How To Keep From Getting Your Kids Cold/Flu

You have to admit it, children are germ factories. The younger they are the more they seem to bring home with them. Not only do they come home from school with nasty little buggers like lice, but they can also come home with some nasty colds and flu viruses, and if you’re not smart you’ll quickly get sick too.

It’s important to make sure that your kids are getting vaccinated on schedule, and that means getting a yearly flu vaccination as well. For school-aged children or little ones that spend time in daycare, you should probably make sure you’re getting your flu shot as well. It may only protect from two strains of the virus, and you might still get the flu, but it’s worth the extra ounce of protection.

Wash Your Hands Often

One of the biggest keys to preventing the spread of germs is the simple act of washing your hands, often. If you touch something someone that is sick touched you need to wash your hands. If you sneeze or cough on your hands, wash them.

There are times when hand washing isn’t convenient, and in those times it can be important to have some hand sanitizer around. Keep a bottle by your bed, one in your car, and even one at your desk at work (or at home).

Teach Them The Proper Way To Cough/Sneeze

You can help your children prevent the spread of germs and viruses by teaching them the safe way to cough or sneeze. If they don’t have a tissue on hand they should cough into their elbow. This helps keep down the spread of germs some. You can keep hand sanitizer in their room as well so if they do forget and sneeze in their hands that can quickly get those germs under control.

Obviously, these are things best taught to children of a certain age. As soon as your child is old enough to talk you can teach them how to cough into their arm instead of their hands, and if you start with this instead of just the old, “cover your mouth,” you’ll be on track to having a healthier child. You may want to hold off on hand sanitizers in the room until they are old enough to understand it’s not something they should eat. Also, as a parent, to safeguard your child’s health at all times, you can keep some medications and moisturizing sprays (check out https://serp.co/archive/moisturizing-sprays/ here) near you at all times. This way, you can be prepared to deal with any kind of emergency situation.

Try A Face Mask

If your kid comes home from school with a cold or virus, don’t be afraid to put on one of those paper face masks. You can wear one or have them wear it (if you have them in kids sizes). Either way, it will help you avoid the germs and hopefully not get sick.

Even if you’re a stay-at-home parent you still don’t want to get sick. It can be difficult to take care of kids when you’re fighting a fever, coughing, or running to the bathroom often.