How to stop daycare germs ruining the start of the new school year, according to a GP
By Victoria Owens|
It's the start of a new year of school, preschool and daycare but the return to childcare can also mean a return to childcare-related illnesses.
Just one month into the new year and our family alone has already caught three colds, three chesty coughs, two fevers and one weeping eye.
Now I know childcare can't be blamed every time, but they walked through those daycare doors relatively healthy before coming back out with all sorts of germs.
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So if you're worried about your kids catching the dreaded daycare lurgy, the first thing to do is prepare for the unavoidable.
GP and mum-of-two Dr Preeya Alexander says kids (especially pre-schoolers) can catch anywhere between six and twelve viruses every year and that's considered normal.
Viruses can be good to help build kids' immune systems, but it doesn't help all the tired, working parents who then need to juggle work and kids from home.
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So what if there was a way to lessen the blow, especially if your little one is starting for the first time?
Dr Preeya has given her top five tips for what parents can do to prevent or at the very least manage recurring illnesses:
1. Support the immune system of you and your kids: This means eating a healthy diet, remaining physically active, getting enough good quality sleep and reducing stress levels. Of course this is easier said than done for most parents but at least it's something to aim for.?
2. If you can't exercise or get more sleep, then at least focus on eating a rainbow diet to ensure you and your kids get all the "nutritional building blocks" to support the immune system and good gut health จC this also applies for lunchboxes, the more colour the better.
3. Ensure your kids are up to date with their immunisations including flu shots - Dr Preeya says it's fine for babies to get them from six months and is best administered before the cooler months kick in.
4. Keep kids home if they are unwell to prevent illness from spreading further - something I think we all wish other parents would adhere to more often. Dr Preeya says, "if the child is in the acute phase of the illness and is in the first 5-7 days of a viral illness that's when they tend to be contagious".
5. Take measures to prevent illnesses from spreading around your home จC set up "hand hygiene stations" or encourage play with face masks, anything that could prevent your children from passing it back and forth.
And if all else fails have a good back up plan for when daycare comes calling for you to pick up the kids.?
Please note the information in this story is general in nature. Please always consult your GP or health professional for advice that is tailored to you or your child's specific health concerns.?
