Colds, Flu's, Bug's
ICK ICK ICK, boogers and snot galore thats what has been in our house since the first snow!
So what are we to do about it? Every year we deal with this with our kids you would think we would have gotten it straight by now. Right? Nope..
Unless you never leave your house ever I think it's going to happen one way or another because germs are out there everywhere and not enough people are staying home when they are sick, unfortunately.
So what can we do to help prevent ourselves and our kids from getting sick?
- Hand Sanitizer/ Wash you hands.
- Netti pot/ Clean your nose
- Take Vitamins
- Purfify your home
- Stay home/ get rest.
How many times did you wash your hands today?
If you can remember how many times, then you haven't washed enough. haha, Well its true, we all simply do not wash our hands enough during the day. Which is why it is the number one reason kids get sick so easily. They put their hands on EVERYTHING! Then they put their hands right in their mouths. Try adding food coloring to the soap or buying foaming soap to make hand washing more interesting for the the kids. If you have senstive skin and hand washing wrecks havoc on your skin, try keeping some moisturizer next to the sinks you have in your house, also try buying soap with moisturizers in it.
Did you ever hear your grandma ask if you were keeping your nose clean?
It may sound strange but the nasal passages come equipped with tiny, hair-like structures called cilia, which beat back and forth to catch dirt, bacteria, viruses, and other unwelcome substances. The cilia beat and the mucus acts kind of like flypaper, catching spores and particles you inhale. Those particles get pushed down to the back of the throat, where they are swallowed and destroyed by stomach acid. But some mucus gets trapped or is too thick to make its way so thats where using nasal saline spray or a netti pot can help clear the passages, before the bacteria has time to grow and cause infections in the ear, nose or throat.
Are you getting the recommended Daily Value of Vitamins?
In the winter, most of us are not getting enough vitamins which causes, dry skin, dehydration, fatigue and a weaken immune system. By drinking more water (6-8- fluid oz daily), milk, pure fruit juices, and fresh fruits & veggies you will be getting your daily recommended amount of calcium, vitamin D, & A. Some other helpful vitamin supplements that can help boost your immune system would be zinc, vitamin b-12 and elderberry. It is best to ask your doctor and pediatrician before adding any supplements to your daily regimin just to be sure they are right for you and/ or your child.
Add Purifying Plants to your Home.
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There are several indoor plants you can buy (at home depot, lowes, even the grocery store) that have air purifying & oxygenating qualities. This is good to have in many rooms in your home to help rid the indoor air of toxins and help add oxygen to the air, and some even add humidity to the air which can help our bodies in the cold, dry, winter.
Here are a few indoor plants that you can look for: Areca Palm, Baby Rubber Plant or Peperomia obtusifolia, Ficus robusta, Bamboo Palm or Reed Palm, Chinese Evergreen, Corn Cane or Mass Cane, English Ivy, Ficus alii, Gerbera Daisy, Golden Pothos.
You can read more about each plant here:
Finally, the easiest way to preventing collecting germs and illnesses is to stay home when possible, but when you can't, try and avoid the 8 most common places to get in contact with bad germs are:
- Restaraunt Menu's
- Lemon wedges (dont ask for lemon in your water, because the surface most places are cutting them are not clean)
- Ketchup Bottles
- Bathroom Soap Dispensers
- Bathroom Door Handle (uses a paper towel to open the door)
- Airplane bathrooms (try to avoid using them, go before you get on the plane)
- Grocery Store Carts (always wipe them down before using them)
- The Drs Office (If your child isnt sick dont take them to the clinic if at all possible, If for a well check ask if you can wait in a room right away instead of in the lobby with all the sick kids)
Resources:
While I agree that we need to practice good hygiene, at the same time I think we should expect that our kids are going to get sick. And I think it is actually a good thing--a lot of illnesses are less serious when you get them as a kid. Sometimes I think we go overboard with the cleanliness and our kids don't get the exposure to germs that they need for a healthy immune system.
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