Michelle Barbee

Fall brings cold and flu season and this year there is talk of a return of swine flu. With local school closures this spring and new guidelines for the fall, many parents are worried about illnesses, especially in a daycare setting. Parents can protect their children's health when they are at daycare by teaching simple hygiene techniques.

1. Keep current with recommended vaccinations and ask the doctor about using probiotics or prebiotics. Studies have shown probiotics and prebiotics help strengthen the immune system for adults and may be effective for children as well.

2. Practice hand washing at home so kids will be more likely to remember at daycare. Kids who practice washing hands even as young as 15 months will do a more thorough job of germ removal. Most young children love to play in water so adult supervision and assistance is required.

3. Teach children to cough and sneeze into their elbow. Preschool aged children can learn this trick, which keeps germs off hands and limits the spread of illness. Try telling children that they can cough and sneeze “like elephants” when they use the inside of their elbow.

4. When children are teething, it seems like everything goes into their mouths, but try to teach children that mouths are for food and hands are for toys. The fewer items that go into a child’s mouth, the fewer germs he or she ingests.

A final word about hand sanitizers: These can be a great way to help avoid illness. Many child care centers and home providers will have some around for adults to use and to assist children with their use. Hand sanitizers are dangerous if left in the reach of children and children should not be allowed to play with even small bottles.

For more info:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization - H1N1 page
Children's Health Insurance Program/ Children's Medicaid