Share your tips: How to keep other children healthy when one is sick
August 14, 2008 by Grace Ibay
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
So my son has been sick for two weeks. First it was a virus, now its colds and cough. He is seven months old, active and drooling a lot from teething. I try to keep up by disinfecting as we go through the day but alas, since I can’t see the germs I don’t know if he’s spreading the virus everywhere. I’m sure it’s all over my shirt and arms, all over his teething toys and who knows where else. Thing is, I have also have a three-year old who adores her little brother and would not leave him alone.
So now I’m stumped. Do I keep them separated the whole time he is sick? I do tell her to wash her hands often, but should I do that everytime she touches him? Yeah, he has coughed on her several times already and I have to tell HER to cover her mouth when the baby does that.
So, help me out here, will you please, and share your tips.
HOW DO YOU KEEP THE OTHER CHILDREN (AND THE PARENTS) HEALTHY WHEN ONE OF THEM IS SICK?
I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It’s not fun.
While this won’t help with the day-to-day in your face interaction, I do have a tip that dropped our cross contamination dramatically.
Does your family share the same tube of toothpaste? Many families have one tube in the family bathroom that the kids all use or the whole family uses.
I figured that this was a major cause of cross contamination so a few years ago, I gave everyone their own tube of toothpaste. You would not believe how dramatic the difference in colds and other viruses spreading.
Good luck. I remember what it’s like.
Marijke
http://www.wombwithin.com
http://www.helpmyhurt.com
Just had a similar situation in our household, except that it was my 5 year old who got sick first. Aside from washing hands and keeping close contact to a minimum, I can’t think of much else to do either.
Perhaps you can simply give your 3 yr old’s immune system a boost with lots of vitamin C!
Washing hands is the best advice I can give. I babysat my school-age nieces every day after school last year. They were constantly sick. I was sick twice. My now 14 month old was NOT SICK ONCE.
I washed my hands constantly to avoid sharing the germs that I had. I realize part of her “healthiness” was due to breastfeeding, but she was not sick at all.
Ruth and Heather, apparently my reply is a week old but still appreciate your leaving comments! It has been a crazy week but now the virus has exhausted itself.
you’re right! washing hands is the key my 3yo hasn’t gotten sick so i’m hoping she stays that way.