Flu season is starting, and that means lots of germs floating around. Babies are particularly susceptible to the flu while their immune systems are developing.
Although every child will be exposed to some germs and sickness, there’s a lot you can do to minimize it. We gathered a few top tips from pediatricians to help you avoid as many of those nasty flu germs as possible.
- Disinfect regularly. Germs like to hide out and grow on everything from bottles to cribs. You can disinfect without toxic chemicals by using a little bit of vinegar diluted with water.
- Find out how your daycare fights illness. Talk to your daycare provider to find out what their policies and procedures are for managing and minimizing sickness.
- Wash your hands. Hands touch everything from grocery cart handles to office coffee pots, where germs love to reside. If you wash your hands frequently, you’ll get rid of a lot of potential flu germs. You can also teach your little one to wash his or hands regularly.
- Don’t share. There are many varieties of flu, which change and mutate each season. You may have some immunity to one of this season’s strains and not realize you are harboring flu germs. It’s best to not to share straws, cups, and other items that go into the mouth.
- Teach little ones to keep their hands away from their faces. It’s a tough thing to teach, but keep working on helping your tot learn to keep his or her hands away from the face. Most people, kids and adults alike, catch the flu from this habit.
Kids often seem like germ magnets, but these tips will help you fight as many sick germs as possible!