What do you mamas do to keep yourself and your kids well now that school has started back? My oldest started school today, and my husband and I are both just waiting for her to get sick and bring it home to us. Last fall we all had strep throat, one right after the other, the kids had bronchitis, and we all battled sinus infections. It was a rough Sept-Dec. for our family. We wash our hands constantly and don't eat/drink after others. Looking for some more good tips to keep us well (or less sick) than last year! Thanks ladies!
We supplement with Vitamin D. If we feel any kind of symptoms of anything, we take super doses of it and that works wonders.
Eat a well balanced diet that has little to no sugar in it and get lots of exercise. I know that sounds dumb, but nothing helps me stay well better than doing those two things.
We have the kids wash up and change clothes as soon as they come home - esp during cold and flu season! They have "playclothes" and "lounge wear" they change into. The lounge wear is yoga pants, comfy sweats, etc that they are presentable enough to go out in or if we stay IN then they can sleep in it too.
We remind our kids that they are their own first line of defense. That means wash hands every chance they get, if they can't, use hand sanitizer (our kids can keep it in their desks or attached to their backpacks at school) and KEEP THEIR HANDS OFF THEIR FACES!
We've explained that germs on your hands aren't harmful, it's giving them a way in that causes the illnesses...fingers in the mouth to wiggle a tooth, picking your nose, not washing your hands before you touch your food or a snack, etc.
It may sound harsh but even in our own family we don't share food, drinks, or let sick people be around everyone else. If someone is home sick, they can be in their room or the family room and that's it. Everyone else either watches movies in the basement, uses the kitchen table for homework, etc. but they do not spent time (much) with a sick person. We let them get their rest and get healthy. We've explained it's not that we don't like them, but we NEED to keep some distance to keep other people from feeling as awful as they do.
We had a sick infant at home and the bigger kids coming home with "cooties" was overwhelming. Luckily, changing clothes and having them wash BEFORE they said hello to me or the baby really helped.
The single biggest thing we do is wash hands, not just a lot but regularly and make a good habit. At my daughter's preschool, they had a rule about washing hands when entering the classroom (and before eating or after potty, of course). We started a rule at home - the second we all come in the door, we all wash our hands. I think it has helped a lot. Additionally, my kids are really good about soap and making bubbles with it for a long enough period of time (we sing the happy birthday song).
Also, I teach that we sneeze and cough into elbows and blow noses with tissues and wash hands afterward.
My kids get lots of sleep and eat well ususally. During the school year, I give them a multivitamin and omega 3 supplements.
