The Pfizer Pediatric Platform products, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.
Even as Spring approaches, we are not out of the woods when it comes to getting sick. In fact, there seems to be even more nastier bugs now than ever. I know so many people that are sick with fevers and nasty coughs. My niece was sick the entire week of Spring Break and my nephew just missed an entire week of school last week. Sick just got real™ for many of us.
Tips to Staying Healthy
1) Wash Your Hands – a LOT
I’m what you might call a germ freak when it comes to my family’s health. I’m the mom that packs individual hand wipes with my kids’ lunches and snacks as well as in my purse. We wash and sanitize our hands before we eat, after they get home from school or when we are out in public. Washing hands is the #1 way to keep the “ew” and “ick’s” from getting us sick.
Oh, there are so many “ew” and “ick’s” abounding all around us, especially where kids gather! If you go to your child’s school, you’ll hear and see more “ew” and “ick’s” than you could ever imagine were there. Germs are lurker everywhere because kids with coughs, colds, and sometimes fevers are at school, sports, libraries, stores, etc and they touch EVERYTHING. Teach your kids to wash their hands after coughing, sneezing, and blowing their nose to limit the passing on of “ew”, “ick’s”, and germs.
2) Stay Home with a Fever
If your child has a fever, please don’t send your child to school. Our school’s policy is that your child has to be fever-free for at least 24 hours before returning to school. I know this can be a huge challenge for parents that both work. However, it is in the best interest of your child and all of our children to keep children with fevers at home.
3) Eat Healthy and Take Vitamins
It is always important to eat a healthy diet and take vitamins for optimal health. It is even more important during cold and flu season. This is the best preventative measure we can do to ensure our kids have the healthiest immune system to fight off sickness all year round.
Extra TLC for Sick Kids
Even with all the preventative measures we put into place. We are all bound to get sick at one time or another.
A little TLC with the right medicine will help your child feel better and get back to school and life sooner.
Medicines that work to fight coughs and colds
There may not be a sure for the common cold but that doesn’t mean your child has to suffer with the symptoms and be in total discomfort. I have always trusted Pediatric Platform products to help relieve my children’s symptoms. Not sure which products to use for your child? Check out this Sick Sense Relief Finder.
I don’t anything is worse than the feeling of having a fever, except for seeing your child suffer with a fever. Some people feel like you shouldn’t treat a fever but I disagree. I always reach for Infants’ and Children’s Advil to help reduce the fever and pain associated with it.
Advil contains ibuprofen which just happens to be the medicine that pediatricians use for their own children. They know what works and so do I. Just be sure to use the proper dosage based on your child’s age and weight. Your pediatrician will give this to you during your regular visits usually, or you can call.
For coughs, runny noses, and general cold symptoms, I use a couple products. I really like Children’s Robitussin (for ages 6-12) because it helps control cough for 8 hours! This means I can give it to my children before they go to school and know they will have relief all day at school. Long lasting medicine makes all the difference, especially if children are reluctant to take their medicine.
Their Nighttime Cough formula does wonders to keep kids sleeping and less coughing at night too.
Another great product to try is Children’s Dimetapp for ages 6+. My 9 year old daughter is currently taking this for her runny and stuffy nose. It give my poor little girl the relief she needs to go to school and be a kid!
Children’s Dimetapp is actually the #1 pharmacist recommended brand for kids with coughs and cold symptoms. Besides my children’s pediatrician, I use and trust our pharmacist for his recommendations. If you don’t utilize your local pharmacist for advice on medications, you should give it a try. They are a wealth of knowledge and usually very eager to help.
In addition to quality medication to relieve symptoms and pain, I give my children lots of TLC.
Feed a Cold
At the first sign of a cold, I make homemade chicken soup. It’s not just an old wives tale, there are many benefits of chicken soup for the common cold. The Mayo Clinic agrees with feeding a cold with foods like chicken soup. The warm broth helps move mucus through the nose, relieving congestion and limiting the time the virus is in contact with the lining of your nose. The warmth of the soup is also soothing for a sore throat.
Stay Hydrated
It is so important to stay hydrated while sick. Drinking water can actually help control a fever, prevent nausea, clear secretions, and more. I shop at Target for all my sick day needs. Check out these fun water bottles that are sure to get your kids to drink enough water.
Another fun way to get your child to drink enough water is to have a special sick water bottle to help you keep track up how much your child drinks. This can turn into a fun activity if you give your child a small prize after they drink their daily allotment.
Rest
If your child is sick, they need to rest. Sleep can actually help your body resist infection and help your immune system. Let your child sleep in and rest during the day. I’m pretty sure that this is the one time when it is ok if your child goes over the 2 hour recommendation by APA for screen time. Snuggle up with your child with a good movie or two.
Don’t encourage active play or sports when your child is at his worse. This is just my personal view. I don’t think it is a healthy idea to send a sick kid to their weekly sports practice. #1 They will feel drained and awful during and after practice. #2 They will be passes their germs onto their team mates. Take a break while your child is sick, it isn’t going to make the difference between going to the Olympics or not.
Track the Sick
Sick just got real for my family and it’s no wonder why. According to SickWeather.com, the flu, coughs, and the common cold are going around in Akron, Ohio. You can Track the Sick for your area too if you want to see what’s going around with kids near you.
Be prepared for when the “ews” and “ick’s” turn into sick kids in your home. You can purchase Infants’ and Children’s Advil, Children’s Robitussin, and Children’s Dimetapp at Target nationwide or on Target.com.
