Cold, fever, cough, sore throat, diarrhea and even dengue fever not only can haunt your little one but also all other family members. In such condition, parents are expected to put extra effort to maintain our little one’s health, as their immunity are not yet as strong as adults’.

You may want to learn these tips to protect your little one from easily getting sick.

1. Teach children “cough etiquette” (when coughing/sneezing)

Teach your little one to not cover his nose (and mouth) with both hands when sneezing. Instead, teach them to cover their mouth and nose using the elbow crease. Keep hands away from face; in particular, avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth because these are the areas flu where viruses enter a child's system. Ensure that their hands are clean when they touch their eyes or nose and mouth areas.

2. Maintain cleanliness/hygiene

Keeping children clean doesn't mean they can't play outside. Give your little one the freedom to move as long as you can ensure their safety. Make it a habit for your little one to wash their hands and feet after playing outside, when they finish using the bathroom, after playing with pets, before eating, and before sleeping. It may sound trivial, but a habit of maintaining hands cleanliness may protect us and your little ones from bacteria entering our body.

3. Wear mask as needed

In addition to maintaining body and hand hygiene, wearing a mask can also help children avoid the risk of contracting diseases. Advise your little one to wear mask around an ill friend, or while traveling. Ensure that they disposal of mask is proper: throw away disposable mask after single use, and wash hands properly afterwards.

4. Prepare a raincoat

If you ride motorcycle, make sure to always wear a jacket and raincoat when riding in the rain. Especially when you take your child to school, wear a complete rain protection. Not only raincoats or umbrellas, also prepare boots to protect the feet from rain, puddles, and splashes of water on the streets.

5. Avoid sharing eating utensils

Shared use of eating utensils can also be a medium for transmitting disease to children! Although it seems more practical, you should avoid the habit of share-using tableware within family members, including finishing leftovers on your kids’ plates. This is to avoid the spread of germs, especially if a family member is sick.

6. Have Medicines Ready at Home

Parents should also prepare medicines at home so that when needed any time, they are available to use. Medicines to be ready at home, for example: fever-reducing drugs containing paracetamol. But ensure that the application of medicine is proper referring to the child’s condition. If fever continues for more that three days, contact your doctor immediately.

Reference

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-weather-change-make-you-sick/