Okay, so neither of my kids have received the seasonal flu shot nor the H1N1 vaccine. I am a bit lax when it comes to all of this and mainly chalk it up to hype. I’ve read the pros and cons of each and well, frankly I’m still not sold on the H1N1. There is something about putting a live virus up my little one’s nose (since she’s over 3 years of age) that doesn’t sit well with me…but then again if she were to contract it, wouldn’t I want to have done everything I could to prevent it?!
While it’s recommended that children from 6 months to 24 years old receive the vaccine, I am not in the at-risk categories. If I was pregnant, I might have a different outlook as my two good friends went seeking it out not wanting to risk their unborn children’s health.
But that brings me back to why we haven’t gotten even the seasonal flu shot — it’s not available at my doctor’s office (I’ve been calling since August) and yesterday via Twitter the San Diego County released a statement saying that they are completely out of the vaccine at all County Health Centers (today it says there is a limited supply reserved for pregnant woman ONLY). So I guess the decision has already been made for me — we’re not getting it. If we do get it, flu season will have come and gone and hopefully, my little ones will have escaped without one illness (knock on wood…)!
In the meantime, here’s how Mama is helping her crew avoid the flu:
- Washing hands and then washing them again – I know you’ve heard this a million times before but now you can get your kids to wash their hands with no problem thanks to the new Healthy Hands Disney Musical Time Wash Timers. These are amazing little tools that snap on to the top of the soap pump and when you push the pump down it triggers the song to play for 25 seconds — long enough for them to get soapy and clean!! They come in Ariel or Cars theme and play the theme songs from each. Available at www.gethealthyhands.com, $3.99. I recommend buying one for each pump in the house!
- For Mamas on the go, you can never use enough hand sanitizer — I love the organic hand sanitizer, EO Hand Sanitizing Spray. It has an invigorating combination of peppermint oil, Vitamin E and thyme to leave my hands clean and smelling clean. Good for the kiddos too! Available at Whole Foods, $2.99.
- Take Vitamins — take lots of them especially Vitamin C. Let the kiddos have a small cup of orange juice or I like the Yummi Bears: Vitamin C (no sugar added!!) for my 3 year old. Available at VitaminShoppe.com, $14. For Mama, I just tried Gaia Herbs Rapid Relief Black Elderberry Syrup which gives a super concentrated dose of Vitamin C — yummy! Available at Whole Foods.
- If you feel like you’re getting sick, know the difference between the cold and flu — a cold rarely causes a fever and the flu does, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Other main flu symptoms include fatigue, muscle aches and sometimes a cough.
- If you do catch the flu — Mama is horrible with any OTC drug, it always makes my heart race and I feel like I’m in the clouds so I prefer to try a Homeopathic version first. Try 365 Everyday Value Flu Ease which in an easy to take pellet form offers natural relief of body aches, fever and chills from flu symptoms. Safe to also give children ages 2+. Available at Whole Foods.
Mama wants to know what are your thoughts on the flu — too much hype or not enough?
My philosophy is simple: just because you're a mom doesn't mean you have to forgo style or your life. You can do it all with a little help from Mama. Mama makes life easier by doing all the shopping, crafting and ranting for you because really...what Mama has the time for that?! Mama will not lie, I can bake but if you're looking for cooking tips you might be better off going someplace else!
