Baths, Purell and school germs

[Hillbeans]

It's that time of year again - I got my first cold of the year - and it just happens to be 2 weeks after my son's first days back at school and aftercare!! Coincidence or not - i'm sure he's the carrier for germs!

I try not to bathe the kids more than every other day because I think it's too drying for their skin, but now that there are more germs around i'm thinking of changing his clothes every day after he's home from aftercare, having him purell his hands, stress the importance of hand washing during the day, etc etc......

Does anyone else go through extra measures to try and ward off the germs or am I just kidding myself that this may help?

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

We make the kids wash their hands often.

I'm a hand sanitizer freak, too, so I make the whole family put it on all the time!

 

[Christine]

I hear ya! I just came down with a cold on Saturday (and I'm home today because I was up all night with a runny nose).

My kids have been in school for about 3 weeks. First, everyone at work has been hacking all over me but I managed to avoid that. Then, my son, started with one early last week. Now I have it. And I am a HUGE baby about it.

As for extra measures, I just have my kids wash their hands before they eat. My son is horrible, though, with his "habits". He leaves snotty tissues around, put his hands in his mouth, etc. I'm really doomed.

 

[golfgal]

Normal handwashing is fine. Going overboard can actually do more harm then good. You can Purell all you want but you are still going to get sick on occasion, sorry.

 

[CathrynRose]

Im working on a cold right now... and Disney is in 3 days!

Im deciding on whether or not I should keep my DR appt - just to get an anti-biotic JUST in case I need it.... I dunno.

I HATE GERMS!

For the record - Im Airborne'n. I like this stuff. Seems to work.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Im working on a cold right now... and Disney is in 3 days!

Im deciding on whether or not I should keep my DR appt - just to get an anti-biotic JUST in case I need it.... I dunno.

I HATE GERMS!

For the record - Im Airborne'n. I like this stuff. Seems to work.

I'd go just to get the antibiotic JIC. Hope you feel better! Have a magical time at DISNEY!

 

[Hillbeans]

Thanks everyone! Seems like lots of people are sick this week - Cathrynrose - hope you're feeling better for WDW! Better to get sick before going than being sick there.

I don't want to be a germaphobe, but I do think I will take measures to make sure he washes up when he gets home and before he eats!

Thanks everyone.

 

[FreshTressa]

Normal handwashing is fine. Going overboard can actually do more harm then good. You can Purell all you want but you are still going to get sick on occasion, sorry.

Yep. I only use purell if I'm at a place where I can't wash my hands.

If you aren't exposed to germs, your body will never learn how to fight them. And if you have dry itchy skin from overbathing, you are more likely to get a skin infection.

You can't win!

 

[megan4777]

My DD#1 started pre-school last week (just 2 days) and she was sick on Friday. I make her wash her hands and I encourage the use of a tissue over her hand/sleeve, but it's never 100%.
DD#2 (she's 14 months) just got sick yesterday and I try to wash her hands with wipes but she has snotted everything today.

I use the purell stuff when we're shopping, at zoos, etc. I try not to use it too much b/c I read it does more harm than good if you use it all the time.

 

[4nana]

Our adult children use it on the grands, if not near good old fashion water and soap. They use occassionally, but like others fear if used 24-7 possibly can be overused and not allow our bodies to fight naturally. Matter of fact, our public and private schools required each student to bring a bottle to school this year!

PS -
You might want to ck out the Airborne- Zicam thread currently running too!!

Hope everyone feels better soon!

 

[mickeyboat]

We bathe our kids every other day, unless they get nasty from playing outside. They have been taught, both at home and at school, to wash their hands frequently. Hannah came home with a cold last week, but felt well enough to go to school. None of the rest of us at home have gotten it, yet.

I am not a fan of Purell. I really don't like the way it feels on my skin, and I am almost always in a place where I can wash my hands, so I would rather do that.

Denae

 

[golfgal]

Another thing you can teach your kids during cold season is to sneeze into their elbow, not their hands, then they aren't touching stuff with their just sneezed into hands. Our kids' school did this and all the kids sneeze into their elbow.

 

[mamacatnv]

Another thing you can teach your kids during cold season is to sneeze into their elbow, not their hands, then they aren't touching stuff with their just sneezed into hands. Our kids' school did this and all the kids sneeze into their elbow.

This is a really good hint.
I read it somewhere, catches more of the airborne germs and isn't located on an apendage that will be constantly coming into contact with other surfaces.

I hate Purell, the smell, the feel ....ick

We wash hands, but not anymore than usual. Kids are germ carriers that is how they grow to be healthy adults. As my kids have gotten older, they have fewer and fewer bugs and we are not going out of our way to sanitize them.

 

[themarquis]

Keep in mind that Purell is alcohol based so it will really dry out the skin, and as another poster pointed out, the resulting cracked skin is more prone to infection. As far as changing clothes go, most germs don't really hang out for more than a short time on a dry, cool surface. It's doubtful that anyone would get an illness from touching clothing. Possible, I guess, but the two biggest disease vectors are the air and hands. Wash hands regularly if possible, but just forget about protecting yourself or your kids from airborne viruses and bacteria!!! Bottom line -- handwashing w/ regular soap and warm water has been shown to decrease the spread of illness. Anything else is just a waste of time. Bacteria are everywhere --in fact most are harmless or beneficial to humans (for example, the bacteria in our intestines that allow us to digest food properly!). Kids who catch more illness in their first few years of life are on average healthier b/c their immune systems are strengthened. So make peace with those germs... as annoying as it is to have your kid perpetually sniffling!