How to avoid getting ill when your child is ill

Having a sick baby or child at home is no fun ... and I'm just talking about relatively minor illnesses like the common cold or a flu. It's awful to see your offspring suffer and not be their usual joyful self. It's also tough to manage the extra care they require and put up with (usually) more sleepless nights as they struggle to settle down or keep waking up. But there is something that's worse ... and that is getting sick yourself when your child is unwell. With many illnesses such as the common cold or the flu it almost seems inevitable that whoever spends most time with the child gets sick as well (school teachers and day care centre staff can tell a tale of this). So what can we do as parents to avoid getting sick when our children have a cold or flu? Here's my starter for 10 list based on recent experience (my 19-month old went through 2 consecutive colds and an ear infection and I didn't get sick - YAY!).

* take vitamin pills - I find that extra strength Vitamin C, Zinc and Echinacea combination pills work really well. I took the recommended daily allowance of 2 a day.

* avoid touching / rubbing your eyes - apparently a significant percentage of viral infections are introduced by rubbing eyes after touching a contaminated surface or object.

* eat well and drink green tea - dark green vegetables (broccoli and green in particular) contain lots of nutrients that boost the immune system. Green tea contains antioxidants to help repair damaged cells.

* get fresh air in - I made a conscious effort of airing our living room and Noah's bedroom as often as possible. Also try to spend some time outdoors (also with your sick child if at all possible - even if it's just 5 minutes).

* change linen / bedsheets and clothes of your child regularly (like every other day)

Keep well!

-Stef