As parents, we hate to see our kids sick. It tugs at the heartstrings and, if we’re not so lucky, also means that they’re going to be a lot more needy and clingy. They may even make a few extra nasty messes in the house – always a fun thing to clean up. As the weather gets colder and we’re forced inside in close contact to one another, there are more opportunities for germ spreading in a short amount of time.
It can seem like everyone comes down with something or other at once, and then spreads whoever they have like wildfire right up through the whole holiday season.
Thankfully, there are a few clever hacks that you can do to keep your children essentially illness free this winter and out of harm’s way as much as possible. Here are a few ways to keep yourself, and your child, in optimal health year round.
Avoid hospitals
In the case that any of your children do come down with a cold, flu, or something nastier, do consider if it’s really needed to take them into the office to see a doctor. Before dragging everyone to the clinic in adverse weather, call the advice nurse hotline to speak to a nurse and explain the symptoms. If the symptoms are mild there may be no reason for them to go in and be seen – sometimes we just have to ride it out and wait for the kid to heal on their own.
In some cases, your doctor may trust your judgment and call in a prescription over the phone. If your child gets ear infections every time they get sick, your doctor may just prescribe you the same thing she gives every year and call it a day. No need to waste half a day sitting in her office for a quick fix, build up a good reputation and camaraderie with your doctor and office staff so that you can avoid office visits as much as possible
The added benefit of not taking your child to the clinic for every little thing is that you greatly reduce the amount of exposure they will get to other kids and other illnesses. When the kid coughing on the office play equipment is diagnosed with pneumonia, then you’ll know you made the right decision.
If you absolutely have to take one of your children to the clinic or doctor’s office, consider leaving any other children you have with a trusted friend, family member, or neighbor for the duration of the visit. This will ensure that you don’t knowingly expose your perfectly healthy children to additional viruses, bacteria, and other germs in the lobby or waiting room while you take your sick child to their appointment.
Keep hydrated
This often overlooked need is our key to optimal body functioning and processing. Not only does it keep the blood moving (circulating antibodies, nutrients, and white blood cells around our whole system) it also aids in cell cleansing and repair – a process vital to healthy human life.
Keep your kids hydrated year round – not just in summer months when they are out there in the heat and sweating buckets in the sun. Hydration is just as important in the winter months as well. We lose a lot of body heat in the winter and moisture is also lost right through our breath, so it’s important to be replenishing our body’s fluids on an hourly basis. The air from indoor heating can also dry up our sinuses and skin more quickly so it’s important to replenish the body to optimal levels on a daily basis.
One way to help everyone get their eight glasses a day is to keep water in view so that it is easy to remember to drink. If you don’t do this already, have your child keep a fun refillable water bottle handy and keep reminding them to drink. You can also substitute wintery warm beverages like peppermint tea, and other herbal teas, to warm everyone up while keeping hydrated. This is a great way to stay festive while also getting everyone water our body needs to stay healthy.
Build immunity with probiotics
A healthy immune system is a body’s first and most important line of defense to illness and disease. The healthier you can keep your child year-round, the more readily their body will be able to combat invaders and fight off illness and infection.
Probiotics are one immune-boosting element found in the healthy gut bacteria that help us convert our food into fuel. They live in our intestine and make quick work of our food – turning what we eat into the tools we need to build a strong and healthy immune system and body.
To keep the balance of bacteria on the side of good – and avoid any stomach upsets, aim to include a diverse range of probiotics in your child’s diet year round – but especially during the winter months.
If you grow your own food you can learn to pickle and ferment some of your harvest for storage and use in the winter months – a skill that is especially useful if you plan to homestead or have an abundance of home-grown food. Fermenting and storing the foods for use in winter months ensures that you’re getting added vitamins and nutrients and the beneficial effects of positive bacteria cultures.
Fermentations to try include foods like; yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha tea, kimchi, kefir, and others.
You can also supplement your child’s diet with probiotics that can be easily taken as a capsule (if they are old enough to swallow it) or broken open and mixing the powder into something that will hide the mild taste, like breakfast cereal, yogurt, or even ice cream.
Breastfeed your baby
If you are expecting and child this winter, or currently have a newborn, you’ll know that they’re not yet ready to eat solid food.
In this case, the best way to boost their immunity is to breastfeed them as long as you’re able. Not only does your breast milk contain powerful probiotics, it also contains immunity-boosting antibodies and white blood cells that help combat illness and disease. That’s kind of magical!
The antibodies you share and pass on to your little one when you breastfeed are crucial. They ensure that if your baby is exposed to a virus or does get sick, they’re more likely to experience a shorter duration of illness and less severe symptoms. When you breastfeed, your body is helping their body do some of the important work of fighting the infections and diseases.
The World Health Organization recommends nursing a child until at least two years old to protect them in their first, most crucial, years of life. If you need help and support learning how to breastfeed comfortably and efficiently you can reach out to your nearest Attachment Parenting support group in your area of a nearby La Leche League chapter for help.
Minimizing exposure to diseases is one of the most efficient ways to ensure your child stays healthy this winter. When you add the immune boosting properties of breast milk, daily hydration, and other probiotics for all ages of children, you can ensure a sure recipe for healthy and wellness year-round.
This article was provided courtesy of Rachael Everly
