How Do You Keep Your Kids from Getting Sick ? Preventative Recommendations?

We do well with Sambuccus supplements, you can get them at most health stores, or Walgreens sells a brand called Sambucol. It's a fruity liquid, so my son doesn't mind taking it, and it seems to help his immune system. Good luck!

I think that's just about it.

With my son, a biggie has been reminding him ONLY to use hand sanitizer when soap and water are NOT available.

Beyond that, getting plenty of rest and dressing appropriately for the weather. Washing bedding regularly and making a nice bath part of evening routine :)

I would add eating healthy whole foods to the mix. We also incorporate fish oil, vitamin C and organic raw unprocessed honey (local is best). Local honey is supposed to help with allergies too.

There is not much more you can do.

My oldest(my only school one right now)had a cold for the first three months of Pre-k.

He grew outta always being sick fast.

You can always bump up the Probiotics intake just a bit more...Maybe give them extra with beverage at dinner.

Make sure they are getting enough Vit. D 3...It will help aid their immune systems too..You can get it in Liquid form and childrens strength at most Health Food stores.

I had to ''Train'' my kids not to put hands in their months...and to always make sure hands are clean before eating with them.....Nothing grosses me out more then people eating with dirty hands!!

I am a germ nut at my house though..So, some would maybe say I am a little extreme about it sometimes. I just think germs are nasty:)

BATHS everyday. My son is almost 4.5 years old and has YET to be sick. He did get a staph infection within a week of starting school but other than that he hasn't missed any school.

Making sure they are getting enough SLEEP is probably the EASIEST thing to do and the most natural.

Good luck.

The problem is that our immune systems are so compromised because, no matter what we eat, the food is so nutrient-deficient because of pollution, mechanized farming techniques, quick-grow fertilizers, and so on. Things like handwashing and probiotics can help, but they aren't comprehensive enough. Single nutrients aren't absorbed well or don't function because they don't have all the "partner" nutrients they need. Your liquid vitamins are on the right track in that they are liquid, but they probably don't have everything they need (minerals, trace elements, phytonutrients, etc.) If they have a warning label ("keep out of reach of children") then you might want to re-think that. We are not meant to get our nutrition in a piecemeal fashion. We've used the Reliv products for almost 4 years and just don't get sick. I heard about them from a phys ed professional when my son was extremely ill - it was great because the distributor was trained to help us get the right results. He had put his very ill toddler on the Reliv kids' product 4 years earlier, and that child went from pneumonia most of the winter to rarely getting a sniffle. He's now 8 and I don't think has missed a day of school yet. Their 2nd child was nourished prenatally and had the thickest umbilical cord the doctor had ever seen. My husband and I take the adult product and have had extraordinary results - far more than on any other supplement we had taken for the previous 20 years. I've since been trained as a consultant and help all kinds of people - including many at a distance. I'd be happy to talk to you in more depth if you like to see if this is for you.

My son's not in school, but when we make plans to be around other kids (the local bouncy house, the nursery at church) I give him an extra boost of vitamin C with his breakfast. The supplement I give him is 250mg or 625% of his recommended daily value of Vitamin C. It might not always work, but MIL who buys this for me (and sells this and other vitamins to others) says that it gives his immune system a boost/prepares it to conquer anything that my son might catch.

I haven't read the responses yet, but honestly you are doing very well to help your child prevent illness, but you might not want to try to prevent them all. I am not saying that you want your kids to be sick, no one wants to see their little ones uncomfortable, but studies have shown that kids who get sick more often as children will be sick less often as adults. Keep doing what you are doing, but don't try to make them never ever feel ill.

we don't get sick (kids or adults). fruits and vegetables are key - 6 to 8 servings per day (and I'm inconsistent on organic - most isn't). And I did an experiment, so I know that's our "secret".

the experiment: I love my in-laws but it's all processed food in their house, particularly when Grandma is spoiling the kids. and it seemed the only time the kids were sick was right after being at their house. for the first few years I thought it was just stress, lack of sleep, long car trip each way, etc. a few years back, I decided to do an experiment where I hovered just enough at each meal time to make sure they ate one fruit or vegetable each time they sat down (I try to give the grandparents free rein - they only see them 3 times per year). It was the first time ever we weren't sick after spending time at their house. so now, I insist on fruits and vegetables (and then grandma gives them all the junk food) and we aren't sick after visiting them anymore!

That's really about it. I'm inconsistent on washing hands (although I try to make sure after touching things like shopping carts, play structures, etc). I insist on using the Netti pot for everybody if someone seems like they might be coming down with something or there's something going around school and the netti will stop it overnight. either we have great immune systems or the micronutrients in fruits and vegetables are the key because my son has a well child next month and I will be signing a the privacy form when we go in - he hasn't been in since the last well child! this is pretty typical - we have maybe two visits per year per kid (and this has been typical since about 3 years old for each kid). we don't do vitamins or any other supplements - I don't think they're worth the money because our bodies have a hard time processing nutrients when they're not part of food.

good diet, lots of outside time, and regular sleep routines - it's really all our bodies need.

My children usually don't get sick during the winter because I homeschool and they are mostly at home. During the summer, when they're playing sports, outside with friends, etc, they get sick. Whenever there's a sick baby in the church nursery, my baby gets sick. It's all about contact, contact, contact, so I would take a preventative stance based on that.

Starting in October, I use vitamin D drops, a whole food multivitamin (I recommend Shaklee), and Juice Plus. My kids were hardly sick last year and not at all over the summer!

When my sister and I were growing up, we were at home till kindergarten, and then we got sick with almost everything going around for about 2 years.
When my son started day care at 3 months old, he got sick a lot for about 2 years.
It seems like initial sustained contact with a new public site of germs (daycare, school, etc) will take a certain amount of time for an immune system to ramp up, but once that period has passed, you get sick maybe once or twice a year.
Moving and/or changing schools, traveling, etc will see an increase in colds, and new teachers, nurses and doctors initially get sick a lot before things settle down again.
We had a desk top support guy who use to get awfully sick when ever he had to go around loading/upgrading software on everyone's computers.
Besides washing hands, sneezing into elbows and good nutrition, wipe down surfaces that get touched a lot - phones, keyboards, door knobs, remote controls, game controls, etc.

We see a chiropractor for adjustments at least once a week. We also don't bathe every night since it does tend to dry out your skin. I try and avoid certain foods like grains, hfcs and excess amounts of sugar.

I always make mine wash hands right after school, after coming home from a public place, etc. And before eating. Send a little bottle of hand sanitizer in their lunch box or to keep in their cubby/locker. The schools here never allow them to wash their hands before lunch. One thing I have noticed with friends & neighbors, whose kids are sick often, is that they let them share food/drinks/utensils. I know it can save money to buy one large drink & let everyone use the same straw, but I have never done that, and we are not sick at our house anywhere near as much as the people I know who share everything. I have never used any kind of food supplement or vitamins with kids. I do try to make sure we eat foods high in vitamin C in the winter as I have a daughter who has never liked orange juice or other citrus drinks. Getting the flu shot/mist can help some too. Good Luck! Unfortunately that season is upon us.

my son used to get sick all the time, his almost four now. I tried probiotics and it didn't help. I tried vitiams and probiotics and that didn't help. I was carrying cleaning wipes with me so whevever we went shopping I could wipe the cart down before we even got in it. nothing worked. I started to just wash my hands with regular soap and have my son wash his hands with regular soap everytime we can in the house and before every meal. Once a week I take lysol and spray every light switch, door handle and phone. I've been doing this since March and no one has gotten sick in the house. So many of the illiness out there are just airborne and there is not much you can do. I make sure we eat right, get a little exercise each day and get plenty of rest. I am totally old school. good luck everyone with keeping the kids and yourself healthy this fall/winter

Well, I think you're doing it. I would add, a good diet to your list, plenty of water and sleep. Otherwise, kids just get sick when they are around other kids... my kids (now 6 & 7) get sick every once in a while and when they do it's usually a mild version, lasting about half the time of what other kids get. I just attribute it to them being a little older and having built their immune system through exposure.

Make your home a safer place by using organic cleaners.
Limit sweets or too much sugar ( including too much fruit juice)
Sugar breaks down the immune system.
I hope that morning milk is organic. The Milk on the shelves today has growth hormones, anit-biotics and milk makes mucus. Try some differnt alternatives like coconut, soy, almond ( found in the dairy seciont) BE sure that these grain beverages are NON-GMO on the label.
My kids were constantly sick, and met someone who intorduced me to a "natural: vitamin and a company with a stellar reputation. It was giving them a better,product that made the difference.
We don't use any anti-bacterial stuff in our home. It also absorbs into the body. Good ole soap and water does just fine, with no side effects.
I started asking the question to myself..... Will this build their immune system or harm it? I knew the right way to go when I answered the qustion.
A strong, healthy immune system will fight off virus and bacteria.
I have a plethora of information, let me know if you'd like more.

My hubby's pre-med and when shadowing a doctor he noticed that they NEVER touch their faces. If they have an itchy nose, etc., they'll rub their nose on their sleeve to scratch it. The eyes/nose/mouth mucus membranes are the gateways for germs to enter our bodies, so by not touching them, it hugely cuts down on sickness. And of course they wash their hands. I think it's a hard habit to build, but is probably the most effective.

Hand washing & not touching the face, or sharing food or drink. It's hard to have a kid do all of that, though.

My kids are pretty healthy. I don't over sanitize and i try to avoid the antibacterial cleaners. I let my kids play in the dirt and don't run for the soap and water then minute they get dirty. I think this has helped boost their immune systems and also has allowed the good bacteria in and on them remain exactly where it should be. I have them wash hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and encourage them to keep their hands out of their mouths. We eat healthy foods and drink lots of water.

I have a friend who uses antibacterial cleaners and santitizers for her kids all the time and they get everything that comes around.

I make sure my kids get outside often. It boosts their Vitamin D levels to naturally boost their immune system. Teach them to wash their hands thoroughly (between fingers, under fingernails, backs of hands) and often. Teach them to cover their coughs and sneezes. Make sure they get adequate sleep. Wipe down the grocery cart with sanitizer wipes if you have a little one. For kids who never get sick, I don't think there's anything really special they do. Some people just naturally have stronger immune systems. It's really just limiting immune stressors (lack of sleep, exposure to cold, stressful schedule) and limiting exposure. Hope you have a healthy school year!

My kids don't get sick very often and if they do, it doesn't last. I give them good vitamins from Melaleuca that absorb well and keep them healthy, they drink plenty, bathe daily, eat healthy. I also get them Airborne or EmergenC regularly especially during flu season. If they start getting sick, I make them homemade chicken soup with fresh garlic. that helps TONS!! I make sure they wash their hands and change clothes during flu season and they go to church or something. During the swine flu scare, I was pregnant and couldn't take anything. I gargled with salt water and swabbed my nose out with salt water and made sure I took my prenatals. That year I gave my kids the Airborne daily and made sure they washed their hands/ changed clothes etc. That swine flue season was the one year that NONE of us got sick. Not even a sniffle!

My kids almost never get sick and we do nothing special. They get the 24 hour thing every once in awhile but it usually only last 12 and they are bouncing back. My youngest has ear issues but that is more of a family thing than school since he was home with me for his first 18 months.

My kids are 15, almost 12 and almost 9. They have NEVER gotten a flu shot, and I stopped immunizations about 4 years ago. My husband and I haven't had the flu shot either in over 20 years and have not had the flu since. My kids also take a daily multivitamin and omega 3's. we only use hand sanitizer after we leave a store or public place (park for example), I keep a pump sanitizer in the van. My 12 yo had perfect attendance from kindergarten until the last month of 4th grade and then she just had a head cold. I don't know *why* my kids don't really get sick since we are not really overly "healthy". Maybe that's why, we just don't try too hard! =)

I agree completely with Beth.
I gave my boys Shaklee vitamins. And we keep the Defend and Resist on hand as well as the Formula I. If they did start to catch something, those will knock it our right away. (Liquid vitamins start to oxidize as soon as you open the bottle, if not before.)
I also fed them healthful, balanced meals.