Here is some unsolicited advice. My boys were constantly sick during pre-school and Kindergarten. These are the things I am trying to make them feel better and keep the germs away. I'm no expert. These are just my opinions.
1. Humidify or vaporize. The moisture helps you breathe easier.
2. Vicks vapor rub. I had forgotten how soothing it is when you are sick. My mom always used to rub my down with Mentholatum.
3. Neti pot or saline solution. I should buy stock in Sinucleanse. I am a walking billboard for cleaning your nasal passages. Steven loves to use the neti pot, but Isaac won't, so I squeeze saline up his nose 4 times a day when he gets sick. The relief is amazing - especially if you have frequent sinus infections.
4. Warm olive oil in hurting ears. My mom tells me that my grandma did it years ago to help with earaches. It is very soothing. Just a couple drops and a cotton ball to keep it in. It will also clean out earwax buildup.
5. Gargling with salt water or Listerine. My dad used to do this and tell me to do it when I had a sore throat. I thought it was disgusting until I read an email that said it actually kills the germs that make you sick! Chris and I have been gargling with Listerine every night this month and so far no sore throats.
6. Gloves. This may seem hokey, but I'm a believer. My kids used to get sick after every Halloween until I made them wear gloves to go trick or treating. My theory is that they are out touching doorbells that every sick child has touched then coming home to eat candy with the same germy hands. This also keeps Isaac's hands out of his mouth. I made them both wear gloves at the zoo for our Wild Wendesday trip before Thanksgiving. So far so good.
7. Wash your hands and don't touch your face. Don't let the germs enter in the first place. My kids are no example - they think their buggers are tasty.
8. Grape juice or cranberry juice. It is a good alternative to orange juice. I don't always have orange juice on hand, but my mom keeps me well stocked in her home canned grape juice. It has just as much vitamin C and isn't so hard on your tummy.
I wanted to give you 10 - but I only can come up with 7 tips. Do you have any remedies that you would like to share?
5 comments:
I think you covered that pretty well. I personally love 1-3! My kids take a vatamin+C, twice a day during the winter months. Thanks for the tips.
Stay away from Nursery, Walmart, and play places.(especially Taco Maker that has a ball pit....who do you think would sanitize each one of those balls?) Maybe we could also put tape over their nostrils and mouth. No germs, no noise either.....double whammy
I thought by the title of your post that you were going to be giving blunt advice...wrong cold I guess. :) I love the tips especially the one about gloves trick or treating. I am so trying that next year. Your #8 tip should be if one kid gets sick just contaminate the other ones. It gets the bug through the house quicker. Excellent advice you gave me last year!
Rachel, I forgot that one! I don't like to spend a week keeping them apart only to have the other one get it a week later. Just share cups.
Thanks for all the great advice. Shelby is the only one so far this year to battle a cold.
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