Tips for Keeping Family Cold and Flu-Free #lysolcoldandflu

As I'm typing this my son is sitting by me coughing and sneezing.  It is that time of year and it is also his first year in a big school surrounded by many more kids and many more germs!   Obviously I'm not the expert in keeping my family cold and flu free, but here are some of the ways I try to keep my normally healthy children that way:

• Wash hands & wash them often - warm water and soap are always the best bet.  Make sure you encourage your kids to do this and also practice what you preach so you are setting a good example.
• Hand Sanitizer - I always keep a travel size bottle of hand sanitizer for all those times we are on the go and our hands may be exposed to all kinds of germs.
• Prevention - My son's birthday is in August so we always have to make a trip into the doctor's office early in the Fall.  While we are there the kids both get their flu shots so they are ready to go for the flu season.  This also is great because it reduces the number of trips we have to make to the doctor's office.  We don't need to be exposed to the rest of the germs more often than necessary.  My husband and I also receive our flu shots every year.  My husband never used to get his flu shot until we had kids then he finally saw the light! 
• Keep Wipes on Hand - I'm a big fan of disinfecting wipes and I make sure we keep some on every level of the house.  They are great for a counter clean up and also great for toys when the little ones are playing and sneezing.
• Avoid - This doesn't sound very nice, but is a good bet if you have an ill member of the family.  It is best to keep them separated as much as possible.  We usually encourage sharing except when it comes to germs!  This also means teaching the kids to avoid touching their faces, eyes and mouths with their hands.  Encourage them to sneeze into an elbow or a tissue.

I'm off to grab my son some more tissues and water.  If you would like to learn more visit Lysol on Facebook and see how you can get a flu shot badge and a $5 rebate for your flu shot.

Disclosure:  I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.