Hi Loves! It’s nearing that time again when your kids track in every sniffle, cough, and bug they come across while they’re out and about at daycare, school, etc touching everything and anything. It’s time that we stop gatekeeping and start spilling our secrets to help overcome a sick household. We each have our own remedies so imagine how much we could all learn from each other and start incorporating them into our own routines. I’ll start with a few of mine!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Which means, at no cost to you, I’ll receive a small commission if you purchase through my links. I would never recommend something I have not personally used and loved myself. Although purchases through these links help with the maintenance of this blog, my readers are the most valued and I am so grateful to have you here.
As always links to anything are located in my shop
Controlled Spaces
It’s hard enough having one child sick at home never mind the whole house, keeping a controlled area is key for us. Giving them some toys and fun little activities to keep them occupied while in their room creates some separation and hopefully limits the spread of germs to the rest of the house. It’s also a good idea to keep them in a smaller area of the house to help them rest without the ability to run around the entire house.. we all know its hard for young kids to settle down and rest, even when they’re feeling under the weather.
Sanitize Sanitize Sanitize!
This one also goes along with controlled spaces. It’s so much easier to control the spread of germs when you’re able to wipe down just one room rather than an entire house multiple times a day. It’s important to keep areas clean frequently to lessen the risk of you feeling like its ground hogs day and running into the same bugs over and over again with different members of your family.
To do this I would:
- Strip down the bed and wash all the linens, pillows, and stuffed animals
- Vacuum and steam floors to deep clean away any viral germs
- Wipe down all surfaces, door knobs, toys, and remotes with disinfectant spray or wipes
- Wash any laundry worn including hats, gloves, and scarves
- Make sure you and everyone in your household use hand sanitizer often
I also have a post on how to sanitize toys and how we disinfect our home that i’ll link here for you as well.
Use a Humidifier/Decongestant
A humidifier is such a game changer when your littles have congestion. They even have really cute ones geared towards kids like this one I have in Madison’s room. It’s shaped like a cloud and acts like a nightlight by lighting up and changing colors if you want it to. You can also get Vicks Vapor Pads that work well with some humidifiers as well as steam tablets that you put at the bottom of your shower to loosen any congestion.
What I find helps the best with a congested nose is two squirts of saline nasal spray and the Frida Baby NoseFrida. Yeah I know, the concept of sucking the snot out of your baby’s nose can be repulsing, just trust me that the miracle of how good it works out ways the disgust. If the concept about the NoseFrida freaks you out too much to even try, they make an electric one called “electric NoseFrida.” We use the Braun brand nose aspirator in our home because it comes with two different modes and nose pieces for smaller or larger noses depending on age. Vicks has VapoPatches you can put on their chest to help break up any mucus they may have. It could also help them to avoid getting that annoying tickle that sends them into a coughing fit all night long. You’ll also want to have boxes of tissues for those runny noses, soft ones to avoid chapped skin from the constant rubbing. Boogie wipes are also good to have on hand for your diaper bag or in your car. Chapstick also another very important item to have, you wouldn’t think of it with a runny nose but I see a lot of kids are constantly licking their lips when their nose is running.
The Annoying Constant Tickle
This one pulls on your heart strings a little more than you’d like because depending on the age there’s very limited options on helping to get them some kind of relief, especially at night. I can be difficult to find something that really soothes the cough and helps the post nasal drip if you have really young children. Most cough medicine you cannot give until around the ages of 4 or 6, children under 2 years old cannot be given any medicine containing a decongestant or antihistamine, so what do you do? Push fluids throughout the day. Make sure they are well hydrated and use a cool-mist humidifier in whatever room they are in day and night. Zarbee’s has a cough syrup made for children starting at the age of 2 years and Mommy’s Bliss has one safe for use at the age of 3 months. I have tried both of these cough and mucus medicines and have had a good turn out with them. Although, I have not found them to work as well as NyQuil or Robitussin but it’s something safe that gives them more relief than giving them nothing at all. If your baby is older than 3 months and seems to be in discomfort and could possibly have a sore throat or something, talk to your doctor about Tylenol and if they would recommend the use of it or not.
Fevers
First and foremost call your doctor for their direction, they should always be the first call for any type of medical advice. I am just speaking on what has worked for my children based on my pediatrician’s recommendations.
If you have a newborn and the fever is 100.4 go to the ER as well as call your pediatrician. If your baby is 3 months old or older call your doctor on what steps you should take. They may even tell you to give them over the counter medicine along their exact dose according to age and weight.
Give them a lukewarm (not too cold, not too hot) bath, it will help to regulate their temperature. Also, if they’re babies or still young enough to do so, laying with them skin to skin also helps to regulate the temperature as well. Dress them in light clothing and keep checking their temperature often with a rectal thermometer for the most accurate reading.
Give them all the snuggles and cuddles they want, the comfort of being in your arms or tucked in tight to you is a miracle worker in itself. You’re their world, their safe place, and there’s no better feeling than cuddling up together watching movies, it’s so beneficial for them but also for you too!
I hope this helped in some way. Please let me know if there is anything different that you do to help during cold season. I always love trying new things and seeing what works for others that I can implement into my routine!
