DD came down with a cold! This is the 3rd time getting sick since starting Preschool this Summer. I caught her cold and we are both home and miserable today.

Is there anything I can do? I know kids get sick, but it seems like I could help cut back the number of times it happens.

I always wipe her hands down when we leave the Dr.'s office. Would doing the same thing when leaving Preschool help?

By Kittycat_26 on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 12:37 pm:

I'm sorry you guys are feeling so crappy.

Her immunity will get stronger. Unfortunately, this is pretty common for kids in preschool/daycare/school settings.

Just an up and coming thought. Be sure and check with your pediatrician about a flu shot for her. Kids in these settings are usually recommended to get this shot.

Timmy's due for his the first of October.

By Kernkate on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 12:48 pm:

I hear what you are saying Eve. I came down with a cold yesterday and feel yucky today.
Its seems as soon as all the kids go back to school all the little germies come out. At least it seems like that for my kids.
My DS gets the flu shot every year due to allergies and asthma.
Hope you both are feeling better soon

By Trina~moderator on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 01:09 pm:

Other than washing hands frequently there isn't much you can do. My kids were sick often during the preschool years. It gets better as they get older and their immune systems build up. Your immune system will build also. {{{HUGS}}} I hope you both are feeling better soon!

Ty & B both woke with slight sniffles this morning but no other cold symptoms. *Hopefully* they won't get worse.

By Colette on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 01:20 pm:

Definately wash your hands a lot. The only other thing I can suggest is that you make sure she removes her shoes before coming into the house. My dr told me that he NEVER wears his shoes into his house after leaving the office or hospital because of the germs. Sounds odd, but that's what he told me.

I hope she (and you) is better soon.

By Tklinreston on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 02:53 pm:

Yes... I'm sure we all agree that the absolute best way to lessen the chance of catching a virus is to wash your hand. My older ds still sucks his thumb, although not at preschool, but he will either in the car or once he gets home, and so I'm always diligent about washing his hands before leaving his preschool. It's important to wash it very thoroughly and a quick few seconds of a wash will not do. I don't know the exact length of time, but we always sing a song together while doing it, like "twinkle twinkle little star" etc. Also, once we get home, in addition to the removal of the shoes, I have him change out of his clothes immediately for the same reason (suggested by his pediatrician) since we have a baby at home, too. It really seems to help because he doesn't catch too many colds and if he does, they are pretty minor. I hope you both feel better tomorrow!

By Karen~moderator on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 03:19 pm:

Frequent hand washing, and a strong immune system. Does she take vitamins? Daily vitamins, and daily vitamin C will help boost her immune system. *I* take the chewable vitamin C.

By Kaye on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 03:35 pm:

Another thing that REALLY helps besides hand washing.....bleach! Bleach your lightswitches, door knobs (car doors maybe too) weekly. When my kids were little and they started catching everything this is what I did, it made a huge difference. Friday was my day, I put bleach in a container with some water and a rag and just walked through the house. Also I hit the flushers on the toilets. If we got sick I did this every other day.

By John on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 07:20 pm:

I'll second the vitamin c.
I used to get sick at least 3 times a year and miss several days of work each time.
Since taking regular (what you would call megadoses) of vitamin c, I haven't missed a day of work in a year. Not that I haven't been sick, it just doesn't sap my energy as much.

If I feel a cold coming on at night I take regular doses of c each hour and the cold symthoms usually are gone by the next morning.

By John on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 07:22 pm:

I also started giving our son 500mg Vitamin C tablets, one in morning, one at night.

Our son used to get some bug every couple weeks. Since doing this he hasn't been "stay at home sick" for several months.

By Eve on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 07:40 pm:

Thanks, everyone. You've given me lots of good tips! Especially, the flu shot. I've never given that much thought. I'll call her Dr. tomorrow.

I'll give some thought about the Vitamin C. I'll have to check her multivitamin and see how much is in. Can you take too much of it??

DD is feeling a bit better, but I'm still down and out. Back to bed for me.

By Tink on Monday, September 20, 2004 - 07:57 pm:

There is a product called Airborne that we get from Trader Joe's that I swear by. I've heard that it is available at regular drugstores now. It is available in a children's formula also. My kids don't mind taking it at all and I really think it helps. It shortens the duration of a cold if you wait to take it until the cold shows up. It keeps most colds away completely, if you just take it once in the morning and once at night. They have a website at www.AirborneHealth.com that might be helpful. {{{Hugs to both you and Syd}}}

By Feona on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 06:35 am:

We started washing hands after everything. Works very good. Really if you wash as soon as you get home from preschool it will cut the illness by 50%. Better yet wash hands at preschool before leaving.

I was killed with stuff because ds had his hands in his mouth all the time when he was (up to like 2 months ago.)

Also vitamin c chews from Duane Reade.

The kids get sick more at the beginning of the school year, I think because some of them are stress with starting school. (So they all get sick because one is sick.)

By Feona on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 06:37 am:

Duane Reade Vitamin C chewable tablets are sweeter and better tasting than cvs chewable. CVS chewable are alittle salty.

By John on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 07:39 am:

Vitamin c is a "water soluble" non-toxic vitamin. Your body can't store much of it. Any extra you take is excreted in your urine (it turns yellow).

This is unlike something like vitamin A, a fat soluble vitamin which the body can store.

Interestly enough, most animals make a human equal equivalent of between 3000-8000 mg a day in their liver from blood glucose when they are healthy and triple that when sick. For them ascorbate(vitamin c) is not a vitamin (they don't need it in food or supplements).

Humans(and higher primates) have a missing enzyme that prevents us from making it in our body.

That's why it's called a vitamin, our body requires it for proper functioning.

By My2girlygirls on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 10:09 am:

In situations where kids can't always wash their hands right away, we use Purell sanitizing gel. You don't have to rinse it. Maybe keep it in the car so if you forget to have her wash her hands before leaving, she can atleast use that. I also keep a container of Wetones in the car so they can wipe their hands if we are going somewhere to eat (drive thru). I agree about the light switches and toilet flusher too. I also walk around with Lysol and spray doorknobs and stuff. Now they also have Febreeze with an antibacterial in it. ( Haven't tried it). Once her immunity builds up she will do fine. My kids do not get sick that often now (they are in first and fourth grade).

By Debbie on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 10:29 am:

Eve, besides frequent hand washing and taking vitamin c, we also make sure not to eat and drink after each other. My boys were the worst about this. They would drink out of my water bottle or each others juice boxes. Last year, I really kept on them about just drinking/eating their own stuff. This really helped us from spreading colds from one to the other.

The flu shot is also a great idea, especially since Syd is in preschool now.

By Audreyj on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 10:52 am:

Handwashing. My hubby swears by Zinc lozenges and Echinea (sp?) once he actually catches a cold. Flu shots are a good idea. Vitamin C and lots of water. When I started working preschool (20 years ago) they had a little saying: "Don't touch your T-Zone!" If you make a straight line across your eyes and a straight line down your nose, it makes a T across the face, if you are in "the line of fire" of cold germs, do not touch your face! It does help. Also, wash doorknobs and change/shower when you get home. Hope you feel better soon. AJ

By Karen~moderator on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 04:01 pm:

How are you both feeling today?

By Katherine on Tuesday, September 21, 2004 - 09:34 pm:

I have never tried this, but I have an employee who swears by echinacea. She even gives it to her dd in liquid form. I had a babysitter once that gave it to her entire family and she swore it worked.

She said the liquid form tastes nasty, though.

Hope ya'll are feeling better.

By Feona on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 06:42 am:

Sharing water bottles. big no no. Or sharing drinks...

By Coopaveryben on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 06:52 am:

Vitamin C and E, lots of Oragne Juice. Lots of Water, to drink and wash your hands with. Keep your house cool, between 68-70 kills strep throat germs. I also spray handles and doornobs and toys with lysol. Make sure the school is making them wash there hands several times a day and using lysol to spray the room and toys several times a day.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 07:40 am:

Eve???? Feeling better???

By Eve on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 07:46 am:

Thanks, Karen. Actually, I feel like I have the FLU! Fever, cough,sore throat, my head is killing me, body aches! Awful! DD seems to be feeling better. She went to school yesterday and was fine. (Although, I had to drag myself out of bed to bring her! LOL!)

Thank God for Nyquil.

By Colette on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 12:19 pm:

Sorry that you are still not feeling better. Hope you are better soon.

By Kernkate on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 12:28 pm:

Eve hope you are feeling better soon. I am still stuffy but nothing like you feel.
I use Alka Seltzer Gel caps and they work great!

By Monicamomof3 on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 03:29 pm:

dito the echinacea, Katherine!

By Andi on Wednesday, September 22, 2004 - 04:27 pm:

Hope you are feeling better. I swear by Echinacea but you have to take as soon as you start feeling sick.
Just be glad you can rest when DD is at school.