Back To School, Back To Germs

Year after year, when my kids go back to school, it often means back to coughing, sniffling, and sneezing. Being in such close quarters with other kids, sharing pencils, and touching doorknobs all lead to the back-to-school bugs. And now we have the added worry of COVID-19. No matter if your kids are in preschool, elementary, or high school, there are ways to help keep your family and your kids safe and healthy. Read on and check out the video below for five tips every parent should know about treating common kid illnesses this school year.

Be One Step Ahead

How many times have your children come to you in the middle of the night with a fever, chest congestion, or running nose? Before it happens this school season, be proactive by educating yourself on some of the basics. It’s important to learn how to treat a fever confidently by safely dosing your child.

Is that runny nose from allergies or a cold? It can be challenging to tell the difference. Parents can actually learn how to help distinguish between colds and allergies and get important reminders on age restrictions before administering allergy medicines or cough and cold medicines to young kids. Be confident you are making smart, informed choices before treating your child’s symptoms, and learn why reading the Drug Facts label is a critical step before offering an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to your kids. For all this, and more tips on how to treat your family with care all year long, visit KnowYourOTCs.org.

In this quick video created by my favorite parents “In The Know,” we talk about how real parents deal with back-to-school germs effectively. ENJOY!

Understand How to Combat Coronavirus

While schools are open for the upcoming school year, we’re all wearing masks to keep ourselves and our friends, family, and neighbors, safe. Make sure that your children are washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. (Moms, look for one that is 60 percent or higher alcohol-based.)

While your kids might not be able to maintain any social distancing in their classrooms, there are ways to keep germ spread to a minimum. Teach your littles to avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, to cough and sneeze into a tissue (make sure to throw it away after each use!) or into their masks or elbows, not their hands. And parents, be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. And make sure you and your family get COVID-19 vaccines and boosters as soon as they become available to your family. 

Check out all my back-to-school tips on the City Girl Gone Mom Pinterest board!

Make Sure You Come Prepared

Coming into contact with the back-to-school bugs is almost inevitable no matter how healthy your child is. The lurking unwanted germs expose kids to the sniffles, sneezes, and everything in between. Instead of being panicked, as their mom, I choose to be prepared.

Reading and understanding the drug facts label and talking to our pediatrician may not prevent germs, but it can certainly make me a more informed parent, equipped with the knowledge and know-how of properly administering OTC medicines. While the kids are back to doing their homework, mom is back to doing hers! To learn more about back-to-school illnesses, I encourage you to visit KnowYour OTCs.org.

Have you listened to my podcast? Check out The Mom Confidential!