"The holiday season, wedding season, vacation seasonâIâm a fan of all the seasons, except for one. Itâs the dreaded cold and flu season that occurs from fall to early spring, and it lasts way longer than I would like. As a busy mom-of-two, itâs the one thing I frankly donât have time for. Besides it bringing down the whole house, the part that gets me the most is seeing my kids being uncomfortable when theyâre sick. While we canât completely wish the flu and all the colds that come our way away, there are things you can do to keep the illnesses at bay. Sometimes, a cold or the flu can hit you out of nowhere, and being prepared for the hard impact an illness may bring upon your household is the best way to get through this season. Luckily, Iâve assembled a list of cold and flu season essentials for kids. These are items that I always have on-hand as a busy mom. Plus, some of my personal tips and tricks to get you through it.
Editors note: ââThis content is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any medical conditions. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional, your physician or your childâs pediatrician.
The difference between a cold and the flu
While both the cold and flu (influenza) are contagious, theyâre not caused by the same viruses. A cold can be caused by a whole slew of different viruses, like rhinoviruses, and the flu is only caused by influenza viruses. The two can have similar symptoms; however, you generally feel worse if you have the flu. Here are signs and symptoms that you or your children may have with a cold or flu. Please note that all the symptoms might not occur with either illness.
Flu symptoms:
- Fever or chills (may not be present)
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle or body aches
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Vomiting or diarrhea (may not be present)
Cold symptoms:
- Runny nose or nasal congestion
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Mild body aches
- Fever (may be low grade in older children)
How to prevent sickness in your home
Read on for a few tips and tricks to keep yourself and your familyâespecially those littlesâhealthy and free from sickness during this cold and flu season.
How to correctly wash your hands
From coughing to stuffy noses to sneezing, the best thing you can do to prevent the spread of germs in your household is by having everyone regularly wash their hands. Itâs important to note that a quick rinse under running water wonât do the trick, though. The active motion or friction that happens when washing is what gets all the dirt and germs off. So, teach kids to effectively wash their hands by scrubbing vigorously with soap and water for 20 seconds or by singing the âHappy Birthdayâ song two times in a row. If you havenât sung the âHappy Birthdayâ song with a toddler, itâs a really cute sight to see. Donât forget to wash the back of their hands, their wrists, between their fingers, the tips of their fingers, and under their fingernails, too.
How to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
There are some instances when soap and water arenât available. In this case, I like to have alcohol-based hand sanitizer on-hand when Iâm out and about with my family. To use hand sanitizer correctly, squeeze the amount suggested on the label of your hand sanitizer onto the palm of your hands. Next, rub them together, covering all the surfaces of your hands until theyâre fully dry.
Other important hygiene practices
Have you ever been a victim of a kid sneezing right in your face? I know I have a time or two⊠or three. Iâve actually lost count. It may take some patience to remind your child to cover their mouth when coughing and sneezing, but theyâll eventually make it a habit. To do this, have them sneeze or cough into a tissue or their elbow and away from the crowd.
At-home sickness remedies and comfort measures
When my kids are sick, it calls for an extra cuddle sesh, which is something I donât mind. There are other things that can help, too. Over-the-counter solutions for symptom relief include pain relievers and fever reducers, like Motrin and Tylenol. A humidifier can help your LO sleep more comfortably at night. Other things, like staying hydrated with water and Pedialyte frozen popsicles, are go-tos in my household. I know popsicles hate to see a toddler coming. If youâre needing to stock up on cold and flu season essentials for kids, here are a few tried-and-true items to get you through the season.
Cold and Flu Season Essentials for Kids
The color-coded feature on this infrared thermometer is helpful in distinguishing between a normal temp, low-grade fever, and a high fever. How cool!
Say bye-bye to snot boogies with these dissolvable wet wipes. Theyâre easy to keep on-the-go and gentle on your little oneâs skin, too.
Instantly clear out your LOâs stuffy nose with this nasal aspirator. A must-have product this seasonâtrust me!
Another great product to use when you need to loosen up your childâs snot. Pair this with the nasal aspirator and thatâs the perfect combo to clear out a cute, little nose.
For kids aged 6 months and older, this is a mess-free remedy to ease a stuffy nose and cough. Simply rub this essential oil chest rub stick on their chest to help them breathe easier and calm their cough.
For ages 2+, boost immunity and soothe a dry and scratchy throat with this delicious and sugar-free spray.
Breathe easy and ensure everyone in your home gets a good nightâs sleep with this cool mist air humidifier. Plus, with its top-fill feature, itâs so easy to clean.
Having a hard time getting your kiddo to drink fluids? Thereâs no fuss with this one. Keep your kids hydrated and happy by having freezer pops easily on-hand.
Keep your kids hydrated with electrolytes and with something other than water. Choose from delicious flavors like berry frost, passion fruit, and strawberry.
I like Childrenâs Motrin because it works fast to keep kidsâ fevers down and their sore throat from hurting.
Your little one wonât mind drinking the bubblegum flavor of Childrenâs Tylenol, and youâll be relieved to know it reduces fevers in as little as 15 minutes. Itâs a win-win for everyone.
Need extra help with giving your little one medicine while theyâre sick? This pacifier attachment makes it so easy for your baby to take whatever medicine you give them.
Relieve the dry and irritated skin that may accompany the constant wiping of a runny nose. Your little one will thank you!
Skip the strong alcohol smell of other hand sanitizers and go for a lavender, vanilla blossom, or rainwater scent with these Touchland sprays. This is a cult-favorite product for a reason.
Patty Schepel, Editorial Assistant
As the editorial assistant, Patty works with The Everymomâs team on pitches, creating original articles, updating existing content, photo sourcing, writing shopping product descriptions, inputting freelance articles, and more. When sheâs not working, you can find her spending time with her family, training for half marathonsâshe ran one 16 weeks pregnantâtraveling, cooking, reading a rom-com, and keeping her sourdough starter, Rose, alive.