10 Quick Tips For Surviving “Sick Season” With Young Kids

This year has been a doozy when it comes to sickness. Every time I think we’re healthy and in the clear, one of us spikes a fever and we’re back in the warzone. Picture me, Lysol in one hand, Kleenex in the other with my battle face on. We’re getting by though, and we’re lucky that nothing has been too serious. However, we’re still in the thick of it, so I’m arming all you mamas with my 10 quick tips for surviving “sick season” with young kids.

So let me just start by saying, kids are disgusting. They don’t care a thing about germs, and honestly I’d be a whole lot more sane if I didn’t worry about them either. I’m all for building strong immune systems the old fashioned way. Eating dirt, exposure to all the yucky stuff… my kids have probably eaten enough freshly-picked boogers to be immune to just about anything. (This is partial sarcasm, but also pretty spot on for my two germ-bags).

10 Quick Tips For Surviving “Sick Season” With Young Kids

{Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This list is based on my own experiences, and the opinions of any products mentioned are all my own. There are affiliate links in this post, which means I may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.}

Jokes aside though, children are truly gross creatures. They touch the bottoms of shoes, the walls of public restrooms, and then they’ll use those same hands to eat any random snack they found on the floor in church. Hence, tip #1…

#1. Wash Those Hands!

If you sit back for a second and think about everything your toddler has touched since the last time you washed their hands, I promise you’ll cringe. No, I’m not chasing mine around with hand sanitizer or washing them up every hour. But I do think it’s a good idea to clean their hands before they eat, even if its just a quick once-over with a baby wipe in public.

10 Quick Tips For Surviving “Sick Season” With Young Kids

The truth is, germs can make you sick. Children are yucky enough on their own to build up those hardy immune systems. So my advice is to do what you can to cut back on the amount of germs that end up in their mouth, and rest assured that you did what you could. This germ-tracker sleuthing kit is a super fun activity to do with kids. It comes with a little black light, and it’s perfect for teaching them how to properly wash up. It’s even a good refresher for adults, because hey, those germs don’t play around!

#2. Take Their Temperature

Anytime something seems off with your kiddo, it’s a good idea to take their temperature. Just in case. Often when a child has a fever, they are contagious to others, so unless you want to start a domino effect of sick kids, it’s best to isolate them while they’re on the mend. I have found this Dr. Talbot’s non-contact infrared thermometer to be extremely accurate, and hassle free for the kids. Check out Doctor Heidi doing her best work below, haha!

If I ever get a fever reading, I like to double check it with a different thermometer just to be sure. But so far this one has been spot on! Once the fever has been gone for 24 hours and other symptoms have diminished, typically it’s fine to return to daycare or playgroups.

#3. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!

I’m constantly pushing liquids on my kiddos. If I’m being totally honest, it’s because my two tend to have a difficult time going number two… if you know what I mean. So lots and lots of water is a must to keep things moving, but that’s not all water is good for. Based on a medically reviewed study by Everyday Health, staying hydrated may boost a particular immune response to enable your body to better fight the viruses like cold and flu.

A lot of mamas claim that their children “don’t like water”, and hey, I get it. Sometimes my kids push water away and beg for juice. And *shrug* a lot of time they get the juice. However, I do have tips that help with toddler water intake. 1.) Try a different cup. My daughter has recently become obsessed with this pink unicorn cup from Nuby and she’s been downing water like crazy. 2.) Add Ice. When the new cup gets boring, add ice and shake it. Make the ice water sound like the coolest thing you’ve ever seen in your entire life, and see if that works. 3.) Tell them, “I bet you can’t take 3 big-kid drinks out of that cup” and watch them prove you wrong. Works every time.

Heidi’s cool new cup
(link in text above)

#4. Make Friends With Probiotics and Prebiotics

Okay, this probably sounds dramatic, but probiotics and prebiotics literally saved my son’s health. At about 6 months old he started having serious muscle confusion, known as infant dyschezia when trying to go to the bathroom. This condition lasted an abnormally long time in Brock… about 9 months. He would try and try so hard to go, but the muscles he was trying to use to push were actually the muscles that cause a person to clench. This caused a horrible cycle of him getting backed up, then screaming to push out a nightmare of a #2. We put him on a strict diet, tried lots of medications, had multiple visits to a children’s GI, and nothing was working.

Our pediatrician recommended that we add in prebiotics and probiotics to his diet, so of course I tried several. Well, long story short, these Intelligent Labs Kid’s Probiotics and Prebiotic Chewables have been lifechanging for my son’s gut health! He takes one chewable per day, and within days of trying this product he became regular with softer stools.

10 Quick Tips For Surviving “Sick Season” With Young Kids

Not only are probiotics amazing for gut health, but they also can supercharge your immune system to keep you healthy and strong. Based on what I’ve read, taking prebiotics along with probiotics increases how affective they are. Each single chewable tablet contains 6 probiotic CFU’s, prebiotics, and fiber. Both of my kids now take this product, and I feel good about what it’s doing for their health.

#5. Run The Humidifier

When cold and flu season comes around, both of my kids sleep with a humidifier in their bedroom every night. Purple for Heidi, and blue for Brock. They think their “water makers” are so amazing, and I truly do notice a difference in their health when the humidifier is in use. I think it’s a necessity to have one for each kid, because sickness tends to travel like wildfire if your household is anything like mine. Personal space doesn’t exist around here, so we have to stay prepared for a full-on plague. If you don’t already have a humidifier, I have linked the ones we have below. They’re super easy to use and clean, so I’d highly recommend!

#6. Fill Up On Fruits & Veggies

A healthy diet works wonders on the immune system, and that’s a proven fact. We load up on Vitamin C around this time of year, and it’s super easy since my kids love oranges! They eat at least one of the little cutie oranges just about every single day. Broccoli also packs a pretty big vitamin c punch, along with a ton of other nutrients. Add in blueberries for a snack packed with antihistamines and antioxidants. And if you look into it, there’s a good reason for the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

10 Quick Tips For Surviving “Sick Season” With Young Kids

If you feed your kiddos good food, it will help their little bodies to be naturally prepared for any sickness the season may throw their way. It’s not always easy to get kids to eat their veggies, but I find that anything I mix in with applesauce or mashed potatoes goes down the hatch just fine! And on that note, how adorable are these new catch-bibs Heidi and Brock are sporting? They’ve become our new favorites to travel with since they roll up in the diaper bag so neatly!

#7. Wash Hand Towels And Pillowcases

My husband thinks I’m crazy, but anytime one of us is sick I change the pillowcases and hand towels we use every. single. day. This also goes for the kids’ blankies and any other machine-washable item that gets rubbed on faces. A lot of people probably overlook these items, but these are the thoughts that creep into my mind at 3am and keep me awake all night.

So yeah. If you want to avoid reinfection or spreading sickness from one person to the next, it’s a good idea to wash those types of items A LOT more frequently. Just buy extras if you don’t want to do laundry every day, then revert back to the non-crazy cleaning routine when the household is healthy again.

#8. Sanitize Toys And Hygiene Items

I’ll admit, I’m not great about this day to day. However, it is worthwhile to disinfect the toys that the kids play with regularly and I should do a better job of it. I will say that anytime we take a toy in public or to a park with other kids I like to give those items a quick wipe down when we get home, just to be safe.

Also, anytime one of us recovers from an illness, I always like to sanitize our toothbrushes in the dishwasher. Sometimes I just replace them altogether. Recently, we were gifted these vibrating kids toothbrushes from Nuby. They play the Cocomelon “This Is The Way You Brush Your Teeth” song for 2 minutes, so your kids know when they can stop brushing. While you may think that these wouldn’t be washable due to all the mechanics, they have removeable washable brush heads, which is genius!

10 Quick Tips For Surviving “Sick Season” With Young Kids

#9. Soak Up Some Sunshine

Fresh air and sunshine are good for the immune system, the body, and the soul. Obviously it depends on the weather if you’re able to go out and play each day, but if the sun is out you better believe we will be too. It’s super important to get your body moving, and to do it outside is a double positive! Soak up the natural Vitamin D. Run barefoot in the grass. Go on an adventure. Your kids will probably agree with me that outside play is the BEST medicine!

10 Quick Tips For Surviving “Sick Season” With Young Kids

#10. Get Plenty Of Shut-Eye

Sleep provides essential support for the immune system. Studies show that those who don’t get enough quality sleep are more likely to get sick after exposure to illness than individuals who are regularly well-rested. I’m not a huge stickler for scheduled naps, but I do make sure the kids get in a full 8 hours at night, and usually one long nap somewhere in the day for the both of them. A well-rested child is a much happier child, and anything that can cut down on tantrums is a win in my books.

Thanks for reading!

From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate each and every one of my readers so incredibly much. I have a lot of fun communicating with you in this way, but more than anything I want to be able to get together in person soon! When all the sickness going around settles down, it’s a goal of mine to host an in-person meet & greet style playdate. I’m also extremely interested in collaborating with like-minded mamas with projects of their own. Podcasts, clothing stores, children’s books… I see you out there doing your thing! Shoot me a message if I can help promote your success in any way. I know there are tons of boss moms reading this, and I’m thrilled you found your way here.

xoxo – Haley

119 thoughts on “10 Quick Tips For Surviving “Sick Season” With Young Kids”

  1. Hey there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone!
    Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all
    your posts! Carry on the outstanding work!

  2. Hello, I think your site might be having browser compatibility issues.
    When I look at your website in Firefox, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it
    has some overlapping. I just wanted to give you a quick heads
    up! Other then that, very good blog!

  3. I truly enjoy studying on this web site, it has got wonderful blog posts. “One should die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly.” by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.

  4. Hiya! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly?

    My blog looks weird when viewing from my iphone 4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might be able to resolve
    this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share.
    Appreciate it!

  5. Thank you for any other informative web site.

    The place else may just I get that kind of info written in such a perfect means?

    I’ve a project that I’m just now operating on, and I have
    been on the glance out for such information.

  6. Greetings, I think your website could possibly be having web browser compatibility problems.
    When I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in Internet Explorer, it’s got some overlapping issues.
    I just wanted to provide you with a quick heads up!
    Aside from that, excellent site!

  7. You actually make it seem so easy together with your
    presentation however I in finding this matter to be actually
    something that I think I would by no means understand. It sort of feels too complex and very broad
    for me. I’m looking ahead on your subsequent put up, I’ll attempt to
    get the grasp of it!

  8. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right
    here. The sketch is attractive, your authored material stylish.
    nonetheless, you command get bought an shakiness
    over that you wish be delivering the following.
    unwell unquestionably come more formerly again since exactly the same nearly very
    often inside case you shield this increase.

  9. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog
    and was wondering what all is required to get set up?

    I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
    I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% sure. Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Thank you

  10. I pay a quick visit every day a few web sites and sites to read
    content, except this weblog presents quality based posts.

  11. Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed!
    Very helpful information specially the last part :
    ) I care for such information a lot. I was seeking this certain information for a
    very long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  12. Whats up very cool blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb ..
    I will bookmark your website and take the feeds additionally?
    I’m satisfied to find so many useful info here within the put
    up, we want develop extra techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing.

    . . . . .

  13. Hello! I understand this is sort of off-topic but I had to
    ask. Does running a well-established website like yours take a massive
    amount work? I’m completely new to operating a blog however I do write in my diary everyday.
    I’d like to start a blog so I can easily share my own experience and
    feelings online. Please let me know if you have any kind
    of suggestions or tips for new aspiring blog owners.
    Thankyou!

  14. I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
    I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on. Many thanks

  15. Hi there, You have done an excellent job. I’ll certainly digg it
    and personally recommend to my friends. I’m sure they’ll
    be benefited from this website.

  16. Wow, this piece of writing is pleasant, my sister is analyzing these kinds of things, thus I am going
    to convey her.

  17. Hello there, I found your website by way of Google while looking for a related matter,
    your site got here up, it seems good. I have bookmarked it
    in my google bookmarks.
    Hello there, just turned into alert to your weblog via Google, and located that it is truly informative.
    I am going to be careful for brussels. I’ll appreciate when you continue this
    in future. Lots of other people might be benefited from
    your writing. Cheers!

  18. I’m not sure exactly why but this weblog is loading very slow for me.
    Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my
    end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.

  19. Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download
    it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog stand out.
    Please let me know where you got your design. Thanks a lot

  20. Good day! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading
    through this post reminds me of my previous room mate!
    He always kept talking about this. I will forward this page to him.
    Fairly certain he will have a good read.
    Many thanks for sharing!

  21. This is a topic that’s near to my heart… Cheers! Exactly where are your contact details though?

  22. I will immediately take hold of your rss feed as I can not find
    your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service.
    Do you’ve any? Please permit me understand in order that I
    may subscribe. Thanks.

  23. This is really attention-grabbing, You are an excessively
    professional blogger. I’ve joined your feed and
    sit up for looking for extra of your great post. Additionally, I have shared your site
    in my social networks

  24. After going over a handful of the articles on your web site,
    I really like your technique of writing a blog.
    I saved it to my bookmark site list and will be checking back soon. Take a
    look at my web site too and let me know what you think.

  25. May I simply just say what a relief to find someone that truly knows what they’re discussing on the net.
    You actually know how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
    More and more people must check this out and understand this side of your story.
    I can’t believe you aren’t more popular since you definitely have the gift.

  26. Hi my family member! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and include almost all important infos.
    I would like to see more posts like this .

  27. Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one!
    It’s on a completely different subject but it has pretty much
    the same layout and design. Great choice of colors!

  28. My brother recommended I might like this blog. He was
    totally right. This post truly made my day. You can not imagine just how much
    time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  29. Hey! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form?
    I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems
    finding one? Thanks a lot!

  30. I do not even understand how I finished up right here, however I believed this publish was good.
    I do not understand who you’re however definitely you’re going to a famous blogger should you aren’t already.
    Cheers!

  31. I don’t even know how I finished up right here, however I thought this submit used to be good.
    I do not recognise who you are however definitely you’re going to
    a famous blogger when you are not already.
    Cheers!

  32. I think this is among the most significant information for me.
    And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The site style is perfect, the articles is really
    excellent : D. Good job, cheers

  33. I will right away snatch your rss as I can’t in finding your
    e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any?
    Kindly permit me know so that I may just subscribe.
    Thanks.

  34. Filled with analingus, tribbing, multiple anal strapon positions finishing with explosive anal orgasms.
    For anal play, I think silicone-based lube works best;
    it has a thicker consistency and tends to last longer than water-based lubes, so you won’t have to reapply mid-session. The additional seat, Bicester, would almost
    certainly have been won by the Conservatives had it been in place at the last election. Porn,
    due to increased availability, often becomes the first place children and
    adolescents go to learn about sex. Even with 10 states having
    laws on the books covering deepfake porn, criminal laws may not
    be the most practical solution for a victim, said Goldberg.

    We even have some here at Hopkins, quite honestly, that are probably older than I am.
    Dominant guys are confident, calm, and collected.

    So for those of you that autoclave waste, are you using
    class N or S, meaning just gravity-based instruments?

    So steam displaces a portion of the air in the chamber by gravity using a drain port in the
    bottom of the instrument.

  35. I?¦ve read some just right stuff here. Certainly value bookmarking for revisiting. I surprise how so much attempt you set to make the sort of fantastic informative web site.

  36. Вся информация гемблеров (платежная, контактная, персональная) шифруется при помощи SSL-протоколов и не доступна третьим заинтересованным личностям.

  37. Популярен покер-рум среди любителей Омахи — иногда на PokerOK в нее играет даже больше людей, чем в Холдем.

  38. Do you have a spam issue on this site; I also am a
    blogger, and I was wondering your situation; we have developed
    some nice methods and we are looking to exchange techniques
    with others, why not shoot me an email if interested.

  39. Hi! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
    Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.

    I’m thinking about setting up my own but I’m not sure
    where to begin. Do you have any points or suggestions?
    Appreciate it

  40. I’m impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s equally educative and engaging,
    and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is
    something which not enough people are speaking intelligently about.
    I’m very happy I stumbled across this during
    my hunt for something concerning this.

  41. Hi there, You have done a fantastic job. I will definitely digg
    it and personally recommend to my friends.
    I am sure they’ll be benefited from this website.

  42. Hi would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re working with?
    I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot
    faster then most. Can you recommend a good internet hosting provider at a honest price?

    Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!

  43. Having read this I thought it was rather enlightening.
    I appreciate you spending some time and energy to put this article together.
    I once again find myself personally spending way too much time both reading and commenting.
    But so what, it was still worth it!

  44. Good way of describing, and good paragraph to get data concerning my presentation focus,
    which i am going to present in institution of higher education.

  45. Hey I am so excited I found your website, I really found you by accident, while I was browsing on Askjeeve for something else, Anyhow I am here now and
    would just like to say kudos for a tremendous post and a
    all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time
    to read through it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so
    when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep
    up the excellent work.

  46. Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Internet explorer. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the issue fixed soon. Thanks

  47. I just like the helpful information you provide to your articles.
    I’ll bookmark your blog and check again right here frequently.
    I’m somewhat certain I will be told many new stuff right right
    here! Best of luck for the next!

  48. I would like to thnkx for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming as well. In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own blog now. Really the blogging is spreading its wings quickly. Your write up is a good example of it.

  49. Hello to all, how is everything, I think every one is getting more from
    this web page, and your views are fastidious in favor of new people.

  50. Whats up very cool blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds alsoKI am happy to find a lot of useful info here within the publish, we need develop more strategies on this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  51. You can definitely see your enthusiasm within the work you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. All the time go after your heart. “There are only two industries that refer to their customers as users.” by Edward Tufte.

  52. Wow, wonderful blog structure! How long have you ever been running a blog for?
    you made running a blog glance easy. The full glance of your
    site is magnificent, as smartly as the content material!

    You can see similar here ecommerce

  53. Thank you for the sensible critique. Me and my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more from this post. I’m very glad to see such great information being shared freely out there.

  54. I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your site. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems? A few of my blog audience have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Opera. Do you have any tips to help fix this issue?

  55. It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this excellent blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to new updates and will talk about this website with my Facebook group. Talk soon!

  56. Wow! This could be one particular of the most useful blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Excellent. I’m also a specialist in this topic so I can understand your effort.

  57. I discovered your blog site on google and check a few of your early posts. Continue to keep up the very good operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. Seeking forward to reading more from you later on!…

  58. Nice blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your design. Many thanks

  59. I was just searching for this information for a while. After six hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your website. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that do not rank this kind of informative sites in top of the list. Usually the top sites are full of garbage.

  60. Great – I should definitely pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs as well as related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your customer to communicate. Nice task.

  61. Howdy just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your post seem to be running off the screen in Ie. I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know. The design look great though! Hope you get the issue solved soon. Thanks

  62. There are certainly a number of particulars like that to take into consideration. That is a nice level to carry up. I supply the ideas above as normal inspiration but clearly there are questions like the one you convey up where an important thing will be working in trustworthy good faith. I don?t know if finest practices have emerged round things like that, but I’m certain that your job is clearly identified as a good game. Both girls and boys feel the impact of just a moment’s pleasure, for the remainder of their lives.

  63. What i don’t understood is in truth how you are now not really much more neatly-liked than you might be right now. You are very intelligent. You realize thus significantly when it comes to this subject, made me in my view imagine it from numerous varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t fascinated except it?¦s one thing to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs great. At all times maintain it up!

  64. Hey very nice web site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Superb .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds alsoKI’m happy to search out a lot of helpful info right here within the publish, we want develop more techniques on this regard, thank you for sharing. . . . . .

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *