How to Not Get Sick From Your Child
As a parent, you'll want to ensure your sick child gets better as quickly as possible. If he is contagious, you stand a chance of becoming ill as well. The last thing you want is to spread it to the rest of your family or prevent you from working and doing all the things you need to do. If you have a child under the weather it is important to take measures to prevent you from getting sick while tending to him.
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Instructions
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Wash your hands and keep them away from your mouth, nose and eyes at all times. Clean your hands every time you come into contact with your child or anything that he handled while sick.
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Discard any uneaten food in the trash can. Do not consume food off of the same plate she used or use the same utensils. Do not eat food your child has bitten into while sick or drink from the same glass. Wash her dishes, cups and utensils immediately in hot, soapy water and allow to air dry.
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Disinfect any items or surfaces in which your child has come into contact using a disinfectant spray. This includes door knobs, surfaces, furniture and toys.
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Avoid coming into direct contact with your child's coughing and sneezing as much as possible. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends holding small children with their chin resting on your shoulder to prevent them from coughing in your face. If he wants to crawl into bed with you, have him sleep so that he is facing away from you. Teach him to sneeze and cough into the inside of his elbow, not his hand.
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Keep a box of facial tissue and a waste basket beside your child's bed. Encourage your children to use proper hygiene and to cover their mouths with a tissue whenever they feel as if they are going to sneeze or cough. Tissues should be thrown away by your child. If you must pick them up, do not use your bare hands. Take a clean tissue and place it over the used one, pick it up and discard it in the trash. Wash your hands immediately with soap and water, or use a hand sanitizing product.
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Strip the bed and hold items away from you as you transport them to the washing machine. Don't hold soiled or dirty linens and clothing close to your body when doing laundry. Wash your child's linens and clothing in hot water and with bleach, when possible. Thoroughly wash your hands after handling them.
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Use a different bathroom from the one your child uses, if possible. If you must use the same bathroom it should be cleaned and disinfected daily while your child is sick. Be generous with disinfecting sprays such as Lysol to spray surfaces where germs can linger.
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Tips & Warnings
Alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used in place of hand soap if needed. Always use lotion to moisturize your hands after excessive washing and/or sanitizing to avoid skin fissures which can lead to painful rashes and infections.
Companion animals can be transporters of germs after a sick person has handled them or been in close proximity. To disinfect fur, pour sanitizing lotion on your hands, rub them together, and then pet your dog or cat. Do not allow your cat to lick himself for five to ten minutes.
Remember to disinfect computer keyboards, television remote control devices and toys your child has handled. A quick spray with a disinfectant should suffice.
References
- Photo Credit ill upset boring child image by Cherry-Merry from Fotolia.com
