 Ah, crisp mornings, crunching leaves, boots, and snot. Wait- what was that last one? Plenty of us try to avoid folks who are sneezing and coughing, but when you're the parent of a wee baby, cold and flu season can be even more stressful! Here's our tips for keeping your family well- even if you can't control the germs in the air! Big Siblings Who Don't Want to Share (Unless of Course It's The Virus Going Around Preschool)Kiddos come home from school and want to love on the baby and tell about their day- yay! But FIRST: have children wash their hands and change out of their school clothes. Remove shoes at the door. LAUNDER coats, hats, backpacks, etc. regularly. If preschool doesn't have a schedule for sending home blankets kept in Sister's cubby for naptime, suggest they set one up or request your child's items be sent home for frequent washing. MODEL proper cough and sneeze etiquette. Children mimic what they see. Set a good example! Wash, wash, wash your hands! Wash them everyday!Make good hand washing a family habit. Include baby and clean everyone's hands before meals and snacks, after using the restroom, and when returning to the house after playing outside or going on a visit. Sing it with us now! Take Cover!If you must head out to crowded spaces, your best mode of protection is to create a (safe!) barrier between baby and the person who will cough right in your face as she exits the elevator (I'm TOTALLY side-eyeing the lady who did this to me at a local hospital recently!) You can wear your baby to keep them close to you (read: within your personal bubble and hopefully away from strangers' fingers). If carrying baby in her car seat, we love these sweet covers that also pull double duty as nursing covers. If Someone Gets SickIt's inevitable- at some point someone in your household will catch a virus. Children should stay home from school until they are fever-free for 24 hours (without fever-reducing medication) and the same goes for tummy upset. It may mean missing out on a class party, but please don't send your little one to hang out if they are not well. The best thing to do is to stay home, rest, and hydrate. (Daniel Tiger says so.) Breastfeeding parents should continue to nurse as usual (baby won't get sick from your milk) and there are plenty of remedies to keep you comfortable that are compatible with breastfeeding. A Word of Caution About Essential OilsThere is plenty of talk about essential oils being helpful in the prevention and treatment of viruses, but these can be UNSAFE for pregnant women, babies, and children. Using Essential Oils Safely is a great resource for keeping your family safe no matter what brand of EOs you prefer.
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Southern Ohio Birth Services serves clients in the following communities: OHIO: Adams County, Brown County, Clermont County, Clinton County, Hamilton County, Highland County, Pike County, Ross County, Scioto County, and Warren County. KENTUCKY: Boone County, Bracken County, Campbell County, Kenton County, and Mason County. INCLUDING THE CITIES OF: Anderson, Batavia, Bridgetown, Chillicothe, Cincinnati, Colerain, Erlanger, Florence, Fort Mitchell, Georgetown, Hillsboro, Madeira, Mason, Maysville, Middletown, Milford, Montgomery, Mt Healthy, Mt Lookout, Mt Orab, New Richmond, Northside, Oakley, Peebles, Portsmouth, Union, Waverly, West Union, Westwood, and Wilmington.