Need Advice About Keeping Kids Healthy

Hi W.,

I know how you feel. My 4 year old use to be sick all the time, and the cough was persistant also. It use to scare me, because the doctors would just say it's a virus, or they would give him medicine, but it would only keep him healthy for a couple of weeks, and then it would come back. I missed so much work because the school would not keep him. My mother in law told me about a kids program called IsaKids. It has been the best thing that has ever happened to us! He has vitamins, and a nutrional shake with breakfast in the morning. He is soooooooo much better. The cough and sick every other week is gone. I can't believe it. Let me know if you want me to pass on the info. I love sharing with other mothers what has worked so well for us!

M.

I would look into how clean the preschool is, and what their hygene practices are concerning the children. Do they have the children wash their hands before snack time? Do they have a sick child policy? Are parents bringing children to school when they're sick, or too soon after the child has been sick? Children are expected to get sick sometimes, but certainly not every time they go to school.

Ask you doctor about allergies. My niece & my daughter would go through this every winter/spring. Finally after many many visits both to different doctors the decided to give allergy medicine a try. for my daughter it is mostly she has a runny nose & occasionally scratchy throat. My niece has a terrible cough & runny nose. They both got allergy medicine & are fine. My sister & I took both girls off the meds to see what happened & both got sick again.

Hello! I am certified massage therapist and have done lots of research on holistic health. For the cough I would suggest putting vicks vapor on her feet then socks. The vapor will work its way up to her nose and mouth while she sleeps! To help with the kids immune systems a liquid multi vitamin (pills are 80% wasted in the digestive system) and emergen-c is a powder form of vitamin c that can be added to their oj. Whole foods carries both items!
M.

When my kid went to school for the first time, we had a period of around 1 year with him constantly getting sick. It is kind of normal for kids to get sick, but after that year, he has been very healthy. If he gets sick, it is very mild. So don't loose hope. We also feed him a lot of yogourt with acidophilus (I think that is how you write it). This helps strengthen his inmune system.

It's hard to keep them healthy around other kids who are sick. What you can do at home is do a major cleaning. Open the doors and windows (I know, it's winter)It will get cold in the house, but you need to get some clean fresh air. Scrub everything you can and spray toys and cabinets with disinfectant. I've used Lysol and the new Clorox Anytime spray. It will help end the germs from getting back to them at home at least. Also, check if your heater needs a new air filter. The germs can get trapped in there and all your work will have been for nothing. I also carry disinfectant wipes with me everywhere so I can clean off carts before putting the baby in them and anything else like that that other kids with colds might have touched. I hope your babies get better soon!

Hi Wendy, there's a product called del-immune that I swear by. I'm the testimonial for it as are all my family members, including 2 cats. My grandson (3 yrs) gets it in his juice once a day and it keeps the goobers at bay. My grandaughter (6 months) began teething recently and I suggested to her Mom that she give her some in her bottle and it eliminated the drama of teething. I'm an Animal & Child Communicator so I'm always looking for ways that help us all experience more quality in life. What it does is support the immune system from a balanced place. Nothing other than helping your own body keep it's natural flow of health & energy. One of my stepdaughters took it during her 2nd pregancy and felt even in her energy the whole time.
www.del-immune.com is the site to read about it on. I'm at www.tag-youre-it.com.
You can get it from me or them, if you're interested. Good luck and keep breathing! J. Sexton

The most obvious to me is to give them a diet that keeps their immune system as healthy as it can be. This would be no refined sugars or flours, healthy whole grains, "real" food, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. I teach people the first step to taking control of your health is to learn to read labels.

Hi Wendy,
I suggest limiting the amount of sugar they have to none. This includes those juice boxes. Try to replace those with little soymilk or ricemilk boxes. I would also investigate the cleaning procedures at the daycare/preschool and put some pressure on them to do a better job.
The claim made in a previous post, that 'Little Critter Gummie Vites' has lead is unclear, http://www.nbc10.com/health/3924544/detail.html
If your child has a good diet, vitamins are not neccesary. Sugar does substantial harm to an immune system. Don't replace the sugar with diet products. It is unclear what effect aspartame and other sweeteners have on a young child.

If the problem continues, I would also find a good homeopath. They are excellent in treating chronic colds/coughs as well as more serious illnesses such as allergies.
Good luck, I've been there too.

Hi W. - I'm a 47 year old mother of two, ages 5 and 9. We had continual winters just like you are describing - my kids were sick from October until March every year! However, for the last two winters, my kids have barely been sick - I think my son had one cold (the 5 year old, who also went to preschool starting at 2 1/2) and my daughter (9) had bronchitis once last winter; NOTHING so far this year! The best things we did: 1) started carrying wipes and hand sanitizer in the car; every time we get in, especially after coming in from a store, the kids each get a wipe and a squirt of sanitizer. 2) I make the kids wash their hands whenever they come in from school before doing anything else, especially before snack. 3) I give them Airborne whenever they started sniffling or say their throat is getting scratchy. Airborne even makes "Pixie sticks" for the kids to eat if they don't like "bubbles" like my daughter. And daily, they get a multi vitamin--Gummie Vites--and Echenacea Gummies. BTW, Airborne and gummies can be found at Sams or Costco for less than a drug store. But I believe two big things helped the most: we bought air purifiers for all of our bedrooms and started opening the windows as some other people suggested (these are not cheap, but they were less than our medical bills for one whole winter!). The air inside your home is significantly more polluted than outside, and with the heat on all the time it seems to kick up tons of dust/allergens/germs - so clean your air! And second, we STOPPED getting flu shots! I know that sounds ridiculous, but this is the third year we passed on the flu shots and we've had the healthiest winters ever. We tried skipping the shots one winter because my husband would never get a shot, and despite everyone else being sick in our house, he never seemed to get anything. Before making that change, our house was FILLED will illness for the entire winter (in ONE winter, my daughter had strep throat FIVE times, double pneumonia, double ear infections and bronchitis!). I now SWEAR by the purifier/open windows, NO flu shots, hand washing, Airborne and vitamins!! Hope this helps!

Hi W.-

Have you tried probiotics & essential fatty acids in their diets? My daughter is in daycare & since I added those a few months ago, it is extraordinary what it's done for her. I use either the Solaray Baby me now probiotics or the Jarrow Baby probiotics. I just mix it into her food--she tastes nothing. It REALLY has been amazing the difference. For essential fatty acids, Nordic Naturals carries a line for kids--it's fish oil, but tastes like strawberries. They help build immune systems so that they can fight this stuff. I have friends who have been using the two products together & it's amazing. If you are a Moxie Mom, you can get a 15% discount at Pharmaca on these products. Good luck!

I really feel for you, W., You are very busy! Try not to be discouraged. It will get better!

May I suggest whole foods as your best choice to keep your children's immune system up to par? Whole oranges vs. orange juice, whole grain breads, frozen vegetables if not fresh, all contain important vitamins and minerals. Avoid all sweets, as they destroy vitamin C in their system. Read the labels, and if you cannot pronounce it, do not buy it. :-)

In pre-school, they are building their immunity systems, but are exposed to so many chilren. Ideally, they would be in a family setting until their immunity is stronger. Not possible, so look for chewable vitamin C, and add cod-liver oil, or other fish oil, or a good multi-vitamin for children may help.

I found my children were sick, once they started to school, because they were sharing drinks. Teach them not to share food or drinks with others.

Finally, it could be allergies. Try to avoid artificial color, prepared foods, and watch to see if certain foods affect their symptoms. Wheat, milk, and other allergens can mimic a cold that does not end after 7-10 days.

Using a vaporizer? It can help, but be sure to clean the reservoir often with a mild bleach solution, soaking for 20 minutes.

Hope this helps. Can you find a private caregiver for your children? They may be sick less often.

Good luck!

It sounds like you are super busy but I thought I would add my two cents as far as cooking healthy food. I like to add veggie purees to my food so that my boys have no clue what they are eating. Check out forhealthssake.blogspot.com. I put up a bunch of recipes and ideas for getting healthier foods into our kids. Also try getting Jessica Seinfeld's book, "Deceptively Delicious". It has great ideas to help get fruits and veggies into kids so their immune systems stay up to par. Good luck.

W.,
There is probably little you can do, although with a persistent cough I might look for a second opinion. My son also gets colds consistently during the winter months. The only consolation is that by the time they go to kindergarten they won't be as sick as often. They are building up their immune system.

Good luck
L.

1. Are you putting a hat and gloves on the children when they go outside? Silly question but I see so many children that are not dressed appropriately for the weather.

2. I read about a remedy where you put Vick's on the feet and they swear that it will take away a persistant cough. It would be worth trying.

3. Not sure if you heard or not but you should NOT give your children Two years old or younger ANY over the counter cough medication.

4. Buy a good humidifier for the children's room. If need be, add some Vick's and run it during the night. The moisture will help loosen the congestion.

Hi Wendy, I know this won't always work 100%, but I have started changing my kids' clothes when they come home from anywhere they have been around other kids. They also wash their hands before doing ANYTHING in the house. I spray our trash can each time it is emptied with lysol and also all the door knobs. I feel like a germ freak sometimes, but (knock on wood) we are doing ok so far. Good luck to you! K.

I am a self-employed (full time) Mr. Mom. Having observed children and health care for quite awhile I wonder if some of the basics are in order. Our child has milk and wheat allergies, to name a few, which is very common anymore in this country. She is not a frail child. But we made some simple lifestyle changes around this.

I see people giving all sorts of dairy products, wheat and sugar to their children and these poor children have runny noses, lower immune systems, strept, ear aches, etc. Going to an MD is fine but they often treat the symptoms.

Perhaps you should consider a naturopathetic doctor family clinic. We get incredible results for most of our family heath problems.

As working parents, we might sometimes forget that our parenting jobs require observing closely. I have noticed that in winter colds come more often. Well, it isn't because the virus isn't around during the summer. In fact, viruses love warm. It is that our immune system is lower. We aren't getting vitamin D from the sun, we aren't running around, we aren't eating as well. The doctors confirmed my observations

I have sent people to our doctors over and over and they have been very satisfied with the results. Such holistic medicine is great for kids and family stuff. It involves getting to know the family, their eating habits, personalities, most everything that is involved with being a human. That is how we found out that after our daughter would eat something and then get a tummy ache, she had food allergies.

Anyway, I hope this is helpful. See a truly trained N.D. (the ones that received the four-year degree and did their two years of training and such). Kids get sick but it should not be chronic.

C.

Hello Wendy,
if you give your kids all diffrent kinds of veggis and fruits you can get and wash you hands all day long then try to set up an appointment at an Allergie Doc. Let your child be testet for all sort of allergies. I been in the situation and my last resort was to take her to a spezialist. She did respond slightly to cats, dogs and some grasses.
I stay away from playmates with pets and i try not to give her the medizin.
and......(hurray) we did not have to inhale onces. (up to four times a day)
Hope that works out for you! Good Health!

I would talk to a homeopath. I described my kids symptoms to the homeopath at Pharmaca -- the never-ending runny nose and persistent cough with no other illness symptoms -- and that did the trick.

Hi W.,

Having sick kiddos is really tough! It's so important to keep their little immune systems boosted especially when they start going to school. Have you ever heard of Body Balance? It is an organic, whole food, liquid supplement that really helps to boost the immune system (among many other benefits). My friend Jenny has 3 little ones at home. She and her family just started taking Body Balance a couple of months before the holidays. Her entire extended family was in town during x-mas and apparantly they ALL got sick except for Jenny and her 3 kids. She was pretty amazed and called me super excited to tell me how thrilled she was. If you'd like some more information feel free to give me a call at ###-###-#### or check out www.lifeforce.net/20542440. Good luck!

All the Best,
L.

You may want to condsider going to Winter Sun (next to Late for the Train coffee shop downtown). It is an herbal/Natural Remedy shop and they are all super helpful! My daughter is 3 now and Phyllis and her staff have given me great advice and remedies to strengthen my daughter during the cold season. This could be especially helpful for you and your children due to the exposure at daycare! Best of Luck!

My pediatrician said that kids get sick repeatedly when they first enter school. 7-10 times per year is considered normal! Last year I had my kids at the doctor every 2 weeks the whole winter long. This year they haven't been at all. Hang in there!

There is this GREAT stuff I can't go without. It's Source Naturals "Wellness Herbal Kids" immune support. My kids inevitably catch stuff here and there, As soon as I see the symptoms I give them this and within 3-4 days they are good to go. Some harsher bugs that go around I accompany this with over the counter stuff just to help them out, but this has really done it's job.
good luck. Garlic is always a good thing too.

I would take your kids to the chiropractor. Getting them adjusted can help their bodies respond better when they come in contact with a virus or bacteria. Also, watch their diets. Too much dairy or wheat can stress out a child's immune system. Good luck with your busy, busy life.

W.,

We've had a heck of a time this winter too. My kids have been sick endlessly so I feel your pain. My 1 year old was out of daycare from Dec 12 to Jan 8. I work full time too so I really feel your pain there. It turned out that he had "Mycoplasma" (which is a form of antibiotic resistant walking pneumonia) and it was making his immune system so low that he couldn't fight off anything. One round of "Z pack" antibiotics and he's been much better (and that was after 3 rounds of other antibiotics). Ask your pediatrician. His main symptom was a persistent cough and the fact that he kept getting everything else that cam his way (ear infection, 2 rounds of stomach flu, RSV and an upper respiratory infection in the space of a month).

Oh, and wash their hands (and yours) frequently. Especially when you first get home from anywhere public.

Hope that helps,

T.

The same thing happened to me when I had my 2-year old in day care a few days a week for the "social" aspect. I was so tired of him getting sick and being on antibiotics that I stopped letting him go but he could not get rid of the cough and all the doctors said the same thing...his lungs are clear and it's just post-nasal drip that is causing it. Then I went to the health food store and the lady recommended getting him off dairy products so I started by removing milk from his diet and within 2 days his cough completely went away. I later did some research and found that it is very common for children to develop an allergy to certain things and then out-grow that allergy a little later in life. I hope this helps.

Something that will help some (not with everything) is putting humidifiers in their rooms. Both my girls have humidifiers and don't seem to catch every little thing that comes down the pike. It won't stop them from getting viral things - my oldest ended up with strep the day before Christmas (yuck!!) and my youngest currently has some viral respiratory crud that's going around. But, my youngest is 25 months and this is only the 2nd time she's been sick!!

Dear W.,

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Wow..you have received a lot of advice. Most of it makes sense.

However, I would not give my child 'Little Critter Gummie Vites' as suggested...they contain lead.

Also, Echinacea is NOT something that your child or anyone should take on a regular basis.

I work in the field of Health & Nutrition and I think the most important thing is to focus on prevention. Don't wait until your child is sick, do things NOW to prevent the colds. The best way to do that is to eat healthy, specifically fruits and vegetables (eating them raw is even more beneficial). I know it can be hard to get a little one to eat enough raw fruits and vegetables on a daily basis.

There is an awesome Whole Food gummie that contains only fruits and vegetables it is called Juice Plus+. Dr. Sears (writes for Parent Mag. and Baby Talk)recommends it as well.

I won't go a day without my Juice Plus+. I am a healthy parent with a healthy child and we are working at keeping it that way by taking our Juice Plus+.

Here's the website, www.JuicePlus101.com

I'm a true believer in natural remedies from the health food store. My mother-in-law asked at Wild Oats and Montanita Co-op and they suggested Sambucol for kids (not sure if I'm spelling it correctly) and children's Acidophilous (given to her daily in her drink). They work wonders. When my 2 1/2 year old gets sick, it's not very often, and it's usually very mild. She also attends pre-school full-time and this has really saved us. Please give it a try and ask the people working at Wild Oats if they recommend anything else. Good luck.

I also went through this when my kids were 2 and 4 - my children's first year in preschool. I tried everything - increased vitamin C (juice) consumption, doctors, better eating, etc - and the one thing that seemed to really work was Hand Sanitizer and hand washing. I was very reluctant to use hand sanitizer because I believe that it decreases my childrens immunity in the long run. But using the hand sanitizer after every trip in a shopping cart and making sure that my kids wash their hands after school and before they eat almost completely solved the problem. I am now a stickler for hand washing year round though I only use the hand sanitizer in the winter. Good Luck!

W.,

I can sympathize. It's so hard when kids get sick and preschools are germ breeding grounds. I spent a little time in my daughter's classroom and was shocked at all the different ways they can spread their illnesses. You'll probably have more success teaching your 4-year-old about different ways to avoid germs (don't put things in mouth, if someone else shares cup clean it, etc.), while your toddler can probably only grasp the hand washing.

Have you asked at preschool about their handwashing regime? Some teachers aren't as good about it. I put extra, soft tissues in my daughter's class to encourage wiping runny noses. Maybe they would benefit from some anti-bac soap or hand sanitizer? Yes they should stock this, but it can't hurt to offer some extras.

Are you keeping the kids out of school when they are sick b/c they are contagious or are they too sick to attend?

Have they been checked for ear infections? My daughter was prone to ear infections when she was two, which was tough with all the colds going around.

Are your kids eating a well-balanced diet? Do they need any supplements? Have they been checked for asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions? If they keep getting sick and your doctors aren't helping, perhaps it's time to change doctors. Some of my friends take their little kids to a chiropractor and swear by it.

I had the same issue with my twin boys. I had to move them to an in home caretaker with fewer kids and the problem got better in about 2 weeks. I also use saline nose drops every morning and night and if they are going to be around a group of kids I lightly coat the inside of their nose with vaseline and of course am insane about handwashing.

Wow, you sounds like a superwoman. My daughter is 2.5 yo and goes to daycare on Wed and Fri's. We were having the same problem this year. she'd come home from daycare sick on Fridays and get better by Wednesday, then sick again by Friday. About 2 weeks before Christmas we started giving her a natural immune booster with echinecea, golden seal and some other things for 2yo and up that we found at Sunflower. I think it is the only brand they had there and was about $8 for a little bottle. Kind of expensive but we give it to her daily and it's not even half gone. She has NOT been sick since we started giving it to her. Coincidence? don't know, but may be worth a try. It's called "Insure Immune Defense". Good luck!

Reading all these suggestions of "herbal" supplements!!! Scary. DO NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD ANYTHING without talking to your Dr first. I see all these moms on here just going to some herb shop and getting advice from someone very far removed from the medical field. Heck, Dr's aren't perfect but do not take advice from anyone without a medical licesnse. My Dr said a lot of these supplements are too harsh on kids kidneys, liver and nothing has ever been tested on kids!!!!!!
This is normal for kids just now going to preschool. This year per my Pediatrician has been a hard year for early illness. As they get into Elementary their immunity will really be stronger, a lot stronger.
Make sure they got their flu shots for sure. I will say my daughter who is in first grade and never gets sick anymore hardly had this cough around Thanksgiving, then a weird unexplainable fever at night but during the day seemed fine. I took her in after a few days and it turned out she had walking pnuemonia! A few kids in her class got it too so it was viral and after 24 hours on meds she was back to being healthy again, it was weird as she seemed just fine during the day. Never hesitate to call your Dr even after hours and ask. They can tell by symptoms over the phone sometimes if your child needs to be seen. I know too my daughter got a mystery virus at 2 and had swollen glands (not strep), she had a cold constantly and they took her tonsils out finally at 2 1/2. After that I have to say she rarely got sick. My son who is 3 1/2 has sort of the same thing and has an appt at the ENT next week and I am going to ask him if my son needs his tonsils out now. My son had to have tubes and adnoids out at 2. I am not pro anti biotics nor getting surgery for little ones however, I know in our case it was necessary and helped a lot.
My son just started preschool and he just got another cold! Part of mommyhood and eventually it will be a positive when they are older and have been exposed to more things. Make sure your kids don't suck thumbs, wash their hands frequently and explain about bad germs especially at school. Ask the staff what they do as far as cleaning toys, desks and so on too. My first grader learned about germs this year and they have hand sanitizer and she uses that before snack, after gym class and is very aware to keep her hands washed.

W.,

I feel your pain. My 2 year old is not in daycare but we have family members that are in school and they bring everything with them when they come to play. Wash hands alot, disinfect toys and wipe down faucets and light switches and door knobs. It keeps everything at bay. I go through at night after everyone is in bed and wipe down everything or spray. I use Melaleuca products and no one in my family has been sick this season, even though the other kids are sick when they caome to play. It has been a total life saver, especally (sp?) since I have a 6 week old. I am trying really hard to avoid him getting sick. Good Luck I hope things work out. If you would like more information on the Melaleuca products please vist my website www.themomteam.com/melissabar

M. B

Welcome to the winter, with kids! My kids are the same age & we have been off & on sick since September. My goal is wash hands before & after places we go. Anything that's not ours, or even when I see my 4 yr. old pick his nose. He moans & groans but I tell him that picking can make him sick. Baby wipes work well in a pinch. I have my kids wash their faces with a clean washcloth every morning & night. I'm a fan of a glass of oj in the morning & a vitamin too. Have you tried honey for the cough? A teaspoon does wonders. And then your basic stuff...rest and lots of water. I found getting a cool water bottle (a 32oz they like because it's big) just for the kids makes them drink a lot more than usual I'm very anal about this because my youngest had RSV when he was 1 month old & when he gets sick now I have to pull out all my tricks. Hope the advice works for you.

Hi W.,

I am a 40 yr old SAHM with an amazing (almost) one year old.

I am an independant distributor for a 52 year old health and wellness company. I would love to tell you about the nutritional suppliments that can help with your children's immune system. I know you will get lots of advice so I don't want to bombard you with info. Let me know if you would like more information.

I would love to help,

D.

Hi W. -
If you children are getting sick, their immune systems are down. To boost the immune system you can try natural supplements like echinacea and rhodiola. Reputable companies like Herbs,Etc. and HerbPharm make excellent children's formulas. These tinctures can be added to the child's juice or taken alone. They are available at most health food stores like Sprouts, Whole Foods or Wild Oats. You can also buy the herbs dried and make teas or inhalants. Herbs like Sage, Lavender and Chamomile make excellent teas and inhalants because of their anti-bacterial qualities. For tea, bring 1 cup water to a boil, remove from heat, add 1 tsp dried herb and allow to steep for about 10 mins. Strain and drink - children can have 1/4 to 1/2 cup 2 or 3 times a day. For an inhalant, bring 4 cups of water to a boil, remove from heat, add a handful of herbs (any combination), tent the pan with a towel and breath in the wonderful fragrance from the steam. With children, make sure the steam is not too hot - you can even get under the tent with them.

Hope this helps.

M. M. Ernsberger
Certified Herbalist

You are doing too much! Continue at this pace and you will crash and burn!

From what I understand, kids this young will spend a good part of the winter getting various colds. Especially if they are in daycare. Once they are a bit old and have built up their immunities, they will get sick less often. The only thing I suggest is maybe a multi-vitamin and healthy food. I know it's miserable for everyone involved, but hang in there, summer will be here before you know it.

my children are 19. almost 18 and 12.
remember, you are the quarterback of the game: it's all about prevention and decisions, not reaction~ you get to make the moves to ensure they keep healthy. :) first off, this was a weird year weather wise. warm til december, suddenly very cold. warm again...rain..then very cold. kids are very susceptible to colds and runny noses just from touching everything and being around sick kids, but there's another reason that we need to consider when we get them dressed up to go outside: as you know, heat rises and cold stays near the ground. temps near the floor are actually colder and many times parents forget that although "they themselves feel fine" a child is experiencing a different level of coldness/time zone LOL due to their height and they don't bundle up the kids as much as they should~ i see this all the time. mom and dad are dressed more warmly than the kids. the ground absorbs the cold. any mum who has done pilates in the wintertime and has to lay on a mat on the ground can attest to this, LOL not pleasant!
another consideration to keep them from getting sick: you need to have a shedule for outdoor playing for when the temps are cold in the winter and of course we have one in the early morning when the summer heat is brutal. so you adjust: during wintertime when my children were home schedules changed. that meant outside play was severely cut back unless there were warmer days. 2 hours of fun do not equal 2 weeks of misery. choose your battles. you can do what you can to keep kids healthy but put them on a playground full of sick little boys and girls and you just ruined all your hard work.
2. don't let the sniffles get worse. give clear liquids, broths, homemade chicken noodle soup, fresh fruit, tons of water and orange juice. no wheat or dairy. curb their physical activities, as this produces more/thickens mucus and the coughing begins. at this point all we want is to prevent it from turning into an ear infection. provide soothing activities, coloring, watching some non-violent, non-loud shows that are calming to them.
3. if you see that the neighbour child (just an example) is coughing or has a runny nose...skip playtime. you need to be militant and watchful about this; after all, is it going to be worth having a sick child for 2 weeks over an hour of peace and quiet?
4. i can't stress the importance of good nutrition and enough sleep time. anything that comes out of a box or can is NOT nutritious, don't be fooled by what the label says. if it has names you can't pronounce is nothing but chemicals. these won't fuel the body or help it fight illness. more fresh fruit, fresh or briefly cooked vegetables, less cereal and sunnyD or juicepacks (not real or nutritious juice, no matter what the label says). always treat the bodies like a fine machine: you wouldn't put coffee in your car because you would ruin the engine and it wouldn't work. in the same manner, make sure kids have a healthy diet. this will help them fight off whatever is out there better. an immune system that is not working to its full capacity is not strong enough to fight illness as it should. make sure the kiddos have a daily routine that includes going to bed at the same time every day. the body needs this. sleepy time is restoration time, and the body craves to wake up and go to sleep naturally, so it's important to have it on a schedule so that this can occur.
4. make handwashing and changing clothes after an outdoor activity a priority. when they get home from pre-school/sitter's. get rid of germ-y clothes and hands/face.
5. a word about medicines that dry off the runny nose or prevent coughing: you need the runny nose and the cough to expel the virus. only do the medicine when it's nightime and you can tell it's going to prevent from a restful sleep. the more you give the medicine the more you are dragging out the system's own cleanup service: it is better to go through a box of lotion tissues (no red nose) every day for blowing noses again and again to get rid of it than to keep extending the illness because the body is being prevented from getting rid of the disease via body fluids and cough. never put any petroleum based product (vaseline) in their nose. this could cause pneumonia, as it gets breathed into the lungs and your body can't get rid of it since it's not soluble in water.
hope this helps. i know it sounds like a lot of work but having been there i can tell you that if you take the stance of prevention over reaction you will have healthier kids! it may sound like a lot of work/thinking/planning/adjusting but it is soooo much better than having kids sick all winter.
good luck! and don't worry, spring's around the corner!
:)