Tips for Keeping kids from getting sick

[taximomfor4]

Outside of the anti-bac lotions, lots of hand wipes (and table wipes before eating), sunscreen, rayshade, fluids, etc. (the obvious tips) I don't really have other suggestions. However, I am getting a bit concerned about this whole pool thing and people getting sick from them. I will be bringing my 1-year old and my (almost) 3-year old, and telling them to keep their mouths closed in the pool won't work. What to do? Not swim? That would be a bummer! What does everyone think? Is this a big problem that we need to worry about???

In Microbiology 2 days ago, we tested samples of water from different places, including different pools. Enterobacter, E.Coli, etc were not found in a SINGLE sample of pool water. Those are the microorganisms that cause the Intestinal illnesses. I would bet that anyone who caught the recently-rampant tummy bugs at WDW caught them from touching places that people harboring those organisms touched. They are contracted by fecal-oral route. Someone with the tummy bug goes to the bathroom, doesn't wash their hands (or not well, at least)...touches the doorknob on the way out, goes on a ride, touches the railings in line. Another person comes later, touches the bathroom door as well, or touches the railing in the line. Then eats popcorn with their now-contaminated hands, or chews their now-contaminated fingernail, or whatever. The microorganisms then sets up shop in its newest victim's GI tract. They can often pass it on before even having illness symptoms.

The chances that those microorganisms were in the pool water and able to sicken someone are slim-to-none I'd say. WDW is very careful to properly maintain their pool chemicals!

BTW, most of those "bugs" take 2-5 days to incubate and cause symptoms. And we have not yet in our studies come across a SINGLE airborne GI bug. Apparently all the common ones are take that fecal-oral route, making them require direct contact with contaminated surfaces.

 

[UtahMama]

taximomfor4: awesome, I think there's so much chlorine in the pools to kill just about anything. I just have to totally agree with frequent handwashing and Purell to have more peace of mind. Heck, maybe we'll dose up with Airborne too just in case it works. Tons of people swear by it. I have used it when everyone aroung me is sick and I didn't get sick, so maybe it works?
Man, there's nothing worse than the stomach flu in the Florida heat/ teacups ride/Mission Space....

 

[taximomfor4]

taximomfor4: awesome, I think there's so much chlorine in the pools to kill just about anything. I just have to totally agree with frequent handwashing and Purell to have more peace of mind. Heck, maybe we'll dose up with Airborne too just in case it works. Tons of people swear by it. I have used it when everyone aroung me is sick and I didn't get sick, so maybe it works?
Man, there's nothing worse than the stomach flu in the Florida heat/ teacups ride/Mission Space....

Yep, ewwww. And the airborne stuff is supposed to really work pretty well for the more common airborne minor viruses like colds. Certainly won't hurt, that I've ever heard. I'll let you know next week, after we finish up with immunology!

Beth

 

[marconat]

during the winter time and flu season, I give my kids Echynacia (not sure if that's how you write it) and my naturalist told me about ground ginger, just a tip of a teaspoon mix with either honey or other syrup (like corn syrup) to prevent colds, dose 15 days in a row, stop for 10 days and restart... and when they do get a cold, it works wonders, my son's colds only last a few days and he is fine. I'm telling you that stuff works..

 

[goalie5hole]

Although I'm not a germaphobic, last visit to Disney the trip was made less enjoyable for one member of our family due to a bug he picked up. Despite the numerous times I've told him to keep his mouth closed, my son learned the hard way not to "drink" pool water while swimming. He paid for it for days.

I need tips for keeping the members of your family healthy while visiting Disney!!! Let's have happy trips!!!

• spraying/wiping room with lysol
• keep mouth closed in pools
• carry germx for use during the day
• don't use airline pillows
• Avoid pain: Apply the sunscreen and remember to re-apply throughout the day!!!
• Avoid Heat exhaustion: Keep everyone hydrated! Ice Water is free at all counter service locations

My two got sick our second day there back in May. What a long vacation,then our flight home was delayed 8 hrs.And they were sick for another 4 days when we got home.

 

[abeyst]

Which Zicam do you guys use? The nose swab thingies? I'd like to get something for my kids (4 & 7) to use before we go (we ALWAYS get sick from the airplane and stomach upsets while we're there), but I don't know if they're going to like the way the nose swabs feel. Plus, a coworker used them and said they taste terrible.

 

[DDreneeT]

What exactly is Airborne and Zicam? I had never heard of them until I read these posts. Are they something like dramamine?

 

[stlsports4ever]

Vitamin C all the way.

Mr. Mike

 

[Dina]

I don't do a thing. I'm actually diagnosed Obsessive Compulsive and I don't do anything-- but I'm trying really hard not to spread my germaphobia onto my kids. I do carry wet ones with us, and if I remember, we use them before we eat, but sometimes we just grab Mickey Bars-- and I know that we forget to wipe our hands more often then not. We do take vitamins daily, and drink OJ every day (but that's our normal routine).

 

[funcinderella]

My twins are 5 and I have to say I'm really not much of a germ- a- phobe. (I'm also a scientist, so I completely understand the whole "building up immunity" thing). The only place I'm a stickler for the hand washing is after the rest rooms. Other than that, I must say I do subscribe to the "Let kids be kids" mantra, and my kids are really not sick very often. My son, who was born at 4 and a half pounds (although not premature) is one of those kids that could get dirty while in the bathtub. Dirt just finds him!! He's quite thin, and you would have thought he would be frail by looking at him, but he nevers gets the stomach viruses. I think he's probably only thrown up maybe 2 times in his whole life. As a 2 yr old, my daughter, who was a more robust 6 and a half lbs. at birth, picked up a lot of those stomach illnesses. But by 3 that stopped, and she's also quite healthy now. My point is, I think sometimes genetics and environment both play a factor. At some point in life, you're going to get sick, be it as a child or as an adult. But I certainly can't fault anyone who's trying their hardest to not let their kids get sick while on vacation...

 

[TENIA66]

Airbornne Is A Combination Of Herbs Vitamins Promoted To Fend Off Colds And Viruses...it Was Made By A Teacher


Ziacam Is A Homeopathic Rememdy For Colds........

 

[Dizneydaz]

I, too, do very little. And we are pretty healthy most of the time. I do, however, make sure my DD (and myself) wash our hands with soap after using the restroom. I don't carry around anti-bacteria anything. I just don't care for it-and the smell, to me, is awful.

That being said, if you want to carry around all the wipes etc., wipe down your room with anti-germ wipes, spray Lysol everywhere, than go ahead-me, I just don't worry about it. And, I'm the only one who has gotten sick at WDW. One time it was from a bad migraine brought on by the heat and once, I think it was from drinking the local water-I try to only drink bottled water (at WDW) from now on. Had to drink alot of cranberry juice that trip!

One more thing, I totally respect those of you who carry, and use, the wipes, but I have to relate this story of a mom who, IMHO, went a little too far. Jan. 05 my DM, DD5, and myself went to the petting zoo at Fort Wilderness. We met a DM with 2 kids. My DD and her DD hit it off immeadiately. They were best buddies by the time the boat arrived. Anyway, after petting and riding the ponies, the kids all washed their hands at the sink provided-with foamy soap. After the kids dried their hands the mom brought out her anti-bacterial gel and they did their hands again! I was completely blown away! Why use soap and then use gel? IMHO this is going overboard. Oh, and a further note, I didn't notice the mom using the gel after the kids got off the playground and from what I've read hear that would have made alot of sense.

Oh, and last trip, I did take Airborne before flying. I didn't catch anything, so maybe it works. I'll probably take it this time too along with bringing our own travel pillows-the thought of all the people who have used the pillows (and blankets) before me is pretty disgusting!

 

[Hedy]

After getting sick in DLR, I tried Airborne on my WDW trip and didn't get sick. It maybe purely anecdotal, but I think I'll continue using the stuff when I travel.

 

[Dina]

One more thing, I totally respect those of you who carry, and use, the wipes, but I have to relate this story of a mom who, IMHO, went a little too far. Jan. 05 my DM, DD5, and myself went to the petting zoo at Fort Wilderness. We met a DM with 2 kids. My DD and her DD hit it off immeadiately. They were best buddies by the time the boat arrived. Anyway, after petting and riding the ponies, the kids all washed their hands at the sink provided-with foamy soap. After the kids dried their hands the mom brought out her anti-bacterial gel and they did their hands again! I was completely blown away! Why use soap and then use gel? IMHO this is going overboard. Oh, and a further note, I didn't notice the mom using the gel after the kids got off the playground and from what I've read hear that would have made alot of sense. !

Though I agree she probably went a little too far with both the foamy soap and the gel-- we've had a few cases in recent years in this area of kids who died from EColi that they believed to have traced back to petting zoos. A playground wouldn't bother me either, but (now I have OCD, so this is me)-- I do really want my kids hands clean after petting zoos, actually I usually try to skip them all together (though I will let my kids do pony rides-- because I don't have the heart to say no to that). She may have gone overboard, but she may have been a little worried about the petting zoo-- I think I can kind of understand that one.

Though I'm not always good about washing my kids hands before eating-- I have to agree with everyone, we never leave a restroom without washing, and I try not to let them touch the doorknobs when leaving the restroom-- we use a towel, and try to shoot in into the trash as we walk out. But, that's pretty much all we do.

 

[TENIA66]

any more tips??

 

[kritter]

Can anyone tell me anything about the petting zoo etc. a Wilderness lodge??????

 

[twinklebug]

The petting zoo is/was at Fort Wilderness (the campground) near Hoop De Doo & Trails End. I had heard they removed most of the animals after concerns of children contracting disease through the animals at non-Disney parks across the country. I believe they still have a pony, perhaps a couple goats and, of course, the bunnies that run all over the grounds

 

[kritter]

Can you get pony rides if so how much are they???Thanks so much!!!!!!!

 

[ilovejack02]

Does that stuff really work?

I worked as a pharmacy tech for a bit when Airborne first came out on the market and one of the pharmacists said it's nothing more than a dose of vitamins. Maybe there's more to vitamins than I thought.

I read an aticle recently that said no it does not work.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

If you're going on a trip during flu season, you might want to consider getting everyone a flu shot. Our family is going in December and I'm going to make sure we all get our flu shots by early November so they have time to take full effect.