4 Ways to Protect Your Children Against the Flu
The flu season sees thousands of children falling sick every year in the US and while it isn’t the most serious condition in the world, frequent attacks can lead to further infections as flu inherently weakens the immune system. As the immune system of small children is generally not strong enough to fight off most infections during the initial years, it is important for parents to make sure that they protect their children against influenza or any other type of flu, especially when the flu season is about to hit.
Washing Hands and General Awareness
The flu is contagious and if anyone in the house has it, there’s a high chance that the child will be affected by the infection as well unless you practice a few basic precautions to prevent it.
Get The Necessary Vaccinations
In order to properly know what to do during flu season to medically prevent and/or treat a flu breakout in the family, consult a physician in the local urgency room. Alongside providing instructions for other necessary precautions, they will likely advise and administer a number of essential shots for the child and even the adults in your family, in case they are not properly vaccinated against flu and any other common infections and diseases.
Breastfeed Your Infant
If the child in question is still an infant, he/she can definitely use all the antibodies found in breastmilk that specifically cater to the needs of an infant’s growing immunity. While it isn’t necessarily something that will work 100% of the time, there is no doubt that a nursed baby almost always has a stronger immune system than an infant on formula. When breastfeeding is not an option, consult with the pediatrician to figure out what would be the best formula for your child.
Public Places are Germ Hubs
This is not to say that you should not be taking your baby out in public, but when flu season hits your town, it’s better to be cautious and avoid crowded areas for a while. All flu viruses are airborne, so that is definitely something to keep in mind. When you do venture out, avoid places like the subway or a crowded park, for instance. If the child is old enough to attend school, talk with the teachers and the school nurse to see what plans are in place there to counter the flu season.
That’s pretty much all you need to do as a mother to keep your children safe during flu season and so long as you have all of these checked, chances of your children catching flu are minimal.
