Pukefest 2011: How to avoid getting sick when the rest of the family is sick

Pukefest 2011: How to avoid getting sick when the rest of the family is sick

My 10-month-old son attends a day care three days a week, Tuesday through Thursday. For the past few months, it seems that when I pick him up on Thursday, I spend the rest of the week getting him well from the numerous things he's caught. Countless ear infections, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea, just to name a few, have plagued our household as of late. I realize this is just something he has to go through to build his immune system, but in the meantime we have to deal with countless sleepless nights, midnight baths and bed changes, not to mention trying to keep our other children and ourselves from getting sick.

The latest illness started on Friday night with my son, Myles, started spitting up a bit of his bottle. We didn't really think it was too much until it became projectile. Then all the fun started. We tried to get it localized and under control. Get Myles in the bath. Lysol spray on anything that Myles touched. Starting the laundry at 10pm. We thought we had a grip on it, but by Saturday morning, my seven year old daughter started with the stomach pains, and you know where it goes from there. It's a vicious cycle, but I wanted to do some research and create a list of things to help you (and us) keep from getting sick when the rest of the family is. And since everyone loves a top 10 list, here is mine

1.Disinfect. This goes without saying, but Lysol spray everything from door handles, sinks, toilets, anything that can be sprayed, spray. I not only use Lysol, but I also use Oust, which disinfects the air as well. I spray it in the room of the sick person (although, I wait until they're out of it).

2.Try to maintain a healthy diet. A diet rich in vitamins and minerals is going to be helpful to stave off illnesses. When in doubt, reach for the Vitamin C. I know there's mixed stories about its effectiveness, but I have found that Vitamin C works wonders for me for cold prevention.

3.Wash your hands. Using soap and water and washing your hands for at least 20 to 30 seconds can reduce your chance of catching a cold between 30 and 50 percent. You can also use hand sanitizer which kills up to 99% of germs and works in as little as 5 seconds. To really double up on the sanitizing, do both.

4.Wash your clothes in hot water during your sick week. Hot water will kill most germs and bacteria, so do yourself a favor and wash even your darks in hot water.

5.Stay home. This is a tough one for most working parents. If your child is in daycare like mine is, it is tough to have your child home when you are paying for the day. However, it is best for your child and the other children in the daycare to keep your baby home when he or she is contagious. This also includes you. If you are ill, you will do no one any good at work anyway. It is best if you stay home to get better, and lessen the chance of contaminating your work buddy (unless of course, you don't like him or her.) Get some rest and wait until you are feeling better before returning to the grind.

6.Get your immunizations. The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine, as you're first and foremost defense from the bugs that can cause influenza, as well as H1N1. So take it in the arm and save yourself a lot of time and trouble with being sick. Also, talk to your doctor about immunizations for your children and make sure they are up to date. I just read a scary story about an unvaccinated woman traveling from the UK to New Mexico and she has the measles. Everyone she came into contact with, and those who may have had secondary contact with her (like visiting places that she's visited) are now at risk of contracting measles. I don't want to get into the debate about the MMR vaccinations for children, but that's enough to scare me.

7.Be smart about using antibiotics. Antibiotics do not treat colds or the flu. Do not be flippant about taking them for something like a runny nose, because you could jeopardize your system if you do truly have a bacterial infection that needs treatment with antibiotics. When in doubt, make sure to visit your doctor.

8.Vacuum your home. By using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, you can help eliminate those nasty little germs and bacteria by trapping them in your filter instead of releasing them back into your home.

9.Dry up indoor humidity. When your house is humid, the potential for dust mites and other germs to grow increases. Buy a humidifier to help the air quality in your home.

10. Take frequent showers. I always tell my children even if they don't feel up to it to take a shower before they go to bed. This helps wash off the germs for the day, not to mention makes them more relaxed. Since you're taking a shower frequently, make sure to change the bed sheets often too. It may be obsessive, but I change the sheets of my sick children every night until they start feeling better.

Hopefully these tips can help you and your family be happier and healthier. Good Luck!

Cynthia Johnson

HappyDayBanners.com

PlantSomeHappy.com

Thinksigns.net

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