As we head out of summer and start looking forward to the fall and winter seasons ahead, there’s so much to get excited about. Celebrating seasonal holidays, traveling to see family and friends, and, let’s be honest, a much-needed reprieve from the heat! But as we head into the winter months, we also head into cold & flu season—ugh! According to the CDC, flu activity begins to increase in October and often peaks between December and February—just in time for the holidays and your travel plans! But this year, you don’t have to worry; I’ve gathered insights from real moms about how to stay ahead of the germs this cold & flu season, as well as recommendations for remedies when sickness inevitably strikes.

Clean Hands = Healthy Family

During cold & flu season, a number of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases are spread through contact with contaminated hands.

Real mom Samantha tells us that “washing hands (even baby’s hands!) whenever you get home” is a great way to prevent sickness.

It’s best to wash hands for at least 20 seconds and rub them together rapidly to create a good lather of soap before rinsing. You can have children sing one round of “Happy Birthday” or “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” while washing to ensure they’ve spent enough time scrubbing away the germs. Liquid antibacterial soap is the best choice for cleaning hands, and Dial Complete Defense Hand Soap is a top choice amongst pharmacists.

When we’re out and about, my family always carries antibacterial hand wipes for added protection against germs. These Nice’N Clean Sensitive Skin Hand Wipes are our go-to choice. We’ve used them in airports and theme parks, and they even come in handy for wiping down tables in restaurants and before touching public surfaces.

Habits for Prevention

We always hear “sleep is the best medicine” and there is a lot of truth to that. Real mom Katie insists that getting enough rest is not only the key to recovery, but also the key to prevention.

When her daughter Ellie is sick, Katie says she always gets to “sleep in bed with me and snuggle” which provides extra comfort and helps her heal faster.

Real mom Samantha agrees that “having a consistent sleep routine” leads to less sickness overall.

The benefits of a nutrient-dense diet are undisputed in terms of boosting immunity and preventing sickness. But ensuring that our kids, especially our finicky eaters, are eating a balanced diet can be tricky! Whenever anyone in our home is starting to feel under the weather, smoothies are my go-to for packing in the nutrients. Here’s my favorite smoothie recipe that even your pickiest toddler (or partner) will enjoy:

• 1 cup frozen mixed berries
• 1 banana
• 1-2 handfuls of fresh or frozen spinach or kale
• A few pieces of pineapple or mango
• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1.5 cups of almond milk
• 2 tablespoons shelled hemp seeds
• 2 tablespoons milled flax seed
• ¼ cup ice

Real mom Denise loves to give her girls elderberry during cold and flu season. Elderberry has so many health benefits; it’s high in vitamin C and antioxidants, lowers inflammation and stress and boosts your body’s immune system.

Denise says, “Sambucol makes elderberry gummies for kids and adults that are not only effective but taste great too.”

When Sickness is Inevitable

We can do everything in our power to try and prevent getting sick, but it will inevitably happen. When sickness strikes, it’s good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to get your family on the road to recovery quickly.

As I mentioned before, sleep is very powerful in terms of overcoming sickness. In our house, when one of us comes down with respiratory sickness, we always run a humidifier to help ensure better sleep. We love this one from Amazon because you can easily add a few drops of essential oils, like eucalyptus and peppermint, to help everyone breathe easy. It’s also really affordable and easy to clean!

Real mom Katie says, “Don’t hesitate to give Motrin or Tylenol as needed, especially through the night,” to ensure your little one can get the rest they need.

Real mom Chelsea recommends also using a homeopathic decongestant like Hyland’s Baby Mucus + Cold Relief, which is safe for babies six months and above. This particular brand comes with a daytime and nighttime formula so you can help alleviate your baby’s symptoms around the clock.

Reach Out if You Need Help

When our son got sick for the first time, I was terrified. The thing that really helped me get through it was my community. I reached out to other moms, not only to ask for advice, but to feel reassured that the sickness would eventually pass. The real moms I’ve mentioned are friends and family who’ve helped me get through many bouts of sickness over the years by providing advice and much needed compassion.

I also never hesitate to reach out to our pediatrician. I love our pediatrician’s office because the entire practice is made up of real moms! I remember the first time my son was sick, we went into the office three times over the course of one week to make sure they felt his symptoms were improving accordingly.

One of the best pieces of advice from our pediatrician that I still go by to this day was, “If they’re wetting diapers regularly, not extremely lethargic, and generally happy,” there’s minimal cause for concern.

So next time you find yourself tackling cold & flu season, reach out to real moms for support and remind yourself that this too shall pass!

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