’re resting up t make the house smell good, which makes them feel better :)
susan varney
no way their sick
Emily
Not while they are sick.
gina
Not usually when he is sick, he is only 2.
Aubry
I had no idea they even made children’s mucinex, awesome! Love the jello too!
janna
No.. don’t want to risk germs
Thanks! Janna JOhnson [email protected] janna@feedyourpig on gfc
linda lansford
no we do not bake
Janice
I did when they were small. Now they bake for me!
ky2here
No, sorry but I don’t want their germs in the kitchen. I draw the line there.
Misses Giveaways
no, my little one is to young
Kenny F
sometimes
Kimberly Hilbert
Absolutely not! Especially if we’re going to eat it. Besides she just lays around when she’s sick. That’s how I know the girl is sick.
ANGEL JACKLYN
NO, I USUALLY CATER TO THEM THOUGH =)
Brenda Elsner
No, I don’t bake with the kids when they are sick.
Kayla
We bake chocolate chip cookies!
Sarah L
No kids and I don’t like baking even when I’m well.
Thanks for the contest.
BusyWorkingMama
We like to cook but we’re not fans of sweets so we shy away from baking.
Kathryn C
no, i bake something FOR them- like cookies or flavored breads
cassandra
I have never done that when they are sick but maybe! I really believe in resting.
Shirley Zolenski
Depending on how she feels
Susan Smith
When my kids are sick they don’t feel like baking, they just like laying in bed and watching TV.
Gianna
Coloring.
mary j
I have never thougt about doing any baking.
heather c
I don’t bake with them, since I don’t want their germs on our food! lol