Category: Antenatal Classes Baby Massage Childcare Children's Activities Children's Party Entertainers Dance Days Out Drama Education Help Family Friendly Restaurants Family Photographer Health Holiday Activities Indoor Play Music Teachers Parent Coaching Pre School Sports County: BANES Bedfordshire Berkshire Bridgend County Bristol Buckinghamshire Cambridgeshire Cheshire Clackmannanshire Clwyd Conwy Cornwall Cumbria Derbyshire Devon Dorset Durham East Sussex Essex Fife Flintshire Gloucestershire Greater London Greater Manchester Gwynedd Hampshire Hertfordshire Inverness-Shire Isle Of Wight Kent Lancashire Leicestershire Lincolnshire London Manchester Merseyside Mid-Glamorgan Middlesex Norfolk North Yorkshire Northamptonshire Northumberland Nottinghamshire Oxfordshire Perthshire Powys Somerset South Lanarkshire South Yorkshire Staffordshire Suffolk Surrey Tyne and Wear W. Glamorgan Warwickshire West Midlands West Sussex West Yorkshire Wiltshire Worcestershire Wrexham County Borough

Colds

It is more or less impossible to stop your children from catching colds. In fact a child can have on average 8 - 10 colds per year according to research. Catching colds is not all bad news and in many ways it is part of growing up. Having colds at an early age helps the body to develop general resistance to colds and help to protect your child from them in later life.

There are a number of steps you can take to try and minimise the chances of a child catching a cold without wrapping them in cotton wool.

1. They should not share food or drink with another child who already has a cold. This is an easy way for germs to spread.

2. Avoid other children who sneeze without using a tissue. A sneeze is one of the fastest and most powerful ways to spread the cold virus. If a child sneezes in their vicinity even a simple movement such as turning their back quickly can reduce the chances of catching germs. Encourage your children to carry tissues with them and to use them when required. It can be too late if they have to ask for one when they feel a sneeze coming on.

3. Try to get children into the habit of washing their hands in hot water, with soap. The water does not need to be boiling hot, but hot water is better than cold water for killing off germs. Make sure children wash the backs of their hands as well as the palms. This is especially important before eating a meal. If they have touched their eyes, nose or mouth after coughing and sneezing washing hands will help to stop the spread of germs.

4. A healthy diet does not cure all ills, but it does help a child to be generally healthy. Overweight children are more prone to catching coughs and colds and to succumbing to other minor illnesses. If your child is under the weather what they eat becomes even more important as nutritious food will go a long way to helping them get better.

5. The benefit of exercise should not be overlooked. Activities such as walking or cycling to school can help to activate their lymphatic system.

6. Wrap up warm. It is important that anyone keeps warm at colder times of the year. It is also important that after an activity such as swimming a child is dried off quickly and changes into warm, dry clothes.

7. Once a child becomes ill it is best for them to stay at home if they feel their body needs to sleep. There is no need to keep them away from school if they has a simple cold, but if they become rundown and over tired through their cold then rest may help to stop a secondary illness from developing.

NOTE: The health section of Parenting.co.uk is not to be used as a substitute for your GP; if your child is ill then seek the advice of a qualified doctor or other health professional without delay.

What do you think?
Login or Register to add a comment or ask a question.

FURTHER PARENTING HELP

Parenting.co.uk offers a range of options tailored to your individual parenting needs. Help options include both telephone and email based support. Please note there are charges for these services. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you lead a more fulfilling life as a parent or overcome specific problems you are having email andy@parenting.co.uk with details of the areas you would like help, support and guidance.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING? TRY THE PARENTING.CO.UK DIRECTORY

The Parenting.co.uk Directory covers the entire range of parenting subjects from health to activities, shopping to education and sports to days out. You can also search your local area for everything from drama lessons to babysitters and sports clubs to baby photographers.

Check out the directory here: Parenting Directory

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE PARENTING.CO.UK DIRECTORY

If you are looking to reach thousands of parents and families to boost your business then advertising in our directory is a simple way for you to do it.

Join our directory here: Join the Directory