Sure, Fall comes with its beautiful colors, pumpkin-flavored everything, fun holidays, and cooler sweater weather, but it also welcomes us to the less-than desirable cold and flu season.
Even as a homeschool family, we are not immune to the spread of germs, viruses, and diseases this time of year. And it is the pits.
We are currently on week two of croup in our home with the most recent victim my 14 month old daughter, who I was praying would be spared as it went from one person in our family to the next. My son had croup as a baby, at like 16 months of age, and had to be hospitalized overnight. It was not fun and I did not want to have that happen again with my new baby. (We got some steroid medicine at the doctor’s yesterday. Here’s to hoping.)
Being confined in our home in order to diminish the spread of our current virus has created some major cabin fever in myself and my children. We hate missing out on doing fun things like story time at the library, attending church, and partying with friends.
I am convinced that you can’t completely stop a virus from ravaging through your family, but you can be prepared, somewhat, so that when it does, it isn’t as horrible. When Fall starts, it is a great idea to take inventory on your standard medical supplies in order to replenish or restock, as needed, so that you are prepared for that middle of the night croup coughing session and can avoid running to the E.R.
How to Prepare for Cold and Flu Season
Make sure you have the following 10 cold and flu fighting items on hand, as a sort of Winter cold and flu survival kit:
1.) Tissues.
Runny noses are all the rage in the Fall and Winter. Be prepared with multiple boxes of tissues and opt for the nicer ones with aloe.
2.) Saline drops & booger suckers.
If you have little babies and toddlers who can’t exactly blow their own noses, saline drops and booger suckers help to clear the gooey stuff and open the airways.
3.) Cough drops.
They don’t usually taste awesome, but they really do help numb the pain in your throat for a while. I prefer the natural cough drops, especially for the littles.
4.) Humidifier.
These are so awesome for when you get stuffy and congested and have problems breathing. You better believe ours has been running every night for the last week and a half. This one has fantastic reviews too.
5.) Chest Rub.
They make chest rubs for babies 3 months and older and it does wonders to make sure they are breathing better through their nose at night.
6.) Cough Medicine.
We find it most helpful to get the nighttime stuff as coughing is worst when lying down and at night (unfortunately).
7.) Dehydration fluids.
Keep water, flavored sports drinks, or other drinks designed for dehydration stocked.
8.) Thermometers.
Make sure you have a digital thermometer to get the fastest and most accurate results of your child’s temperature. A digital rectal thermometer will provide the most accurate reading of a baby’s temperature, and according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a fever in babies begins at only 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Digital oral and axillary thermometers are also considered accurate. Which ever type you use, just make sure you keep it dedicated to that one location of the body.
And remember, a fever isn’t something to fear; it simply means the body is doing its natural job of fighting off an infection. Keep an eye out more for how your child looks and acts. Contact your pediatrician with any questions about your children’s fever, particularly if your child is younger than six months of age.
9.) Pain Relievers.
Acetaminophen is one of the most recommended non-prescription medications by healthcare professionals – including pediatricians and pediatric nurse practitioners – for temporary fever reduction and relief of minor aches and pain in infants and children. It helps the pain associated with sore throats, headaches, congestion, and fevers common this time of year.
10.) FeverAll® Infants’ Strength Suppositories.
If you have a baby or older children who cannot take medication by mouth due to illness/vomiting, or fussiness, or who don’t like taking liquid medication (or who have other health issues), FeverAll®’s acetaminophen in suppository form is the only acetaminophen product available with dosage instructions for children as young as six months of age. There is no measuring or mess.
It is helpful to have acetaminophen in both liquid and suppository forms on-hand for the cold and flu season. You can find FeverAll® in your local Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart stores.
How to Prevent Viruses from Ravaging Through Your Family
While, again, no one is ever able to prevent themselves from getting sick 100% of the time, the following can help lessen germs, viruses, and colds from spreading within your home. Make sure to have the following, or do the following:
1.) Take Vitamins and supplements.
Fight off germs and diseases by taking immunity boosting vitamins, supplements, minerals, and probiotics everyday, especially when cold and flu symptoms strike its first victim in your home.
2.) Use Hand Sanitizer and/or Soap.
This is easier said then done when you have multiple little people, but keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer around the house and encouraging them to use it, will help prevent germs from spreading… hopefully.
3.) Assign drinking glasses and utensils.
My kids love to drink out of my water bottle, every day, but I become a big stickler about not sharing drink cups and water bottles when someone is sick in the house. Doesn’t work out 100% of the time (this was especially true when my twins were babies and toddlers!).
4.) Use Disinfecting Wipes.
Take disinfecting wipes and clean and wipe down all the surfaces that are routinely touched in your home like door knobs, light switches, table tops, handles, pulls, toilet seats, faucets, hand rails, and so on.
5.) Wash and change bedding and towels.
Sickness seems to linger and attach itself to our bedding and clothing. Be sure to change out the sheets, bedding, and linens to prevent viruses and germs from recirculating within your own home.
6.) Open the windows.
Let the fresh air blow away some of the sickness and change the air within your home.
7.) Vaccinate yourself.
And of course, prevent viruses and diseases by vaccinating yourself and your kids against major diseases and illnesses.
I really hope your Fall and Winter and marked by happy, delightful memories of pumpkin carving, apple cider, and family get togethers rather than one illness after another afflicting your home!
That’s what I hope for all of us.
Be sure to like FeverAll® on Facebook for tips and giveaways, tune into the FeverAll® Instagram channel, and check out the series of FeverAll® Hot Topic videos featuring pediatric nurse practitioner, mom of two, and member of the Mommy MD Guides team Megan Jolin. FeverAll is a Mommy MD Guides recommended product. #FeverAllBeFeverReady
Use FeverAll® only as directed. If you have specific questions about fever, acetaminophen or using FeverAll, speak with your child’s pediatrician. FeverAll Acetaminophen Suppositories are available at major retailers and drugstores across the U.S, such as Walmart, Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens. For more information and current offers, visit www.FeverAll.com.
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of FeverAll® Acetaminophen Suppositories. The opinions and text are all mine.
