Welcome to the new year! If you’re planning family activities over the festive breaks, then you know how exciting and occasionally overwhelming things can get. As you pack your luggage essentials, the most important consideration goes to your health, and the protection of your family. Nothing ruins a fun vacation like a child struggling with the cold or flu!
But fret not, here are 7 expert hacks that’ll have you strutting like a regular Macgyver so your kids (and even your hubby) will look forward to an awesome 2020!
Always protect your children
Tip 1 – Use a humidifier
Along with temperature/seasonal changes, come cold or flu symptoms like stuffy noses, sore throats & coughs. Humidifiers provide temporary relief by keeping throat and nasal passages hydrated. Harsh dry air caused by extended air-conditioning usage, can be addressed by a humidifier that adds much needed moisture to the air, creating optimal breathing conditions that helps children sleep and play more comfortably.
Tip 2 – Make a home-made heat pack
All you need are old cloth, corn kernels and a little sewing. Corn kernels keep their warmth the longest! Simply warm up your home-sewn heat pack and place it close to your child. But make sure to check your child’s skin every 15 to 20 minutes to make sure the heat is just right. If possible, avoid electric heating pads or cloths soaked in hot water because these do not offer controlled warmth.
Tip 3 – Banana peel to alleviate bug-bites
If you’re planning on an outdoor excursion, you’ll encounter mosquitoes & other insects. Even with anti-mozzie sprays, stickers and ointments, nasty bites can and will occur. All you need to do is rub the inside of a banana peel on bites to stop swelling and itching fast. This is quick and natural way to avoid chemical-based remedies that could possible end up in your child’s bloodstream by way of skin absorption.
Tip 4 – Keeps your family hydrated with this home-made recipe
If your child is just recovering from sickness, keep them hydrated with this delicious juice recipe. Instead of offering a commercial hydration drink, simply mix one litre of water with two tablespoons of sugar, and half a teaspoon of salt. Warm up the water first to easily dissolve the sugar and salt, then add a dash of orange juice for flavouring. Coconut water is also great for hydration too.
Tip 5 – Use Vicks VapoRub on your child’s neck, chest and back.
Rubbing Vicks VapoRub on childrens’ chest area eases nasal congestion and cough, helping them to sleep better. But did you know applying Vicks on the back area also work wonders? This is because Vicks VapoRub actually helps to relieve muscular aches too, providing a cooling, soothing sensation that might make your muscles feel less sore. Vicks VapoRub helps both yourself and your child get a good rest when you relieve the symptoms of flu or cold.
Tip 6 – Marshmallows for a sore throat
Now we’re willing to bet kids (or adults for that matter), will have little objection to this quick fix. Once upon a time, marshmallows made from tree sap contained a gooey pith called mucilage that forms a gel that relieved throat irritation by coating raw surfaces.
Store bought products are most likely devoid of mucilage, but the gelatin used to bond these sugary items can also do the trick!
Tip 7 – Pack an essential-supplies bag for any situation
In your go-bag, include a digital thermometer, hand-sanitizer, reusable straws (less sharing means less spreading of germs), Vicks VapoRub, cough drops for kids, alcohol-free wipes and even a can of easy cook broth-based soup. This flu-ready kit could be a life-saver, not to mention the saviour of your much treasured sanity (in case screaming and crying ends up being the response to flu-like symptoms).
Take control and don’t let your family suffer during the holidays! With the right precautions and remedies, you can easily soothe coughs and stuffy passages to help your family enjoy all the holiday plans you have coming up. The bottom line is that most people and children get better with time. Young children, pregnant women and older people should of course seek a doctor’s advice. But in regular cases, keep these tips at the top of your mind!
Vicks VapoRub is only for children aged 2 and above. Read label before use. Use as directed.
This article is brought to you by Vicks.
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