Cold and Flu Season

Fall is here. Pumpkins, apple picking, warm clothes, Halloween are on the horizon. And what's next? The dreaded cold and flu season. Every mom knows that winter can be a long, long season of scratchy throats, running noses, fevers, and ear infections. Here are some products to stock up on now to help keep you all healthy.

Soap. Frequent hand washing is the number one way to prevent colds and flu germs from spreading. Make it easy for your kids to do themselves. Put a stool by the sink in the bathroom; invest in some kid-friendly foaming soap; make sure a towel is nearby and that you change it frequently. Try to get your kids (and you) into the habit of washing up when coming in the house, and of course, before meals.

Airborne. This product, created by a second grade school teacher who was frustrated at catching every illness brought into her classroom, contains herbal extracts, amino acids, electrolytes and antioxidants that people swear prevent airborne germs from giving them colds and flu. My husband, who teaches adults in a call center, has used it with wonderful results for the last two years.

Lysol disinfectant spray. It doesn't hurt to spray down doorknobs, bathrooms, and other surfaces at least once a day during cold and flu season. Use Lysol disinfectant spray on toys, too, especially if your child is having frequent playdates at your house. Lysol is effective in killing up to 99% of germs it comes in contact with.

Antibacterial wipes. I'm not a big fan of antibacterial soaps and hand cleaners, but I use these antibacterial wipes during the height of cold and flu season to wipe down table surfaces in fast food restaurants; handles of shopping carts; and for emergency hand wiping when you can't get to wash hands after handling toys or other potentially germy items.

Soft tissues. My oldest daughter is especially sensitive to sore nose when she has a cold. She is much more apt to actually wipe her nose with a tissue instead of her sleeve if soft, aloe-infused tissues are provided. Buy a box for every room in the house, and don't forget pocket packs for your purse. Cold and flu season means lots of runny noses, and with little kids, it's best to wipe before they can do it with their hands or clothes.

Vitamin C. Start giving your children (and yourself) the appropriate dosage of vitamin C when cold and flu season begins. Make sure all of you continue eating fresh fruits and vegetables and take your daily vitamin in addition to the extra vitamin C. Vitamin C is credited with reducing the length of a cold, as well as being beneficial in preventing them from happening.

Saline drops. My children really don't like this, but keeping the nasal membranes moist with a sterile saline solution is one of the best ways to prevent colds. And it really helps when one of them has a stuffy nose, too.

Consider a humidifier for bedrooms. Moist air keeps mucous membranes healthy and more able to ward off cold and flu germs.

Prevention is still the best plan of action for cold and flu season. But, inevitably, one or more of your children will succumb to a germ he contracted from school, church, playground, grocery store, or elsewhere. So keep these items stocked just in case, too.

Children's cough and cold medicine. A tired child has a hard time getting better. When coughing from cold or flu is keeping your child from sleeping well, it's a good idea to give her some cough medicine. Getting good sleep is crucial to recovering from viruses like cold and flu.

Children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These help with some of the achiness that is associated with the flu; reduce the elevated temperature that comes with battling the flu or a cold; and help your child feel more comfortable, and sleep better.

An ear thermometer. These allow you to take your child's temperature without requiring him to hold his mouth closed for one minute; and without the indignity of a rectal temperature check; and provide a more accurate temperature reading than mom's wrist. Knowing your child's accurate temperature can help you to know when or if to give medication or to call the doctor.

Videos or DVDs. There is nothing like lying on the couch, wrapped in a warm, cozy blanket, watching TV, when you are sick. It will help your child to rest if he is sick; ward off lots of whining; help you keep your sanity when nursing sick children; and allow you to get a little rest too. Magic School Bus has a video called Inside Ralphie that describes germs and how they act in the human body that might help your child understand why he needs to take his medicine and why his body needs to rest.