Many children have already gone back to school and there are lots of exciting transitions happening. Change is always good but the weather changing, in conjunction with being introduced to new germs can spell disaster for your child’s immune system.
Most parents know that when your child is sick it’s only a matter of time before you and the rest of the house get it too. I know I don’t only speak for myself when I say, with 75% of the year already behind us sick days are getting scarce so, ain’t nobody got time for that!
Although the common cold might catch up with your child eventually there are few things you can do to keep the spread of those back-to-school germs to a minimum.
1. Front door decontamination
While at daycare or school, and during after-school activities, your children come into contact with many different people and their germs. A good way to keep those germs as close to the outside world as possible is to do some decontaminating as soon as your kids enter your home.
The simplest thing you can do is have them remove their shoes and wash their hands before eating or lounging around the house.
Changing into clean, house clothes or even pajamas right away can also slow the spread of germs left on uniforms or school clothes that have been worn and played in all day. I would also suggest implementing a schedule for keeping backpacks, lunch bags and smart devices clean. All types of germs can live inside of these bags and on these surfaces, so it’s best to clean them regularly. Try Lysol or a full wash of the bags weekly. A daily wipe-down of cell phones and tablets can also be beneficial to keep away cold-causing germs.
READ: 5 Healthy Tips For Busy Parents Like You!
2. Daily multi-vitamins
Multivitamins are a great way to make sure your child gets all of the nutrients they might miss during the day but they also can help support a healthy immune system. Taking a multivitamin every morning became a part of my morning routine with my daughter when she started daycare and so far the coughs and sniffles have been kept at bay.
For younger children, you might have an easier time with liquid multivitamins. Zarabee’s makes a few natural vitamin supplements for babies and toddlers. For older children, I would suggest gummy or chewable vitamins. These are sold in a variety of flavors at pretty much every major retailer.
Check with your pediatrician before starting anything but for the most part, these over-the-counter supplements can do wonders for