It is a dreaded moment in motherhood, and that is when all of her children get sick. If mom has multiple children, she knows that the odds that they are all going to get sick if one does are incredibly high. They share cups, they are always getting in each other’s faces and it just seems inevitable. Mom also worries that she will get sick, or her partner, and then the whole house may be at risk of falling apart. Especially if the kids start feeling better when mom starts getting sick. She is out of commission and the kids have free reign of the house, and we all know what happens then.

That is why moms try their hardest to make sure they do not get sick as well. This can seem next to impossible when all sick children want to do is snuggle up close to their mom. When they are constantly coughing in her face and mom is always wiping a runny nose. While it may be difficult, there are ways mom can improve her odds and fend off the illness that has ravaged her entire house.

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The Basic Solution

Sometimes the best solutions are the easiest, and according to She Knows, the best thing mom can do is make sure she is taking her own precautions. Since it is cold and flu season, it is important to make sure that mom has her flu shot, which can help give her an advantage at fighting off an illness.

It is also important to make sure that mom is constantly washing her hands. It may seem like a lot; it is important for mom to wash her hands after every interaction with her children. When she wipes a nose, wash her hands, when a child coughs near her, wash her hands. It may seem daunting but this is the best way to make sure that mom doesn’t get the virus that is going around her home.

Close The Kitchen

While it may be nice to stop cooking and cleaning in the kitchen, that is not why you should close off your kitchen when the kids are sick. According to Parents, the kitchen is a room in the house that is going to harbor the most germs, and this should be a no-enter zone for sick children. Germs can thrive off of countertops and tables, and then there is the risk that the virus will be transferred to food that you are preparing, and this is a quick way to make sure that everyone in the home gets sick.

Laundry Mistakes

Even the laundry should be handled with care while children are sick. A lot of people use cold water to wash their laundry, as it is kind to the environment. However, this rule may need to go out the window when there are sick children in the house. It is advised that mom wash all of the laundry in hot water when children are sick. This will help to kill off germs and bacteria that are living on clothes. Of course, while mom is doing the laundry, she should avoid touching her face and wash her hands frequently.

Wipe It Down

It is always good to have some antibacterial spray and cleaner on hand, especially when children are sick in the home. According to Everyday Health, when there is a bug going around a home, mom should constantly be wiping down surfaces, especially ones that are being touched constantly. This means that doorknobs, the flusher on the toilet, and any other surface that is touched frequently should be wiped or sprayed down to kill the germs that may have landed there.

Quarantine

When possible, the best thing that mom can do is try and quarantine a sick child. This may be difficult, but if mom wouldn’t send a sick child to school, they shouldn’t be able to have free access to other people in the home. This may be the best time for them to lay in their room, and this also may be the time to ease up on any screen time rules and allow them to watch more TV and tablets than normal to ensure that they rest, get healthy and stay away from other people in the home.

While it seems impossible, it is also important to try and limit the number of cuddles you give your child when they are sick. If your child wants some cuddles with mommy, maybe you can offer a large stuffed animal that they can hug and since the stuffed animal is “magic,” they cannot get sick as easily as mommy can.

Sources: She Knows, Parents, Everyday Health