It seems sickness comes in phases. Last year the kids were never sick (or if they were it was something like pink-eye that didn’t slow them down a bit). This year it seems we are battling every bug out there. Here are some of the survival tips we have come up with to help us survive the tummy-flu. Please share your tips in the comments – My preschoolers and I need them!
Our Sick Survival Essentials
1. Vinyl Tablecloth
These are terrific! The fabric backing on the back makes this “tarp” not slide when you cover your couch or a bed with the tablecloth, but the easy-to-clean vinyl surface means that you can wipe and disinfect with bleach and a paper towel. No more scrubbing the couch!
Related: Fever stickers are the best thing ever
2. Jello
I am not referring to those nifty cubes that are great snacks for a sickly child. We use jello powder to help solidify diarrhea. Mix a teaspoon or so of jello powder into applesauce and it helps congeal poo. Jello powder does not cure diarrhea, but for a young diapered child, it does help contain it!
3. Nightlights
We got a couple of the ionizer lightbulbs from Purely Products right before Christmas. They seem to come at the worst best times. A virus is making its way through the house again. Purely Products offers nightlight air purifiers as well as UV-germ-killing lightbulbs. As we put the nightlight in after the virus arrived we can’t attest to its germ-fighting qualities, but I have been very impressed with how quickly it can deodorize a sick room!
3. Spoonful of Sugar
Having problems getting your kids to take their meds or even to drink, anything, at all? Kid Kupz created a flavored rim cup to help convince our kids to take the meds. While the bugs going through our house have been viral and we haven’t gotten meds to combat them, I have used the cups to make drinking fun for sick kids. It is so important to keep fluids up with the tummy bug comes to town – this may not be the original intent of this product, but it works for us!
4. Viatmin D
This is why I haven’t gotten sick yet, in spite of the fact that this is the third time one of the quirky kids has caught something! I love this stuff… now if only it would keep the kids from contracting every bug this year!
Any tips that your family has on how to avoid, survive or combat illness in your family? I’d love to hear them – maybe they’ll help us next time a bug comes to call!
Check out these sinus massages for congestion relief for kids!
My 2 year old had a tummy bug not too long ago and being a tummy bug newbie I was terrified. My mom had suggested the table cloth idea to me and about the bract (bananas, rice, apple sauce, carrots and dry toast) diet for three days to help with the diarrhea. She also suggested to keep his spirits up to buy him new pajamas which worked to help keep him a little happier!
I have found a small plastic trash can works well for little ones who need to puke, but can’t make it to the bathroom. I keep my kids thermos full of ice water so it is easy for them to get lots of fluids. Steam humidifier with vapo steam is my favorite for congestion.
That Vinyl cloth tip was the best but that is not to say the rest were not especially the Jello tip to contain the poo inside the diaper. When I encounter helpful tips, I’d be glad to share them here.
I love the vinyl table cloth idea! I’m going to buy a few of those to prepare for the upcoming flu season!!
When I was little, my mom gave me an old pot, one of those 6qt ones to throw up in. Sometimes the bathroom is too far away and buckets are too tall.
Thanks Rachel!
I love the vinyl table cloth idea. We’ve been very fortunate our little hasn’t been sick much but we’ll definitely use the material to line the couch if the need arises.
Very useful tips.I wish I knew about using the table cloth.It really is hard when the kids get sick.Thanks for sharing this.
I’m sorry you guys have been under the weather! It was three years ago that our family was sick for six months straight! I remember it well. I hope you guys are all on the mend soon!
*in hot water in the washer
Love the tablecloth idea!! My 3 and 1 year old girls have had TWO stomach viruses since October. Also my first as a mommy so I was a stomach bug rookie. My biggest tip is keep a huge stack of towels on hand. I mistakenly tried to get them to throw up into a bucket which did not go well LOL. Instead I held out a towel and they were useful for “catching” it. Needless to say I did tons of loads of towels ingot water in the washer but it worked and saved our carpets!
These are some GREAT suggestions…I HAD to tweet this post!