Did you know that the peak of the flu and cold season is upon us? Yes, it is true! January is the peak of flu and cold season and with a little more than five weeks before Spring, we have a long way to go still. As a mom of three very active and busy kiddos, I dread when our children get sick, even if it is just a runny nose. Not only do they not sleep or eat well, but our whole routine goes out the window and not to mention, missing school. During this season my mission is to prevent the spread of the cold and flu virus in our household, be prepared in case they do get sick and to avoid complications for it. Of course, this doesn’t mean that they will not get sick; therefore, my motto is: prevention, prevention, prevention…
Prevention starts at home and we make sure to teach that to the kids. We make a strong point that they must wash their hand thoroughly every time before meals and to cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze using a tissue. We also encourage them to get plenty of sleep and to eat plenty of fruit and veggies. Of course as any good mommy knows, we must also prepare for when they catch those pesky bugs. My Mommy survival supply kit consist of essential components, among them as illustrated in the graphic above:
- Double checking our thermometers are in working order.
- Stock up on extra soft tissues.
- Stock up on soap and/or hand sanitizers.
- Keep plenty of vitamin D supplements. (According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should take at least 400 IU of vitamin D a day, an amount found in most children’s multivitamins.)
- Keep cozy blankets ready.
- Stock up on PediaCare products.
- And lots and lots of mommy’s TLC! 🙂
Right now you can print this $1 off coupon print this PediaCare’s Cough & Runny Nose plus Acetaminophen coupon and purchase it at your local Dollar General store. Click here to download the PediaCare® dosage chart, which helps you match your child’s symptoms with one of our products. When using the chart, it’s best to weigh your child first to determine proper dosing of PediaCare® products. If weight is not known, use age.
Activities for Kids to do During Sick Days
Even with all the precautions we can take, sometimes the unavoidable occurs and the kids do get sick. This is where as moms, we tend to keep an eye out, because although it’s normal to have 3 days of fever in the beginning of a cold.
If the fever lasts any longer than 4 days or returns later, it could signal a bacterial infection. Once they are sick we find activities for the kids to do during their sick days. Since they might be feeling un-energitic, we tend to do things as they want. For example:
- Since they love coloring, we might encourage them to color.
- Play video games, easy ones, nothing too involving.
- Read books or go through the family photo book and remember fun times from our family vacations.
- If the weather outside is nice, we might even take a quick walk around the neighborhood. The change of scenery might help them feel better.
- A movie on the DVR or a new DVD will help me lift up their spirit and feeling better faster.
- If everything else fails, a lot of cuddling with mom always makes anyone feel better.
Disclosure: This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Pediacare and Latina Bloggers Connect.