It’s no fun for anyone when your child has to be cooped up inside all day waiting for a cold to pass. Plus, if that cold means your child is missing school, his learning could suffer as well! We caught up with Registered Nurse (RN) and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Joann Blum, to find out the best ways for kids to avoid colds and shake them off quickly!
According to Joann, kids tend to catch colds more often in the winter not because of the chilly temperatures, but because winter usually means more time spent indoors with other people. Spring and sunny weather are on the way, but to survive these last few weeks cold-free, Joann says that hand washing is the most important thing your child can do! Make sure your child understands the proper way to wash his hands – a quarter size dollop of soap, warm water, and lots of suds – and ask him to wash his hands even when you aren’t around to police.
Sometimes, even the best hand-washers can’t escape those pesky colds going around the classroom. If your child does catch a cold, here are a few things Joann recommends to speed up recovery and keep everyone else healthy:
- If your child is suffering from an upset stomach, try the BRAT diet (no offense to your sweet little angel). BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast – foods that will go down easy and build up strength.
- Tight, painful cough? The best way to loosen that cough and give your throat a rest is to find a humid location. Try running a hot shower and having your child sit in the steamy bathroom for a few minutes at a time.
- Encourage your child to drink clear liquids, especially water, to keep well hydrated and more comfortable.
- If your child has a cold, ask him to use paper towels instead of sharing hand towels with the rest of the family. Also, make sure he knows not to cough or sneeze directly on others – give him a small pack of tissues to keep handy.
And if your child needs some entertainment while he fights off a cold, we recommend you check out CJ’s Indoor Adventures for some fun inside activities.
Filed under: Technology and Kids Tagged: | health
