How to keep kids from getting sick?

[beebles]

Wondering if anyone had any good ideas on how to prevent their kids from getting sick on vacation! I am paranoid that one of them will be ill the week we are do to leave (just my luck)!!!! Any suggestions (and I already do vitamins!)

 

[cleo]

Echinecea with Goldenseal and lots of hand washing.

 

[720L]

Lots of hand washing, don't let them get behind on their sleep and healthy food. I also avoid the mall play areas or anything similar (chuck e cheeses etc).

 

[AJKMOM]

At church, I send them to the rest room so they are gone for the "sign of peace". Especially if I hear sniffling anywhere nearby. I am paranoid that they would get a cold and not be able to fly to Florida from Pennsylvania.

 

[unixadm]

Speaking from experience.....

Don't let them put thier mouths on tables, on poles while waiting in line, etc



Unfortunately, my DS4 decided that would be fun to do on our last day in the Magic Kingdom. We reprimanded him several times, telling him that he could get sick. The next day, we got up to go home, and he was severely sick to his stomach....to the point of us bringing him to the Urgent Care facility. Luckily, we were planning on stopping by my parents, so we decided to stay overnight with them. He got better the next day and we drove home, then DS3 got sick after we got home, then me, then my parents!

Definitely talk to them about germs. We have now had the "germ talk".....he now knows that germs are the "bad guys" and that he needs to keep his mouth away from anything that isn't food, needs to keep his hands out of his mouth, and wash his hands often.

 

[metsfan11]

also bring purell. my ds (sister) always carries around purell when we're out at the parks. when we recently went to universal, at islands of adventure there is a play area called me ship, the olive. at the exit, they had a purell dispenser. i thought that was extremely thoughtful. have fun!

 

[mrscoobs]

I agree with the Purell or some other hand sanitizer that you can either fit in your pocket or in a small fanny packet, etc for a quick sanitize (especially when going to the restroom is not and option, like when the seatbelt fastened light is on on the airplane). We always stress washing hands before meals, and keep them on a good sleep schedule. We also make sure that the kids have their multi-vitamins even on vacation.

 

[firemanx]

Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent disease spread, and germs. Just a little words of wisdom that they teach all medical staff

 

[whacked]

As an RN, the SINGLE MOST EFFECTIVE thing you can do is handwashing. This is something that is emphasized in the national boards.

Unfortunately the most recent clinical studies have shown that Echinecea does not have any overall effect on preventing or shortening colds or other illness.

WASH YOUR AND THEIR HANDS OBSESSIVELY.

 

[rockin_rep]

Definitely handwashing but also, we swear by Vitamin C!!! Clinical studies continue to prove its one of the best, if not *THE* best anti-oxidants.

When our kids were younger, i bought chewables. Now we all take a supplement every day and a mega dose if we feel a cold coming on. They are water soluable, meaning they don't accumulate -- what your body doesn't need is eliminated. (when you pee ).

 

[smkjt]

I was told by a CM I know "don't drink out of drinking fountains". (the water was warm out of them usually any how so we just always purchased water...well free on the dining plan)

 

[the kabuki]

Handwashing of course, purell is good sometimes, so are vitamins. However avoidance of germs can get excessive and actually cause kids' to be sick more. If you're trying to wipe down every surface, not letting them touch anything, etc. then IMHO you may be setting them up to be sicker more often than not.

I have a SIL who is a nut about this, wipes down the shopping carts, uses Purell obsessively and her kids are constantly sick. You need to be exposed to germs in order to build immunity to them

I realize that no one wants to be sick on vacation, and I've been known to be extra vigilant about this before a trip, but I've noticed that the more I try to keep them from getting sick (Purell, lysol, the whole nine yards) they inevitably end up getting sick anyways. When I don't do anything they're fine

 

[jann1033]

i found the best way to keep my kids/me from getting sick was if other people would just keep their sick kids HOME..drives me crazy to see these hacking coughing fever running little things being dragged all over creation..let the kid stay home a day and get over it...( 1/2 way kidding as i realize it's not always possible but the mall will still be there when little hermie is not so germie. also know lots of time they are spewing germs pre signs but none the less...)

 

[goofy4tink]

Plenty of good sleep, always, not just before a trip. Good eating habits. Then....handwashing, handwashing, handwashing. And keep those little fingers away from the face. No rubbing your eyes, or your nose. Keep those fingers out of the mouth. When we are in WDW I always have the Purell hand sanitizer in my fanny pack. Dd has to use it several times a day. No, I am not germophobic. But, there is just so darn much that she can put her hands on,that she would spend the whole day in the bathroom washing her hands. So, we try not to rub along the poles in the attraction ques. That sort of thing.

 

[cleo]

I'm afraid there are studies upon studies that show Echinecea is very effective. Funny, but the AMA is the only organization who seem to come up with the 'ineffective' argument.

 

[pjlla]

#1. Hand washing

#2. Avoid places like the McDonald's PlayPlace and Chuck E. Cheese.

#3. Plenty of rest.

#4. Bring along Zicam and/or Airborne. I have personally never had to use them, but I hear they are very effective when taken at the first sign of a cold.

#5. I bring along antibacterial wet wipes instead of Purell. I "know" that the Purell stuff is supposed to kill germs, but I don't feel clean after using it. But I do feel cleaner after using a wipe on my hands. I also use them on the tables before we sit down to eat (at counter service places). I buy the travel size pouches (10 wipes) at the check out at Target. Usually one pack per day is what I end up using.

Quick story.... before our 2004 trip DS had a girl vomit all over the classroom not too long before we left for our trip!! I thought FOR SURE he would end up ill, but guess we got lucky. Good luck......................P

 

[solferino]

I'm afraid there are studies upon studies that show Echinecea is very effective. Funny, but the AMA is the only organization who seem to come up with the 'ineffective' argument.

Agreed, cause the pharmaceutical companies aren't going to get anything

I agree withll most of the above with exception to the hand sanitizer stuff. (Especially sleep. So important for our bodies!)

Soap and water is sufficient, and maybe on a trip using some handiwipes or something like that. The world *is* a germ filled place, no doubt about it. But my train of thought is if we keep sanitising ourselves from every little sniffle and sore throat, we're not exposing ourselves to build up resistance to illness. And yes, I am in a high-risk category for respiratory based illnesses. But I'm also in a big minority by how we treat colds and illnesses here. (Homeopathy; acupuncture mostly).

 

[rockin_rep]

[font=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Yes, Airborne is good, but a much cheaper and effective alternative is good ole Vitamin C. [/font]

[font=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]As you can see, vitamin *C* is one of the primary ingredients in Airborne. (ingredients are listed by law, from the greatest ingredient to the least). Vit C is #2 in Airborne. [/font]

[font=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]From their web-site: [/font]

[font=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]AIRBORNE Original: ingredients.[/font][font=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]
Supplement Facts: Serv size 1 tablet. Servings, 10. Amount per serving: Calories 4, Total Fat 0g, Sodium 230mg (10% DV*), Total Carb 0g, Sugars 0g, Protein 0g.

Vitamin A (100% Acetate) 5,000 I.U. (100% DV*), Vitamin C 1,000mg (1,633% DV*), Vitamin E 30 I.U. (100% DV*), Magnesium (Sulfate) 40mg (10% DV*), Zinc (Sulfate) 8mg (55% DV*), Selenium (Sodium Selinite) 15mcg (21% DV*), Manganese (Gluconate) 3mg (86% DV*), Potassium (Bicarbonate) 75mg (2.5% DV*), Organic Herbal Extracts (Lonicera, Forsythia, Schizonepeta, Ginger, Chinese Vitex, Isatis Root, Echinacea) 350mg (DV**), Amino Acids (Glutamine, Lysine) 50mg (DV**).
[/font][font=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]*Daily Value.[/font]

[font=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]Other Ingredients: Citric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sorbitol, Potassium Bicarbonate, Orange Flavor, Mineral Oil, Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium.[/font]

 

[jann1033]

I'm afraid there are studies upon studies that show Echinecea is very effective. Funny, but the AMA is the only organization who seem to come up with the 'ineffective' argument.

well somebody has to pay for those drug companies studies

just a side thought... if you have some immune problems you may not be able to use it as it boosts immune function( not a good thing if it's overactive already)

and (i was recently corrected about this on another thread) alcohol gels are ok( i thought they were not good but according to this dr.if they have emollients they kill fast enough to kill all bacteria on a surface but don't cause the dry skin that can lead to other infections, ) but overuse of other antibacterials do cause "superbugs" ( according to the cdc and and this Dr who i can't think of name right now )

 

[cleo]

I totally agree about the hand sanitizer not being such a great idea for regular use. I do use it before and during a vacation (especially this time of year), but they only kill up to 99% of bacteria, which means 1% have the opportunity to mutate. And that's never a good thing.

If you can't take Echenecia, try Oscillococcinum. If you can't find that, take odorless garlic tablets. And it's always a good idea to take Acidophilis.