Surviving Flu Season with Toddlers

It is flu season again in Oakville! When you have kids in daycare your “circle” expands quite a bit. It’s almost unavoidable as illnesses get swapped around easily. Today we discuss ways you can avoid illness (as best you can), what to do when little ones are sick, and a quick reminder of Kinder Buddies illness policies!

Avoiding Illness during Flu Season

While illness is inevitable, especially during flu season, there are definitely steps you and your family can take to avoid illness as long as possible.

Hand Washing Routine

It’s important to get kids into the routine of washing hands. When you get home and before eating are really common times to wash hands. Get kids really into it by buying a fun soap that they choose for themselves. It also helps to have a step stool so that kids can reach the sink without any assistance.

Another tip is to change your child’s clothing when they get home from daycare. Viral load can make a difference in how sick someone gets. Changing clothing when you get home can lower how long your little one is exposed to whatever illness they are exposed to!

Masking in Public

Since COVID, masks have become totally acceptable in public and are really good at keeping illnesses like colds and the flu away. If your littles are too young to mask even having adults mask in crowds can go a long way to keep your family healthy.

Get Vaccinated

Flu Vaccines are now available for babies 6 months and up, as well as adults. There are also new COVID Boosters! Vaccines have been proven to lower the severity of symptoms as well as how long you are sick. Not only will you protect your family by getting vaccinated, you help protect other vulnerable people in your community.

Helping your Sick Toddler

While adults have lots of medication options to handle their illnesses, children don’t. Other than Tylenol and Motrin for fevers, it may be worthwhile investing in a humidifier for your little ones’ room. Just make sure to buy a humidifier that’s easy to clean and is cleaned often!

Of course, if you have any concerns about your child’s illness head to the ER or even call 811 Telehealth to access a qualified health professional 24/7.

Kinder Buddies Illness Policy:

If your child experiences any of these symptoms they are considered too sick to come to daycare. Kids cannot come to daycare until they are completely illness-free.

• Fever of 101 or higher
• Vomited twice
• Diarrhea twice
• Any contagious

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Kinder Buddies Oakville Daycare is a Quality First Daycare and Infant Care facility in Oakville, Ontario. We take care of children from the age of 6 weeks to 5 1/2 providing nutritious meals and fun activities all day long.