Nothing can kill the holiday spirit quite like a virus. Since the holiday season happens to also be flu and cold season, it is extra important to guard your family against germs this time of year. When relatives visit from different regions, they bring new germs, and although staying indoors with your family members is a cozy way to spend the day, you need to keep in mind that germs spread fast in close quarters. Children are extra susceptible to catching a bug because their immune systems aren’t fully developed (source). Take extra precautions and learn how to keep kids healthy during the holidays.
How to Keep Kids Healthy During the Holidays
Keep the Germs at Bay
As you are adding items to your Christmas shopping list, don’t forget to include germ-fighting products. When your family leaves the house to drive around town looking at holiday light displays, you can use the SafeSpace Disinfectant Germ Fogger to quickly eliminate germs in the family room, kitchen, or your children’s playroom. Another quick task that makes a big difference is using disinfectant wipes or a spray to clean the places that your child touches frequently, like doorknobs, handles, light switches, and tables. And don’t forget about your car! Clean your car before you drive to visit family and friends.
Review proper hand-washing techniques and the importance of using hand sanitizer with your child. As the CDC writes, “Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.” Stock up on an alcohol-free hand sanitizer that won’t dry out your child’s hands. Unfortunately, hand sanitizer with alcohol can cause dry skin and cracks on your child’s hands, creating avenues for germs to enter the body. The SafeSpace alcohol-free hand sanitizer contains emollients to soothe the skin as it eradicates germs.
Stay Warm
Especially if your child is still an infant, be sure to keep them warm when you head out in cold temperatures. The cold can cause serious health problems in young children because they lose body heat more easily than adults, and they struggle to produce body heat as well (source). To keep your child warm, make sure they’re dry and bundle them up in several layers of warm clothes. Don’t forget about hats, gloves, and thick socks. And when your child returns from an afternoon playing in the snow, be sure to take off their wet clothing quickly and redress them in some cozy, dry clothes.
Serve Healthy, Nutritious Foods
When researching how to keep your kids healthy during the holidays, don’t neglect to look up the role diet plays. We know it can certainly be tricky to convince your child to eat anything except a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. However, you might have luck with these tasty, immunity-boosting treats recommended by A. Heitlinger MD, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics section on gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition:
- Keifer or yogurt: These dairy products contain probiotics, which are healthy bacteria that can help your child’s body fight sickness.
- Walnuts: If your child doesn’t have a nut allergy, sneaking walnuts into their cereal or snack mix is a great way to add omega-3 fatty acids. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids cut down respiratory infections in kids.
- Strawberries: This sweet treat is a great source of vitamin C.
- Sweet potatoes: If you succeed in getting your child to try this veggie, it will provide them with another source of vitamin C. Try this sweet potato mac and cheese recipe.
In addition, keep your family safe from food-related illnesses by preparing and handling food safely. Avoid cross-contamination by keeping raw meats and eggs away from other foods, cook foods to the proper temperature, don’t leave out perishable foods, and dispose of leftovers when they’re no longer safe to eat.
Visit the Doctor
First, be sure to take your child to the doctor for a check-up if it’s time for their yearly appointment. Ask if they’re due for any vaccines or immunizations, including the flu shot. Next, if your child does get sick this holiday season, schedule a doctor appointment as soon as possible to ensure your child gets the proper care and gets well as soon as possible. Finally, going along with that, if your child is sick, keep them at home to avoid spreading the illness to others and ensure they get the rest they need.
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Although it takes extra work, learning how to keep kids healthy during the holidays is well worth the effort. To keep your surroundings and your children’s hands clean, turn to SafeSpace. The SafeSpace Company is a family-owned small business proudly selling American-made germ foggers, auto disinfecting and deodorizing mists, and alcohol-free hand sanitizers to keep your family safe and healthy. To avoid germs this holiday season, stock up on disinfectant essentials with the SafeSpace Germ Fighter Kit. You’ll get everything you need to keep yourself and your family healthy: hand sanitizers, disinfecting and deodorizing mists, and disinfectant foggers. For more information about SafeSpace, visit our website, contact us online or call us toll-free at 1-800-735-2506.
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