Tis the season (cold and flu that is)

ladystout08 · September 2018

The season of sickness is upon us. Are you adding anything to your routine/daily life to try and prevent illness? What's your favorite tried and true methods? Are you an essential oils user? Extreme hand washer? Extra vitamin C person?

Spill your favorite tips below!

ladystout08 · September 2018

I just ordered some OnGuard from a friend of mine, got DS's diffuser set up and bought my own. I also got some of the OnGuard hand soap that we'll use at home. I plan on mixing some of the oil with coconut oil to make my own lotion to bring into work. I've stocked up on cold meds for when someone does inevitably get sick to try and shorten the duration. Calling next week to schedule my flu shot.

leighbrek · September 2018

This is a thread I could've used a week and a half ago... Hahaha.
In reality, though, I think that beyond eating well and keeping up on good handwashing practices, it's pretty near impossible to avoid the bugs. People show up sick at work or at family gatherings... Public transportation is a scourge... Lots of people have toddlers. We're doomed!

ladystout08 · September 2018

@leighbrek are you finally feeling better? I remember getting sick while pregnant with DS and I was so miserable. I'm trying everything to avoid it this time around. lol

snackheart · September 2018

I got my flu shot at the OB last week. I need to get the kids in to the pedi for theirs. DS just started preschool this week so I’m mostly praying lol

leighbrek · September 2018

@ladystout08 Still fighting the good fight. Congestion and coughing. The good news is that now if I sit with a humidifier, I can breathe at least a little bit.

Smart to do everything in your power to avoid it. Winter is a terrible time to be pregnant, I must say.

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt · September 2018

I have a germy toddler...learned last year there's no way around cold/flu season. It's inevitable when you have a little kid and you like to socialize with other people from Oct-April! We try to be good about washing hands and we all get flu shots. It's also good to be stocked up on things like Gatorade and crackers for when we all go down with the stomach flu at the same time.

LauraK33 · September 2018

We diffuse on guard and have a roller of it for the bottoms of feet at night. Lemon essential oils in water every morning for everyone and elderberry syrup at night for the husband and kids!

kmos816 · September 2018

I think I’ll try essential oils- DD has a diffuser and I’m mostly worried about her catching something and giving it to us. I’ll get a flu shot like normal; and make sure DD and DH get one as well- last year neither did and thankfully nobody got the flu considering how bad it was!!!

CoastieGirl79 · September 2018

I have DS on vitamins. I keep packets of antibacterial hand wipes in all vehicles. When DS gets picked up at daycare, we get him in the car, and he immediately wipes his hands and face with the wipes. I don't shake hands with anyone during cold and flu season. Everyone in my household gets the flu shot.

beachmama14 · September 2018

We all get flu shots, and I have hand sanitizer in the car that everyone uses after going into any stores/school/activities. I also try to up the bath game and do baths every night to wash everything off their bodies before bed. We still get sick, but I’m sure that at least helps! We also do vitamins.

bradleysmommy28 · September 2018

I want to throw this in the mix too because honestly, I feel like no one knows about it. God forbid anyone here have a preemie BUT ir you do, esp this time of year, ask about Synagis. Its an expensive once a month injection to prevent them from catching RSV that is typically covered by insurance if your child is born prematurely. DS was born in December and our insurance covered it thru May, well past cold/flu season!

ladystout08 · September 2018

@bradleysmommy28 that's good to know!
@CoastieGirl79 I didn't think about vitamins, i wonder if I should add some to DS's regimen.

kns1988 · September 2018

I have so many sick coworkers that come to work anyways. It irritates me so much that they won't just work from home. Hand sanitizer is prominent on my desk.

ladystout08 · September 2018

@kns1988 I hate that. STAY HOME!

CoastieGirl79 · September 2018

@ladystout08 when I get home, I'll take a pic of the brand we use and post it so you can see.

ladystout08 · September 2018

@CoastieGirl79 I got these Sundown Naturals Kids Disney Mickey Mouse Sugar-Free Complete Multivitamin, 180 Count b/c I knew he'd take them since they're Mickey Mouse, lol.

I just ordered vitamins for DS and DH, elderberry gummies for all three of us, Zicam and Emergen-C mostly for DH and a bunch of travel size hand sanitizer.

CoastieGirl79 · September 2018

@ladystout08 We use this brand. DS is 3, so he can chew harr vitamins. He really likes them. I was buying them at a health food store but get them cheaper off Amazon, of course.

I also started buying a hand sanitizing mist. It's made by EO, and it is organic hand sanitizer that smells like French lavendar. I bought it more for the refreshing smell and the fact that it doesn't dry my hands out like Purell.

BitterBetty12 · September 2018

Currently in the process of catching coxsackie from my 14 month old. So I think I’m off to a good start?

Jackiemxoxo · September 2018

Both kids started school and they have already brought home some nasty colds. The congestion/cough seems to last for 2-3 weeks. I make them wash their hands as soon as they get home. I am kind of annoyed at how school doesn't make them wash their hands before lunch/snacks. I am planning to get them flu shots when they get over these colds. Lots of citrus fruits and hydration in our house has helped. Also, I know most kids can't have cold medicine until 5-6 but Bromfed is a good decongestant that you can use as young as 1 or 2 if you can get your doctor to prescribe it.

ladystout08 · September 2018

Thanks @CoastieGirl79 !
@BitterBetty12 that's awful! DS had HFM and it was miserable but neither of us caught it. My coworker got it from his daughter and it took him out for like 2 weeks. Feel better soon!

merostomata · September 2018

Oh gosh, I was just thinking of creating a thread like this! Thanks! I've had a pretty nasty cold for a solid week and 2 days now. It is improving but is worse than colds usually feel, which perhaps is due to a dampened immune system with pregnancy? We are more susceptible to catching infections and it takes a little longer to get over them- so fun.

The only thing that *sort of* helped was pretty aggressive neti pot use (saline rinse) several times a day, which helped drain my sinuses. I also used vick's vaporub and cough drops, and had regular lemon and honey hot beverages to ease my sore throat. Eucalyptus essential oil would probably be good too for sinuses, I just don't have any on hand atm. It seemed like every herbal tea I had that sounded nice (throat coat, lemon zinger) was actually very bad for pregnancy due to ingredients like slippery elm and hibiscus, so even those I couldn't have. Ugh!

My midwives did give me a list of pregnancy-safe cold medications, which included: regular sudafed, benadryl, tylenol, chlor trimetron, actifed, dimetapp, robitussin DM or regular, throat lozenges and vick's vaporub. Most of the medications I opted not to take, but good to know they are safe for a few days if needed.

Overall though it just kinda sucks. I've had pregnancy congestion anyway, so with the cold I've been mouth breathing for most of the week. Luckily it is improving now though.

Thanks all for the hygeine tips. Three friends I know also have colds now, which they suspect is due to kids going back to school.

merostomata · September 2018

@BitterBetty12 I'm so sorry, that is awful. I hope you and your DD feel better soon!

ladystout08 · September 2018

I hope you feel better soon @merostomata !

sweetyjenj · September 2018

DD came home from daycare today with a 101 fever

she was fine this morning, now she isn't...then get a message that another daycare kid has Strep

There's only so much I can control. We all take vitamins (except DD so far, she's only 18 months) and I stock up on oranges and other vitamin C foods. I also have vitamin c supplements. I have hand sanitizer in my car for between clients (I do inhome therapy) and hand sanitizer on my desk at the office.

We all intend on getting a flu shot, but that only helps so much.

ladystout08 · September 2018

Rearranged and restocked our medicine and vitamin cabinet. Made the boys some of those Emergen-C drinks and gave them vitamins. Mixed up some OnGuard in a spray bottle and wiped down most surfaces. Mixed some OnGuard with coconut oil for hand lotion. Stocked each lunch box and back pack with hand sanitizer. Cleaned the fans and air conditioner filters. Now hopefully we can nip DS’s cold in the bud and try to prevent further illness.

BitterBetty12 · September 2018

@ladystout08 @merostomata thankfully it was a false alarm. I seem to have escaped it from DD. BUT DH came down with it Wednesday night and has been a giant miserable grumbling man child since then. So now I’m trying to avoid catching it from him!

tosh24 · September 2018

@Jackiemxoxo I find certain teachers are better than others about making the kids wash up before snack/lunch. I started buying travel packs of antibacterial Wet Ones and putting them in DS' lunch bag so he can still clean his hands if the teacher doesn't give the kids time to wash.

kmvisioli · September 2018

Two of my kiddos just got over strep, but thankfully it was only 1 day of misery and the other kid stayed clear. We do daily kid vitamins, probiotic for the 3-yr-old, On Guard soap and sanitizer, and run melaleuca in the diffuser (usually mixed with lavender for bedtime or lemon downstairs during the day). I also made a roller bottle with a “Cold Buster” blend of oils for when they do start to show any symptoms or when I know we’re going somewhere extra germy.

Jackiemxoxo · September 2018

@tosh24, that is such a good idea! I am totally gonna do that with DD1 cause I am so over these colds. Its frustrating because they asked for gallons of hand sanitizer but she said the teacher doesn't keep it out in the classroom.

pttomato · September 2018

DD just caught a bad cold, so I'm sure I'll end up with that soon. Avoiding illnesses is so much harder this time with a social toddler that loves to stick everything in her mouth.

tosh24 · September 2018

DS has had a yucky cold and low fever since late last week. DH was gone for a boys weekend Sat-Sun. He came home and persuaded me to partake in a lovely make-out sesh last night and then proceeded to tell me right after that he felt like he was coming down with DS' cold all day. WTF, buddy! He woke up this morning with a full blown man cold. I'm going to be super pissed if I get it. I'm starting with nasal saline rinses tonight and I'm going to verify with my doctor how much Vit C and Vit D is safe to take right now.

ladystout08 · September 2018

@tosh24 that's grounds for one of those justifiable murder scenarios that they talk about in the musical Chicago.

tosh24 · September 2018

@ladystout08 Right!?!?! But you know, I'd probably still be more productive with a pregnancy cold and no meds than he is with a man cold and all the drugs, so....

UnbreakableKimmySchmidt · September 2018

Ugh @tosh24 hope you avoid it!!! DD came down with a cold on Saturday and we're about to go on a trip in a few days. Fingers crossed but it doesn't seem that bad and so far the rest of us have remained healthy. She has some bumps on her face (possible bug bites?) that I am worrying about now tho.

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