Everyone is Sick!

[LovetheSun]

Hello Everyone!
Most of our kids are sick, but all from different things (strep/colds/stomach) thankfully the parents kept them home but I would like to be extra careful in the coming weeks.

Any tips on what would help to avoid getting the kids sick at school?

So far, I sprayed the house with essential oils and put a air filter on. We also gave plenty of healthy fruits.. I was thinking to replace the towels in the bathroom with paper towels.

But I can't think of anything else, would it be weird to ask the parents to provide house slippers?

[daycarediva]

I have a different take on this-

Open the windows, play in the dirt, get outside, wash hands before they eat/after potty, eat healthy food, get lots of rest.

Immunity is built up, and we can't prevent (nor would we want to) all illnesses, but exposure to germs and not over-sanitizing the environment helps!

[jenboo]

I have a different take on this-

Open the windows, play in the dirt, get outside, wash hands before they eat/after potty, eat healthy food, get lots of rest.

Immunity is built up, and we can't prevent (nor would we want to) all illnesses, but exposure to germs and not over-sanitizing the environment helps!

I agree with this.

[Blackcat31]

I have a different take on this-

Open the windows, play in the dirt, get outside, wash hands before they eat/after potty, eat healthy food, get lots of rest.

Immunity is built up, and we can't prevent (nor would we want to) all illnesses, but exposure to germs and not over-sanitizing the environment helps!

This X's 100!

My DCK's suffer very little illnesses and are absent very rarely from care. I fully believe it's because we focus on lots of good quality outdoor time, good quality rest, healthy nutritious meals (we do extra veggies and very little fruit) and I am not overly concerned about sanitizing.

I clean as needed but I do not have a sterile environment in the least. We use soap and water to wash hands but we don't use anything anti-bacterial here.

Hoping everyone feels better soon!

[rosieteddy]

Along with outdoor time and eating healthy I would add have everybody wash hands on arrival.Even parents if entering daycare space should wash hands.Not just dropping at the door but coming in.You could have hand sanitizer for them.I did use lysol on door knobs to cut down on germs.

[Baby Beluga]

I have a different take on this-

Open the windows, play in the dirt, get outside, wash hands before they eat/after potty, eat healthy food, get lots of rest.

Immunity is built up, and we can't prevent (nor would we want to) all illnesses, but exposure to germs and not over-sanitizing the environment helps!

I too would add that children should wash hands upon arrival. Mine always use the restroom upon arrival too, so washing hands after is just natural. We don't use antibacterial soap. In fact, I found when I switched from reg soap to antibacterial (it was on sale, ) the children actually got sick. When I switched back to reg everyone was fine. Could be coincidence, but I only buy reg old handsoap now.

[sharlan]

My gf's grandson was extremely ill with cancer and his immune system was severely compromised. She asked his doctors what was the best way to handle cleaning.

Two different doctors told her to make sure that everyone washed their hands with regular hand soap when walking through the door. Wash hands before eating. Wash hands after handling paper money or menus at restaurants.

I had an issue a few years back where 2 of my daycare girls passed everything back and forth for about a year. I sprayed, I bleached, I washed hands, I switched to paper towels in the bathroom, had sanitizer at the front door that I made everyone use, used disinfectants in the laundry. Nothing helped. The one little girl left for preschool and all the colds stopped dead.

[Baby Beluga]

I too would add that children should wash hands upon arrival. Mine always use the restroom upon arrival too, so washing hands after is just natural. We don't use antibacterial soap. In fact, I found when I switched from reg soap to antibacterial (it was on sale, ) the children actually got sick. When I switched back to reg everyone was fine. Could be coincidence, but I only buy reg old handsoap now.

Too late to go back and edit this, so I am quoting myself.

A few years ago I started washing my hands as soon as I came home from running errands. Embarrassingly this was not a habit I used to have. I've always washed after the restroom and before eating so I think I just figured why wash as soon as I got home from somewhere? When I started it grossed me out how dirty the soap was, it was actually brown. I noticed a big difference in our health once this habit was created. Now everyone in my house (including DD) does this as soon as we get home from being out.

This won't necessarily help your situation now, but just a little tid bit on how important hand washing truly is

[daycarediva]

Too late to go back and edit this, so I am quoting myself.

A few years ago I started washing my hands as soon as I came home from running errands. Embarrassingly this was not a habit I used to have. I've always washed after the restroom and before eating so I think I just figured why wash as soon as I got home from somewhere? When I started it grossed me out how dirty the soap was, it was actually brown. I noticed a big difference in our health once this habit was created. Now everyone in my house (including DD) does this as soon as we get home from being out.

This won't necessarily help your situation now, but just a little tid bit on how important hand washing truly is

great advice! I honestly never thought to wash them when I came home, but since I usually have to potty (I loathe public restrooms-ha) they're washed soon.

My kids wash their hands before breakfast, not upon arrival. Maybe that's worth changing.

I have ONE dcg now that is literally ALWAYS sick with something. The rest are very, very rarely ill, and they never catch anything from her. Her Mom is a self professed 'clean freak' and is always squirting hand sanitizer on her. My own kids are hardly ever sick.

[Ariana]

Completely second the wash your hands after being out and about! I do it always and even carry hand sanitizer in the car in case I am somewhere where I have my hands on a handle of a cart (triple gross!) and I won't have access to a sink anytime soon. I limit hand sanitizer use personally. I have grown quite paranoid about it actually and I never skip this step when we get home. Washing hands is probably the best thing you can do hands down. Also don't touch your face unless hands are clean!

Also sugar can be bad for your immune system so really try to limit it. I used to get sick every christmas until i figured out this little gem and stopped stuffing my face with treats . Halloween is next week and I am sure kids are already enjoying lots of treats.....then christmas, then valentines, then Easter...it is endless!

I also agree with getting out in the fresh air. We go out especially if kids have runny noses. The faster you get those noses running the faster the germ gets expelled. Just bring a ton of tissue.

Stay healthy everyone :hug:

[catinthebox]

Don't get sick!!! A child once cough in my face and I got the flu. Best gift ever!!!

[LovetheSun]

Washing the hands on arrival is a good one, we will definitely do that.

We always let them play outside in the dirt, mud, sand etc... but this are our newer kids and they seems to have quite a weak immune system for now! Since starting in September ta few of them had to miss school on multiple days.

The last group of kids we had were RARELY sick, they were here for almost three years and I completely agree that all that time spend outside helped with that.