The Top 10 Ways to Keep Your Children Healthy During Cold & Flu Season

By Rana DiOrio, Founder, Little Pickle Press

Photo by Toni Argueta, Pharm.D.

Cold & Flu Season is upon us. As I know you are acutely aware, when our children are sick, life turns upside down. How then can we keep our children healthy? Here are the strategies we implement in our home:

10. Ask the people in your home to wash their hands regularly

Be consistent (neurotic!) about washing your hands–not only before and after handling food and after using the restroom, but also after touching your face. We have a house rule that you must wash your hands when you enter the house, especially if you are coming home from school or the playground.

9. Wash your hands with CleanWell

We swear by this product. CleanWell all-natural hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps kill 99.99% of germs without the use of toxic chemicals. Safe for kids, 100% biodegradable, and alcohol-free. Meet CleanWell and say goodbye to germs naturally. To find a store near you that sells the products, visit:

http://www.cleanwelltoday.com/storefinder/

Or shop on the company’s website and receive 15% off using our promo code LITTLEP15: http://bit.ly/9ug5W0. Alternatively, you will currently receive free shipping on your order if you enter NYFREE at checkout.

8. Keep a CleanWell hand sanitizer close by

Put one in your purse, car, diaper bag, etc. I even have one in each of my children’s school bags, and they are in the habit of using it. It has the same active ingredient as the antibacterial soap and is a great alternative when hand washing isn’t a possibility.

7. Cough like a vampire (see picture above)

We picked this up from Alex’s Kindergarten teacher. She teaches her students to cough into the crease of their arms, so they look like a vampire. Pretty clever way to reduce the number of germs in her classroom! We’ve adopted the same rule at home.

6. Whenever possible, open swinging doors with your body rather than your hands

Hit the crosswalk signal button with your elbow. Depress the elevator call button with your thumb through your sleeve. You get the point. My kids like identifying opportunities to do this. It has become a game for us all. The less door handles they touch with their hands, the better off your whole family will be.

5. Drink plenty of fluids

Water flushes your system, washing out the toxins as it rehydrates you. My children celebrate when their urine is closer to clear than yellow, which means that they are drinking enough fluids.

4. Get plenty of rest

It is common knowledge that when you are not well rested, your immune system suffers. Support healthy immune system function by making sure your whole family gets plenty of rest this cold and flu season.

3. Eat foods rich with antioxidants

Red, kidney, pinto, and black beans are way up there, so make chili! Blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, and strawberries are also antioxidant-rich. Please share your ideas and recipes with us.

2. Take supplemental vitamins

We all can benefit from taking supplemental vitamins. Ask your pediatrician for a recommendation for your children. If your children are like mine, they are rather particular about what supplemental vitamins they like and which they don’t. Our house favorite is Nordic Berries by Nordic Naturals. You can find them in Whole Foods or online from many different vendors.

1. Enjoy a bath or a shower each school evening

We economize on water by putting all three children in the tub at the same time, which translates into big fun. We like to think we are washing off the germs of the day before getting into our clean beds.