Like any mother, I do my best to make sure I keep my family as healthy as possible all year long, but especially during cold and flu season. What is I do to help keeps my kids healthy during cold and flu season is basically what I do to keep them healthy all year long. I'm fortunate that I'm able to stay home with my boys, which helps us steer clear of of a lot of the bugs that many families with kids in school catch.
I try to feed my kids a well balanced diet, which at their age can be so hard, a healthy food they couldn't get enough of last week suddenly becomes "Ewww, gross!!" all of the sudden. But I try to make sure they get at least a little bit of each food group every day and try to introduce them to new healthy foods each week. They also take a mulit-vitamin every day to help fill in the nutritional gaps. I firmly believe that eating a healthy diet that includes lots of whole, raw foods is key in warding off colds and the flu.
It's also important to me that my kids get the rest they need. We have a set bedtime in our house and a bedtime routine that we follow. I read once that 78% of kids under 12 don't get the sleep their bodies and minds need to function fully. I think so many of us don't consider sleep as part of being healthy.
My Grandmother (who has 7 children) always took her newborns outside in the bassinet for an hour a day. Her mother (and probably her mother's mother) did the same. They believed that the sunshine and fresh air helped to strengthen a baby and keep them healthy. It may be just an old wive's tale, but even as infants my boys have always spent time outside each day. I don't know what the fresh air might do for them (other than tucker them out), but we do know that our bodies get Vitamin D from the sun, so I do feel there's something to be said for it.
I'm pretty conscious of germs in general, but I find myself even more cautious during cold and flu season. I keep anti-bacterial wipes in our diaper bag which we use on shopping carts and in public restrooms. I also keep hand sanitizer with us at all times.
Inevitably, no matter what precautions we take to keep our families healthy, someone will get sick and when they do it quickly spreads throughout the house to each family member.
I recently learned about a new line of Homeopathic medicine for children from Boiron. Boiron, world leader in homeopathy, is a $500 million public company with 3,800 employees in more than 80 countries. It is best known for its top-selling flu medicine, Oscillococcinum, and its Arnicare line of pain relievers. For more than 75 years, Boiron has been committed to funding scientific research and educating the public and healthcare professionals on homeopathic medicines. As a pharmaceutical company, Boiron maintains the highest standards in manufacturing, complying with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations, the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States and drug Good Manufacturing Practices. You can learn all about Boiron and their three new children's medicines, on their blog.
I know you're going to like what you learn on their website, so click here for a -$1.00 coupon for any size Children's oscillococcinum, Chestal or Coldcam.
I'd love to hear how you keep your family healthy during cold and flu season, please feel free to leave a comment and let my readers and I know. =)
