Tips for Helping Your Kids Beat The Cold and Flu Season
Okay, so it has been a crazy week for my family! My daughter, Kaitlyn caught the flu this week, waking us up in the middle of the night with a raging 102.5 degree fever. Every mother knows that this is one of those times that no matter how tired you are you jump out of bed and operate on adrenaline. We did all the normal things to try to get her fever down but it just kept climbing.
Within eight hours she had a fever of 104.7 and was admitted to the emergency room for severe dehydration. They gave her IV fluids to rehydrate her body and help get her fever down… all of which thankfully did their job. Today she is running around like a normal, happy three year old… with little side effects of her scary flu bug.
The day was not as carefree for me though… because while she was feeling better I was working to keep the bug from spreading to other family members. Here are a few tips that I have picked up over the years of taking care of sick kids…
♦ After they are sick… buy them a new toothbrush.
♦ Strip down all bedding that they were in and wash it.
♦ Wash all toys, dolls, and stuffed animals to get rid of germs that can cling to them.
♦ Spray down areas with disinfectant where your sick child has been to ensure all germs are gone.
This is how I spent most of my day today… trying to keep the rest of my family healthy by doing these easy things. However, I wanted to share with you some ideas that experts say will help you and your family from contracting the flu bug at all this season.
♦ Wash your hands! Teach kids to wash hands often and to lather for at least 30 seconds, a good way to teach this is to have them sing their ABC’s while washing. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you wash your hands at least once an hour, especially after coming into contact with items that could easily contain germs such as door knobs, elevator buttons, stair railings, faucet handles, etc…
♦ Cover your mouth! Teach kids to cough and sneeze into their elbow or a Kleenex… not their hands according to the American Academy of Pediatrics this will keep them from getting germs all over their hands and spreading them easier.
♦ Teach children to not touch their nose, eyes, or mouths… they normally contain more germs. Carry hand sanitizer with you and your children. Pack it in their backpacks and remind them to use it frequently.
♦ Talk to your doctor about possibly getting a flu vaccine this season to prevent illness, your doctor will tell you if you and your children are eligible.
♦ Remember to keep your kids and yourself home if you are sick… this will keep them from infecting others.
♦ Keep your kids hydrated, it helps them ward of infections better and recover if they do get sick.
Cold and flu symptoms are the number one reason that kids miss school and parents miss work during this time of the year… so do your best to prevent it. I hope that these tips will help you and your family stay healthier this fall and winter.
If you've enjoyed reading this post then please subscribe to our Full Text RSS Feed. And if you just can't get enough of us, feel free to follow LittleStarZone on Twitter or join the Facebook group "Fans of littlestarzone.com".
