The school year has started. Fall is here. And cold, flu, and RSV season is just around the corner. One way to reduce stress when the inevitable illness hits, is to plan ahead for it. Below are some practical steps you can take today to prepare your household.
1. Organize Your Medicine Cabinet
Now is a great time to go through your medicine cabinet and update it for the season. If you have old medications from last year, check expiration dates and replace anything that is expired. If you are running low on over-the-counter cold and flu meds, buy some now, so you have it when needed. (I’ve found that some over-the-counter medicines, such as dye-free Tylenol, can be sold out in stores during the thick of cold and flu season.) If you have an infant or child under two this year, make sure to get proper dosing instructions from your PCP. And if your baby or young child does not yet drink from a cup, have a way to administer meds, such as a syringe or dropper.
You might also want some basic comfort items on hand, such as a humidifier, saline spray, tissues, and children’s electrolytes. Also make sure you have a working thermometer.
2. Make A Back-Up Childcare Plan
Juggling childcare and work when your child is sick can be stressful. To avoid being caught off guard—especially if this is your first cold, flu, and RSV season with a little one—have a back-up plan for if your child is sick and unable to attend school or daycare. A back-up plan can include:
- Deciding in advance which parent will take off work if needed (and/or how to split sick-day childcare responsibilities with your partner)
- Discussion flexible options with your employer in advance, such as the option to work from home to be with your child if needed
- Identifying anyone you can call in a pinch, such as a family member or a babysitter who specifically offers sick care
3. Create A Sick Day Activity Bin
Consider getting a couple of new coloring books, simple crafts, and/or new toys that you can tuck away for a sick day. While you will of course want to prioritize rest, having something new and fun on hand can help cheer up your little one(s) and pass the time stuck at home (and maybe even get a couple minutes to yourself to recharge).
4. Take Precautions To Minimize Your Family’s Risk
As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This year’s flu and Covid-19 vaccines are now readily available at local pharmacies. And as of last year, there is an RSV vaccine recommended for pregnant women who have a due date during RSV season, as well as an RSV immunization for infants during their first RSV season. For more information, read vaccine guidance from URMC here and speak with your primary care provider and/or pediatrician.
You can also start implementing or reinforcing healthy habits to help keep germs at bay. For example: disinfect surfaces and doorknobs in your home more often, carry hand sanitizer, and ensure your kids wash their hands more frequently than they may have been over the summer. And of course, focusing on the basics—getting quality sleep, eating nutritious meals, staying hydrated—are extra important this season.
5. Stay Up-To-Date On Local Trends
If you like to look at data like I do, you can track how flu, RSV, and Covid-19 are spreading in Monroe County on the CDC’s Respiratory Illness Data Channel here. (To use this tool, first filter by New York State, and then select your county.) You can also get local updates from 13wham’s What’s Going Around series, which is a weekly news segment that highlights common illnesses, here.
Illnesses happen. Hopefully some of these strategies can make any sick days ahead a little easier – or even a little less frequent. From all of us at Rochester Mom Collective: be well this season!
