When One Kid is Sick... What Can I do to Keep the Rest of my Family Well?
“But, what about the other kids?” - Every mom after one kid in the family gets sick.
It’s tough taking care of a sick kid. It’s worse when there is more than one sick kid to care for. It’s the worst when you are sick, too.
Most parents want to do everything they can to prevent an illness from traveling through the family. Although we all know fully preventing illness from spreading to all members of a household is not always possible, there are a few things you can do to decrease spread of germs.
It’s important to know that not all “bad bugs” are killed by common household cleaners or Lysol wipes; and all the Purell in the world will not save you. (Yikes!) Using medical-grade cleaning products/solutions will give you a better chance of getting rid of the germs that cause illness.
Here are some tips:
Loving quarantine of your sick child (AKA: “Status: Sick Bay”) will help you limit the physical areas that need to be *repetitively* cleaned through the course of illness. An ill child should only use one bathroom in the house, for example, to make the cleaning more manageable. And caring for them from one room in the house will limit the surface areas that can hold germs.
Keep in mind that germs can move through the air, so keep the toilet lid down when flushing. Toilets should be cleaned after every use. For ease, I use a medical-grade cleaning wipe on all bathroom surfaces, like Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Wipes. #notanad *** I suggest wearing gloves when you use them because they make your hands stink.
Don’t forget to wipe down common surfaces daily with a medical-grade cleaning wipe or concentrated bleach solution. This includes light switches, door knobs, phones, game controllers, TV remotes, sink knobs, and toilet handles. And take out the trash can full of used Kleenex.
We all feel better if we have a clean place to rest. Change a sick person’s bedding/clothing at least once per day and run everything through the sterilization cycle of your washer and dryer (heavy duty, hot water cycle.) Pillows, stuffed animals, couch cushions, etc. can hold onto germs for a few days. Let those items air outside or in the garage.
A sick kid should stay out of the kitchen, even a few days after he is feeling better. It’s easy to spread germs through food prep. Since kids can spread germs for many days after they begin to feel well, plan on preparing and serving food items for awhile. If you get ill and must prepare food, vigorously scrub your hands with soap and water before touching any foods items or dish ware.
Especially tough bugs are not removed by a regular dishwasher cycle. (Restaurant outbreaks, anyone?) The dishes an ill person uses should be run through the sterilization cycle of the dishwater. Maybe twice.
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. Yes, there is a right way. Hand sanitizers will not kill tough bugs and still leave you at risk of getting ill.
The bottom line: Cold and flu season is tough. During these months, it is impossible to control your child’s exposure to common illnesses. Having a sick kid does not mean that you were not careful enough, didn’t clean enough, or that you have done something wrong. But when illness does strike, some basic precautions and care may help keep other family members well.
*** #notanad means I was not asked or paid to say anything about this product. I mention the name simply as an example of something you would find in my house, and as a suggestion to get you on the right track. There may be very comparable options available.
