The flu can be a controversial topic, especially when we talk about prevention options. This post represents one mom’s view of the flu season. Our team is not comprised of medical professionals. But we do advise you to always seek the advice of your medical professional for any and all medical advice!
It is that time of year…falling leaves, hot chocolate, the holidays, and THE FLU!
I don’t know about you, but the flu never bothered me much…until I had kids. I was worried about them catching something, because no one wants to see their baby sick! My opinion on illnesses was further altered when my third baby was born with a heart condition. The NICU staff encouraged me to fear people. OK, maybe not to fear people, but to fear large groups of people and to monitor who held, kissed, or even touched my babies. I am sure to others, this seemed extreme. For the well-being of my newborn, it meant everything to keep her healthy and to prevent exposure to any illnesses.
I compiled a list of illness prevention ideas that were given to me by the NICU staff and our family doctor. Every family is different and some ideas might not work for you. For instance, the NICU sent home a cute little car seat tag that says “Please wash your hands before touching mine.”
With great intentions, I put it on my heart baby’s car seat. The first time I took them out, a lady saw it, grabbed it in her fingers, and said it was perfect. She needed to buy one for her daughter who is expecting. She proceeded to grab my little lady’s hand in the car seat with the super cute tag, and tell me all sorts of things about my baby that she loved. This was only the first of many times to come where people would read and comment on this “do not touch me” sign, and then tickle my baby’s foot, or touch her hair.
My point? Some of the ideas for avoiding germs and illnesses, while great in theory, do not always work for everyone.
Nonetheless, here is what I have learned:
- Hand sanitizer. This is a common one, but the list would not be complete without it! However, I was told if soap and water are available, that is preferred.
- Wear your baby in a wrap or carrier at large gatherings. People are less likely to touch them or to try and hold them if they are secured to your body.
- Stay home. OK, so it’s another obvious one. If you do not have to take baby, don’t. Grocery shopping is easier without the little ones anyways, isn’t it?
- If you know someone has been exposed to the flu or has an upper respiratory illness, give about two weeks from diagnosis before they are actively around your baby.
- If you have older children, make sure they wash their hands, and change their clothes when they get home from school to prevent exposure to the younger kids in your house.
- Schedule well check doctor’s appointments for first thing Monday morning. That way, the office has not been bombarded with the flu, and other junk from the week.
- When we take our girls for well checks, they have us come right on time and go straight into the healthy patient room. I have heard other heart mommies say that they call from the parking lot and let staff know they have arrived. The staff will tell them exactly what time to come into the office to avoid sitting in the germy waiting room.
- Limit exposure to other children. This is so difficult, especially for those with school-aged children or with daycare. This can be as simple as no kids can hold the baby, or you RSVP “no” to the bounce house party.
- All of our doctors {family physician, NICU docs, cardiologist, nephrologist, and on and on} recommend the flu shot every year as a preventative measure.
- Wipe door knobs, light switches, toilet handles, cupboard knobs, etc. daily if you have the time.
- I just heard this one, and I’m going to give it a try this year: add a little antibacterial cleaner to your laundry loads to kill any nasty bugs that might have come home with your kids.
- Push your littles in your stroller while in the store, rather than putting them in the cart. Cart seat covers are an awesome idea too. Personally, I think the cart seat covers take too long, get dirty, and make more work for me, so I am the crazy lady pushing a double stroller while pulling the grocery cart behind me.
- If your child is sick, KEEP THEM HOME! We can help stop the spread of so many illnesses, if we keep those nasty little germs at home.
There is no guarantee that this list will work. In January, while my daughter was in the hospital, we were overly concerned about the flu, or any illness, really. We implemented a lot of these “rules”. Regardless, my five year old woke up in the middle of the night with a fever, and vomiting. No matter how careful, these BUGS still seem to find a way in from time to time, but we can do our best to prevent them from striking!
How do you keep healthy during flu season?
