Getting Your Child Through the Flu This Cold Season

Is your child stuck inside with the flu?  The cold weather often brings kids into enclosed spaces, where germs spread like wildfire.  When the cold season leads to your child coming down with flu, knowing how to get them feeling better is important.  Today, we will look at the best ways to help your little one feel better quickly.

Hydration is Key

One of the biggest problems in a child with the flu is dehydration, and you will have to work hard to prevent this.  Vomiting, increased mucus production, a decreased appetite, and diarrhea all contribute to dehydration.  Offering water, sports drinks, liquid-based soups or fruit at regular intervals can help speed up their recovery time significantly.

Great Comfort Foods
Chicken soup is more than an old fashioned comfort for the cold or flu, it is also packed with much needed nutrients.  Offering foods with lots of warm liquid and veggies can speed up the recovery process by bolstering your child’s immune system with important vitamins.

Humidifiers Help
Putting a humidifier in your child’s room can help thin out the mucus in your child’s sinuses by making it more watery.  While initially making symptoms seem worse, this will get rid of germs while also keeping nasal passages moist to prevent a sore throat.

Sleep is Essential
One of the best ways for the body to heal is to be well rested.  When the cold weather leads to your child getting sick with flu or a cold, allowing your child to sleep as much as he or she wants to will help them heal much more quickly.

Vitamins Are Great
Last, consider adding a vitamin supplement containing vitamins A and E as well as zinc.  All three of these are natural immune boosters that can help get rid of the flu. You can also try commercial vitamin boosters such as ‘Airborne’ or ‘EmergenC’. Be sure to consult your doctor if taking these for longer than a couple of days or before giving these to very young children, as they contain very high doses of vitamins.

Cold and flu season often leads to illness, but these tips can have your little one feeling better in no time.