Going back to school can be an exciting time for parents and children for so many reasons. Meeting new teachers, making new friends, and going back to school shopping are all fun. But one part I don’t like is sending my child off one year older because it reminds me just how fast time escapes us. Another part I don’t like is all of the new germs my children are exposed to by new classmates!
Year after year, one or both of my kids get sick with some sort of virus within the first week or two of school. I know they are still building their immune systems but it’s still never easy to see your child sick. The good news is there are a few key ways you can prepare your children and your home to help minimize common cold and flu symptoms.
The first way is to put some antibacterial spray in your child’s backpack and teach them to spray their hands after playing on the playground, having free play time in the classroom, before lunch, and as soon as they get into the car after school. And as soon as they get home I am in the habit of washing their hands before they do or touch anything else that belongs to them!
The second way is to give them Elderberry syrup or gummies during breakfast or at dinner to keep their immune system up for the first month of school.
The third way is to teach your children not to share their water bottles with their new friends at school and or even share with their siblings. As much as we try to teach our children to share, we don’t want to pass germs from one person or sibling to another if we can help it. Nothing is worse than two sick children!
The fourth way is to stock your fridge with antioxidant fruits like grapes, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and pomegranate so you can pack some in their school lunch or have as a snack after school.
The fifth way is to place a cool-mist humidifier in your child’s room to keep their air passages clear and open to be preventative about catching a virus. In our home, we exclusively use Crane cool-mist humidifiers. In fact, we have used Crane’s cool-mist humidifiers for over five years, receiving our first one as a baby shower gift before our first child was born. Since then, we have owned 4 of their cool-mist humidifiers! We love the fun, playful designs and they have stood the test of time year after year because they are such a high quality product and have helped our kids breath better through the night illness after illness. In all honesty, a Crane cool-mist humidifier is one of my TOP PARENTING PRODUCTS FOR NEW PARENTS. They are fairly priced so whether you put one on your baby registry or buy one yourself it is a smart investment and you will thank yourself every time you use it.
If you aren’t familiar with how a cool-mist humidifier works, the cool mist helps relieve congestion and is safe to use for newborns, infants, and children of all ages. My husband and I even have our own cool-mist humidifier that we use when we are sick. The one gallon tank can run up to 24 hours, so we keep it on all day during nap, play, and throughout the night! It is so easy to take apart, clean, and put back together. And it is so quiet you cannot even tell it’s on, so thank goodness as a busy mom there is an auto off function that activates when the water tank is empty! They are also so easy to use and don’t require a filter. You fill and close the tank, place the top portion to the base, and turn the knob on and off. There is a small green light that indicates if it’s on and working correctly or a red light if there is a problem. The base is made with antimicrobial material to help reduce mold and bacteria growth up to 99.96%, but please make sure to disinfect your humidifier once a week with water and vinegar.
Honestly I cannot say how much I love my Crane cool mist humidifiers. They effectively humidify rooms up to 500 square feet and are also FDA registered and are BPA free! They also help relieve cough, cold, and flu symptoms as well as nasal congestion, dry coughs, sinus irritation, nosebleeds, and dry skin and hair! We have even taken one of our cool-mist humidifiers on the road with us for when we travel! And for every humidifier you purchase, you will receive a 1 year free subscription coupon to Parents Magazine included in the packaging! This is a perfect bonus gift for new parents!
We currently own 4 Crane cool-mist humidifiers: my daughter has Elliot the Elephant, my son has The Crane Train, and we also have Oscar the Owl and The Black Drop! I love all of the ones we own and I have to say my son is obsessed with “Choo Choo’s” at the moment and it’s the coolest when the water comes out of the smokestack (no pun intended!)! There are over 40 different animals, styles, and or colors, to choose from, so you are bound to find one you and your child will love!
This post is sponsored by Crane. All photos and opinions are my own. Thank you for your support!
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