Surviving Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease: Our Week of Tears, Baths, and Tiny Bumps

This week has been one of those weeks I won’t forget anytime soon. My little baby came down with hand, foot, and mouth disease, and just a couple of days later, I found myself dealing with it too.

Not only was it annoying and exhausting—it was heartbreaking. Watching my baby cry for hours, just trying to fall asleep because the little bumps were everywhere…it tore at me. There’s nothing worse than feeling helpless while your child is in discomfort.

Keeping Cabin Fever at Bay

When I found out my little one had been exposed to hand, foot, and mouth disease, we immediately went into lockdown mode—no playdates, no visits, no extra outings. It took about five days for symptoms to appear, and then we had to ride out another seven days to get past the contagious phase.

Being cooped up for nearly two weeks with a sick baby can feel like cabin fever central, so I wanted to make the time a little more fun and engaging. I put together a little toy kit to help pass the days:

• An electronic drawing pad for creative doodling - very easy to clean!

• A set of STEM toys to keep little hands busy and curious - this farm animal set is so cute!

• A busy book to make reading feel like a special event - Kept him busy for a while!

Even small distractions like these helped break up the monotony and gave both of us something to look forward to each day. It wasn’t just about keeping him entertained—it was about making a stressful situation a little lighter for both of us.

How We Helped the Symptoms

Since hand, foot, and mouth disease is caused by a virus, there’s no medicine to cure it—treatment is all about helping with the symptoms and keeping your little one comfortable while their body fights it off. We tried everything to make him comfortable:

• Ibuprofen every 6 hours helped tremendously with the fever and the pain from mouth sores. Some parents alternate ibuprofen and acetaminophen (Tylenol) to keep the fever down—it’s worth asking your pediatrician if that’s right for your child.

• Oat and baking soda baths were a lifesaver for the itchy rashes. I bought pre-made packs like Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment, but I also made my own by blending oats into a fine powder and adding a little baking soda. My baby seemed to relax so much in the warm bath.

• Soft foods and hydration were key. Yogurt, applesauce, smoothies, and mashed potatoes went down easier than anything crunchy or acidic.

• Loose, soft clothing – Cotton pajamas or soft clothes prevent rubbing against rashes. I found that covering his arms and legs helped so much—it kept the blisters from getting rubbed or irritated and stopped him from constantly trying to touch them!

Preventing the Spread (Because It’s Highly Contagious)

• We washed our hands constantly. Even when I felt like I’d scrubbed enough, I scrubbed again.

• Germ-x was in high-traffic areas. We went through two full bottles!

• Towels, cups, and utensils were separated.

• Surfaces were disinfected daily: counters, doorknobs, toys.

• Close contact was inevitable—I cuddled my baby constantly—but I made sure to wash my hands after each cuddle and change clothes if needed.

Watching my baby go through HFMD was heart-wrenching, and being sick myself made it even harder—but a few small tricks made the week manageable. If you’re going through this, know you’re not alone. These bumps and tears are temporary, and you’ll get through them one bath, one cuddle, one nap at a time.