Cough, Cold & Flu in Infants 0-24 Months

Colds and flus are brought on by viruses. The best way to avoid these viruses is to prevent your family from coming into contact with them in the first place, and from spreading them to each other.

It’s important that your entire family follow these simple rules: 

1. Avoid contact with people who are sick. If you work outside the home or if your children go to school or daycare, this may be difficult to do; however, you can ask people to not visit your home if they have a cold or flu.

2. Follow this proper hand-washing technique. This is the simplest and most effective way to prevent infecting yourself and others: all from http://www.livingwell.ca/english/articles/1721/1/19/in-safe-hands-fighting-colds-and-the-flu.html

• Use warm water and soap.
• Briskly rub your hands together for 15 to 20 seconds.
• Wash in between your fingers, around your nails and the back of your hands.
• To prevent germs and viruses from spreading or entering your system (or someone else’s), wash up after you shake hands with someone who is sick, take out the garbage, pet animals, change a diaper or use the bathroom. Also wash your hands after you blow your nose or sneeze or cough into your hands. Wash your hands before you eat or prepare a meal or snack, treat a wound or put in contact lenses.

3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Teach your children that this is a common way for a virus to enter your body from your hands.

4. Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing. If you don’t have a tissue within reach, sneeze or cough into your folded elbow rather than on your hands.

5. When someone in your household is sick:

• Use separate towels
• Use separate drinking cups and utensils
• Ensure dishes are washed well with soap in hot water

6. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer with you. When you’re out with the family and a bathroom isn’t close by, a hand sanitizer will do the trick.

7. Manage your stress. Too much stress may reduce your body’s ability to fight infection and ward off a cough or cold — and that makes it easier for you to bring the infection home.

8. Get the family active. Make sure your entire family gets plenty of activity. This will help stimulate their immune systems and activates the body’s infection-fighting defenses.

9. Eat right. Feed your family a balanced diet filled with low-fat, high-fibre foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, and fewer processed foods.

10. Have plenty of fluids on hand. At home and on the go, ensure your family has enough fluids to stay hydrated throughout the day, and to help flush out toxins.

11. Consider a flu vaccination. Generally, healthy children over six months of age can get the flu shot, but it’s important to follow your doctor’s advice. Fall is the best time to get the flu vaccine. Getting vaccinated is especially important if you’re over the age of 65 or have a chronic illness. The flu vaccine is equally important if your work means you come into frequent contact with a lot of people (for example, if you work in a hospital or daycare centre). Speak to your doctor for more information.