How Do You Keep Your Kids Healthy?

[fredms]

Hi guys,

I am bringing my nieces and nephews (ages 6, 4, 4, 1) on a Disney Cruise in January. I don't think their doctor believes in flu shots for kids - what can I do to keep them healthy before and once we go? Any advice is appreciated.

S

 

[Masonpips]

Wash hands! That's the number one way to do it.

I usually end up taking one of the kids in the week before the cruise for something and last year we took the nebulizer on the ship with us (both my kids have season asthma issues and we've always sailed at "peak" times).

We have visited the ships medical facilities and dr. for an ear infection too. They did an awesome job and DS was feeling much better the next day.

The flu is the scariest one because without the shot you can't do much else but wash hands and hope!

 

[clarabelle]

Forgive me if you know all this already:


Hand gel!

There have been studies done that say the alcohol based hand gel is more effective than handwashing in preventing colds.
Lysol spray (or another brand) on surfaces.
Cold viruses can live about 4 hours on door knobs, telephones etc.
Flu is more airborne than colds. Colds are usually spread through direct contact and flu from breathing droplets. Encourage them to cover their mouths when they cough. This one may sound a bit silly- many colds are transmitted through the eyes- if you can encourage them not to rub their eyes that might help.

 

[4formickey]

signs are posted on the boat to remind you to clean your hands. They also provide wipes to clean your hands at all meal times. If people followed the basic clean and care recomendations every onewill stay healty.

 

[BaileyEvanH]

We went two years ago went my son was 5. We insisted he rested most days in the room. He would turn the T.V. on and in no time, he would be asleep. An hour a day really seemed to make a difference. The rest did us some good too. We were all in much better moods for the rest of the evening.

 

[LuvTravelToo]

The CMs are fanatic about having the kids wash their hands with AB soap before entering the kids' clubs. It might not be a bad idea to do it (or use the AB gel) on the way out too...

 

[TooPure4u]

My son has cancer and was on treatments when we went in January and his infection fighting cells were low....wash your hands alot...but other than that...Disney in my opinion is a very very clean ship.....people cleaning all the time around you.....we had NO problems

 

[crisi]

Originally posted by 4formickey
signs are posted on the boat to remind you to clean your hands. They also provide wipes to clean your hands at all meal times. If people followed the basic clean and care recomendations every onewill stay healty.

Antibacterial wipes and soap can only do so much against viruses. It would be nice to think that cleanliness with solve everything, but it doesn't. Airborne viruses are particularly hard to avoid completely - although washing your hands does help a lot.

 

[RobinMarie]

I have NO idea if my methods are effective, but I'm satisfied with what I do:

Try and eat healthy/good rest several days before travel.

Increase in Vitamin C for all travelers day before travel and all during travel. Vitamins given in morning and evening.

Try and disinfect areas on airplane and waiting for airplane without looking like a germaphobic. I'm not a germaphobic, I'm just trying to give every advantage to NOT being sick on vacation.

Disinfect rental car.

Hand gel and all that jazz. Stress importance of not sharing combs, lollipops, soda etc with other children. Also I give the speech about mucous membranes: do not put your finger in eye, nose, mouth etc as it can put germs in your body.

Disinfect door knobs, light switches, telephones etc regularly.

 

[sy1203]

I just started using AIRBOURNE to prevent colds. It was developed by a school teacher who was tired of getting sick being around young children. So far it seems to be working. You can take it just before entering areas germs may be like crowds, airplanes ect. Also when you feel like your are getting a cold you take it to prevent it from becoming full blown. It is like alkaseltzer and does not taste bad at all. There is also a kids formula as well as adult formula. So this is my plan for my child prior to our trip.

PS: I found it at CVS drugstore about $7.00

 

[kellimomo3]

I have had my kids, 3 boys 4, 6, 7, on AirBorne for about three months. Whenever they start to feel a sore throat of headache coming on, they drink one. My boys have not been sick at all not even a sniffle for months and that includes the back to school germ fest!!! It really works and will definatley be joining us on our cruise as it is also good for boosting your immune system prior to entering a germy enviornment like an airplane or cruise ship!! I got it on Drugstore.com. They have the Jr. & adult. My kids love the taste!!

Kelli

 

[magiroux]

My DD sighs when we go into pre-vacation mode.

In addition to her morning multi vitamin, about to weeks before vacation I add a vitamin C and Acidophilus dose and yogart.

We continue this right thru vacation and she is required to use hand sanitizer constantly (which she always have to carry). I explained to her if she gets sick on the cruise she will be required to stay in her cabin for 3 days and there is nothing anyone can do about it...it's just the rules!!! This is very effective in getting her to take the extra meds as well as keeping up on her hygene when I am not around.

BTW, according to a physician friend of mine acidophilus is very effective in protection against the norwalk-type virus. It is live "good bacteria" (same as found in yogart) in pill form that helps the stomach kill the bad bacteria. GNC sells a kid's chewable.

 

[JJsmama]

Originally posted by magiroux
[BBTW, according to a physician friend of mine acidophilus is very effective in protection against the norwalk-type virus. It is live "good bacteria" (same as found in yogart) in pill form that helps the stomach kill the bad bacteria. GNC sells a kid's chewable. [/B]

Is eating yogurt just as effective? My kids eat yogurt most days, but I could really start pushing it.

 

[Masonpips]

If they eat regular yogurt on a daily basis, they're probably good with the acidophilus.

There are studies out there that show the anti-bacterial stuff isn't proven to be the godsend it was first marketed as. It can either allow the germs/bacteria to grow stronger/resistant to the stuff or because you're not exposed to any germs, your immune system is less able to fight them when it does come in contact. A lot of time the reason people are healthier when using them is that they just end up washing their hands more (with the soap) then they used to and that alone helps more.

 

[scrapcreator]

Teach the kids to turn their heads and cough into the bend of their elbow. That way the germs are not on their hands and spreading on surfaces. It may not help them, but it will help others. I have the students do this at school (I teach in a lab situation w/100+ kids coming through everyday-way too many germs!). Of course, I am constantly wiping down the tables and chairs - you'd think I was a neat freak or something, LOL! And of course the hand gel - keep a pocket size with you.

We are picking up the Airborne today and starting it before the trip!

 

[clarabelle]

There is a difference between Antibacterial and Antiseptic.
The Antibacterial soaps (as masonpips mentioned) have trouble with causing resistance. The bugs become stronger and they are not routinely reccomended.

But the hand gels work differently. Their main ingredient is alcohol and it physically destroyes the germs that cause illness. There is no resistance with these so you can use them as much as you want.

If you want more information here is an article:
http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&ref=1758&action=detail

 

[eander5696]

I am a freak about washing hands, and cleaning up before eating, and taking echincea and Vit C and eating all good vegs, and I am home with a terrible cold and am miserable!!!!!!!!!

 

[long4disney]

My family has been taking Juice+ supplements and we have not been sick for a long time. I have friends whose families have been on them for 2 years and none of them have had the flu and some have had no colds, or if they did they were very minor. All our doctors we talk to have heard a lot of great things about this product and are recommending the supplements to everyone, especially the kids who seem to get sick all the time. You can go their web site for information at www.juiceplus.com. All Juice+ is are whole food supplements, like eating raw fruits and veggies. My 2 year old takes the gummie version (3 fruit gummies in the a.m. and 3 veggie gummies in the p.m.) My 10 year old takes the chewables and my dh and I take the capsules. Also, the company is doing a lot of reasearch on the products, and if adults sign up for the product, they will send you the chewables free for the children for several years if they participate in the study. All you will have to do is fill out surveys about your kids health since they have been on the Juice+. My son was sick a lot and not a very good eater when it comes to veggies, so since he has been on Juice+ he has been very healthy!!!

 

[JJsmama]

Originally posted by long4disney
My family has been taking Juice+ supplements and we have not been sick for a long time.

I did some research and found that the reknown pediatrician, Dr. Sears recommends this on his website. I cannot find it in stores however. Have you ever seen it in stores?

 

[MamaCrush]

We decided we'd do our regular germ-avoidance techniques leading up to the cruise (i.e., handwashing, echinacea at first sign of symptoms and vitamins) and then move into high gear 4 weeks before we sail (hand gel, some of the suggestions I'm see here, etc.). We have found that it takes a week or so for germs to manifest into illness for us, so we'll become extra vigilent the week before the cruise with us, DD3 and DS4. We're hoping that by not being overly zealous between now and the end of the year, our bodies may build up some natural immunity to the germs we encounter.

Fortunately, our kids are young enough to fall into the CDC recommended category to receive flu shots this year. No such luck for DH and I though!