Staying healthy before & during trip?

[steen995]

The school year has started and we've all been quite sickly. Both my kids currently have ear infections (19 mo and 4 y). Our trip is in 3 weeks. I am so afraid that we're going to have to fly when they have colds and thus be in extreme ear pain. We wash our hands like crazy but my youngest licks everything.

Anybody have any secrets to great health? Anybody else flown with children when they had a cold?

 

[toystoryduo]

Eat, healthy, get plenty of sleep, and use hand sanitizer. (Or wash your hands as often as possible.) Oh... don't forget to take your vitamins, too!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Some of these suggestions are a little extreme because my ds has a compromised immune system, but some suggestions I have are: WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY: After diaper changes, bathroom, before cooking, etc.

Change your dishcloth daily and when you wash your hands dry with paper towels, not cloth.

Take Clorox or Lysol wipes with you for public restrooms and public tables where they don't wash quite as often (fast food for example).

Try to wash toys frequently for child who puts them in their mouth.

Make sure they drink plenty of fluids

WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY

 

[dzneelvr]

And don't forget to pack the over the counter aids such as pain reliever, decongestant, ear drops, etc. They can go a long way in keeping a symptom from becoming a full blown illness.
As far as flying with an ear ache--you need to check with the doctor, some ear infections can cause problems with inner ear and eardrum at high altitudes.

 

[HenDuck]

We have all (even my 4 y.o. DS) started taking Airborne. It is an effervescent tablet that you dissolve in water and drink every 3 hours at the first signs of a cold. (Orange flavored).

It has worked like a charm so far (knock on wood).

DS just started preschool and was getting sick every other week. He has not had a full blown cold in over a month thanks to Airborne. (He hates it by the way, but I make him take it).

Kids take half a tablet. If your child does not like the "fizzies", just let it sit until it stops fizzing.

My DH and I also take zinc with echinacea lozenges. Suck on them every couple of hours. I don't know if kids can take this because they may choke on it, but it will work for the parents!

Try one or the other or both together.

Good luck!

 

[Disney Fool]

Eat lots of yogurt in the two weeks before you go.

 

[PratersloveDW]

One thing a lot of people are skeptics about is taking kids to a chiropractor. I know, because I used to be one. I never believed that a chiroprcator could help my child more than my doctor was. Boy was I wrong, my DS (then 1year) had one ear problem after another and my doctor actually suggested a visit to a chiropractor. After just a week, my son had some nasty stuff coming out but was acting 100% better. He didn't tugg at his ears or have any more drainage. We finally were able to take him on a plane (to Disney World, of course). The doctor also gave us some ear drops to numb the ears on the plane if he should start to act as if he were in pain. And, for your 19 mo old, let him suck from his sippy cup/bottle (whatever he uses now). This will help the ears pop.

Best of luck and enjoy your trip!!!

 

[kkcolton5]

We have three kids and a wonderful history using herbs! My DD is 11 and has only had one antibiotic prescription in her life because we rely on herbs to strengthen her immune system and treat symptoms as she gets them. In addition, our nearly-three-year old boy came down with repeated colds and ear infections UNTIL we began adding liquid echinacea with goldenseal to his juice whenever he began showing symptoms (stuffy nose, lethargy, etc.). Also, we use an immune-system booster called Kid's Defense by Wild Oats grocery store. It contains astragalus root (great immune-booster), Echinacea, Licorice Root, Shiitake Mushroom (excellent for the immune system and used in China for thousands of years!). You can find another herbal blend at a health food store or Whole Foods grocery that contains the same herbs. I truly believe this liquid extract, added to milk, water, juice, or taken alone, is the key to healthy kids.

I made the mistake of taking my one- and two-year olds to the kids' museum a few months ago and did not give them preventative herbal treatment in their juice. Yep! Colds unsued. I learned my lesson...again! The next month, again on a trip to the same kids' museum, I made sure to put the herbs in their juice all day long, and they stayed healthy. They've been taking herbs throughout the fall, whenever we're around other kids, in crowds, flying on airplanes, etc.. I know, I sound like a whack-job, but I'm just into healthy children! They are miserable when they're sick, and so am I! Try herbal medicine....you'll all feel GREAT!! Vitamin C, Zicam swabs, and handwashing are all worth it, too!!

 

[lindaso]

I remember going through this with my older 2 kids at that age. I took them for an ear check about 3-4 days before the trip. They both had ear infections!! But it was enough time on the antibiotic that they were not bothered by the airplane. We kept the pink stuff on ice in the room and it was fine the whole trip.

 

[kldmom2000]

I've had the same paranoia up til now... and I've vowed not to go in December again!LOL! We head out this Saturday and last week, my 2 yr old DD had a bad cold... I started taking Airborne as suggested by some people on the boards here and it DOES work!!! I did get a slight cold, but never got the congestion/cough/etc... the slight symptoms I did have were gone within 2 days.... DH and I are going to take it preventatively starting a day or two before we fly.... my 2 yr old can't take it and I haven't tried it w/ my 4 yr old DD, but we've been vigilant in the hand washing, carrying Purell antibacterial cleanser w/ us and using it frequently... I"ve put them in a mini-quarantine of sorts until we go-no children's museums, malls, etc.... my 4 yr old does go to preschool 3 mornings a week and that is making me mental, but so far so good..... ((HUGS)) and GL!

 

[PAFamily]

I unfortunately am not so lucky! We went to my inlaws for Thanksgiving and my DS (3yrs old) and I are both really sick. We are leaving for Disney on Saturday I am hoping my DH and DD don't get sick between now and then and that my DS and I get better! This is no fun.... I bought several large bottles of purell and put them in every bathroom.

Any other advice once you already have a bad cold? Fever, cough, conjestion etc.

Thanks

 

[HenDuck]

Just an FYI -

Almost everytime my DS takes antibiotics (like with ear infections), he ends up with a yeast infection (jock/diaper itch type) within a week to a month later. It's symptoms are mad itching not soothed by OTC ointments. You can use OTC clortrimazole on the area(s) twice per day. My DS usually feels relief within 24-36 hours.

Poor child, takes after his mom.

Anyway, now we always travel with clortrimazole, Butt Paste, and hydrocortisone or Lanacane.

Just thought someone might find this information useful.

(I think I posted earlier about Airborne and zinc with echinacea lozenges. I swear by them!)

Good luck!

 

[kkcolton5]

Just a thought......try using acidophilus supplements (can be found in the refrigerated section at the health food store) when your kids are on antibiotics. Those drugs kill the good, beneficial bacteria as well as the bad bugs in your baby's intestines, so you need to give them probiotics to replenish the good guys! One brand is called Primodophilus. Your baby's system won't be messed up by using the antibiotics and he won't get a yeast infection!

 

[long4disney]

My family has been taking the Juice+ supplements, which are whole food fruit and vegetable in a powdered form. They can be taken in a capsule, chewable or my 2 year old takes the gummies. Many of our friends and family also take them and we can honestly say we have all been very healthy. My son is the only one in his class that has not gotten the flu. My Dh is a physician and around sick patients all the time, and he has been able to stay healthy, especially since none of us have been able to get a flu shot this year.

You can look up the info on their website at www.juiceplus.com

 

[momloveson]

The school year has started and we've all been quite sickly. Both my kids currently have ear infections (19 mo and 4 y). Our trip is in 3 weeks. I am so afraid that we're going to have to fly when they have colds and thus be in extreme ear pain. We wash our hands like crazy but my youngest licks everything.

Anybody have any secrets to great health? Anybody else flown with children when they had a cold?

DH and I each had a travel size of hand sanitizer in our fanny packs. They were easily accessible and we used them often. Our 4 yo touches EVERYTHING and we pulled out that sanitizer so often he started expecting it.

 

[MrsPete]

Watch your family's diet carefully for a couple weeks before the trip. Plenty of fruits and vegetables, no fast food stops, limited sodas, plenty of milk . . . be sure your bodies are at their best.

Do the same thing during the trip. If the kids eat nothing but burgers, chicken nuggets and ice cream, they're going to become sluggish and won't feel good.

 

[jenjersnap]

I've been quite worried about the germiness of the World for our trip next week. My 16 month old has a heart condition and we are vigilant here. We use the elderberry, echinacea, etc. syrup from the health food store, carry antibacterial wipes, use a clean Shopper/Diner for highchairs, and wash hands constantly. However, my ODS goes to pre-K and has brought home several nasty things ... that have made DH and I sick and not the boys, they have both had really mild coughs So I've learned these thing things work and I have to take better care of myself too.

ETA: I agree completely with the poster above too. Lots of fresh organic fruit and veggies and yogurt help immensely!

For WDW, we bought our 4-yr-old a fanny pack; I found these holders for the little Purell sanitizers that hang from fanny packs, backpacks or belt loops. he is very proud to have that - he thinks it's cool to have stuff dangling from his pack! - and I am hoping he'll use it constantly.

We do not use Airborne since it has aspartame in it - anyone know if that is still true? Wondered if the formula might have changed.

 

[peacefulgirl]

Just a thought......try using acidophilus supplements (can be found in the refrigerated section at the health food store) when your kids are on antibiotics. Those drugs kill the good, beneficial bacteria as well as the bad bugs in your baby's intestines, so you need to give them probiotics to replenish the good guys! One brand is called Primodophilus. Your baby's system won't be messed up by using the antibiotics and he won't get a yeast infection!

Yep I second this suggestion for anyone that is one an anti-biotic!

 

[TinkerPixxie]

Here i thought i was the only one stressing out over this. Ive got 5 children and three of them are stating to cough like crazy, I went ot Wild Oats today to get some herbal remedies but could not seem to figure out what to get. Ive never given any of them not prescribed so it was like a mystery to me what to do, what was safe etc etc.. We leave in 10 days and Im so afraid this coughing will lead into stomach virus' I keep hearing everyone locally talking about. I think now that Ive read the post I will go get some airborne and maybe some Kids Defense, thankyou kkcolton5 for posting and enlightening me. I guess if I can feel comfortable giving them concoctions made by chemicals in a lab i can feel comfortable giving them something herbal.
Tink~

 

[kkcolton5]

Hey TinkerPixxie,
We'll be there on the 18th! Yep, Kids Defense is the BEST! I just ran out to Wild Oats tonight to grab two more bottles. We're doing the "preventative" thing here....pretty much keeping the kids home (except the school-ager, but she's got an immune system that is absolutely rock-solid) and keeping up the herbs. My usual dosing for the Kids Defense is one dropper squirted into juice (about 1/2 cup) for the one-year-old, and two droppers for the 35-month-old. They drink it up, no complaints. The kicker in Kids Defense is shiitake mushrooms. They, along with other medicinal mushrooms, are a proven immune-booster (Chinese medicine has used them for thousands of years, they can't be wrong, can they?! LOL). Good luck....and see you at The World!!!