There is nothing worse than seeing your little one feeling down and out with a cold or the flu. Their little eyes lose their sparkle, and their button noses turn red and sore from all the blowing and the rubbing. There is no running around, no smiles and no playful attitudes – and, worst of all for mom, there is no step-by-step manual on how to deal with it.
Carla Yssel, Linctagon Brand Manager provides 5 tips for caring for your child while he has a cold or flu:
Rest up
By resting, your child is giving their body a chance to do what it needs to do – fight the infection. Their body has to repair its immune system to overcome the infection. It is never easy keeping a child in their bed, but even lying on the couch while watching their favourite television programme (some treats are allowed when they are sick) will do.
Fill up on fluids
Fluids help your child to stay hydrated, thin out their mucus build up to help get rid of it and to ease a sore throat. The old cliché of chicken soup is good for your health, is a cliché for a reason. Warm soups or drinks such as tea or hot chocolate help keep up their fluid intake, as well as making them feel warm and cosy.
Keep the air moist
Using a humidifier in your child’s room keeps the air moist, and can ease dry throats, thin out mucus and improve breathing. Having dry air in the room can increase the discomfort your child is feeling by making their symptoms even worse.
Get a hold on their fever
When your child’s body responds with a fever, it is the body’s immune system’s way of letting us know there is an underlying infection. Your child’s body temperature can increase because the immune system is fighting off the invading germs. Try and keep your child calm by managing their fever with a quick lukewarm bath; light clothes and a light blanket (don’t bundle your child up in warm clothes and lots of blankets as this can lead to a spike in temperature and dehydration); and a cold cloth placed on their foreheads.
A little TLC from mom fixes everything
Having a sick child at home while you are at work is never easy, but when you are home try to make sure that you are all theirs, for at least a little while. Spending time reading a story, watching their favourite TV show, or even just sitting on the bed while they fall asleep can make a big difference. There is no measure to the comfort a little quality time with mom and dad brings to a child when they are feeling under the weather.
