- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- dads today articles
- dads today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Stop the Spread of Germs
5 Easy Steps to Keep Your Family Healthy By Harmony Cornwell
This may be the hardest one to enforce with young children who rub their eyes when they are tired, sometimes forget to use a tissue or may suck their thumb, but it is an important step. Gentle and consistent reminders in conjunction with a good hand washing routine will help prevent children from getting sick due to infections spread by direct contact. 5. Get Plenty of RestUnderhill's son came home from school recently quite annoyed that one of his classmates had arrived at school obviously suffering from a bad cold. "[He] indignantly informed the other child that it was not fair of him to be at school when he was sick as he might not only get [his classmates] sick because of it, but [everyone] might bring 
home germs and make their whole family ill," she says. This is a very grownup response from a 7-year-old, but still true. Not only is rest the best thing for your child when he or she is ill, it also benefits the other children they would have come into contact with that day.
When possible, have a day at home with Mom or Dad to rest and take in plenty of fluids. Vermeer makes homemade snow cones for her daughters when they are sick. She makes them with juice when they have a cold and uses a fizzy drink (such as Sprite or 7-UP) if they have the flu.
Children are going to get sick; it's inevitable, but it doesn't mean the whole family has to get sick too. By following these 5 steps, you are increasing the chances of keeping your family healthy.
And don't dismiss the important step of rest for Mom and Dad you need to take care of yourselves too. Don't worry if you didn't get all the housework done. You won't do anyone any favors if you get sick while trying to prevent everyone else from getting a cold.