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This blog post was originally published on January 20th, 2020.
Update: It feels like the winter comes with never-ending periods of time for a lot of families where kids are either sniffly, coughing, or downright sick. During these pandemic times, it’s more important to me than ever to make sure my kids’ immune systems are as boosted as possible to be able to hold up to all the germs circling around. I originally shared this blog post-pre-pandemic (and with a Mateo bun in the oven!) but I thought it would be a valuable reshare today. Especially since the strategies haven’t changed! Let me know if there are any great products you swear by that I’m missing in our routine!
Original Post:
This time of the year is hands-down the hardest for parents– when school-age kids get covered in germs galore and start a months-long chunk of time when their tiny bodies are sick on and off. It’s stressful, exhausting, and tough for everyone in the family– the sick kids included, obviously! Not to mention the younger siblings who catch anything and everything from their big sisters and brothers. It’s really important to me to try and set my kids up for success, health-wise, as much as possible. Not just this wintry time of year, but all year long. Do my kids still get sick from time to time? Of course! They’re kids! But setting a good baseline for wellness with them helps me feel like I’m doing all I can to make them as healthy as possible. And that relieves a lot of my own anxiety this time of year! Today I thought I would share some of my wellness strategies for kids that I use in my own family.
Diffusing Essential Oils…
I love my essential oil diffusers, and have one in most of the living areas in the home. I make sure to diffuse oils for various reasons and have done research with experts when it comes to which ones (and how much) I use around my kids. At the first sign of any sniffles, I like to diffuse DoTerra’s On Guard Blend. Once they’re sick, if it’s congestion, I like to diffuse a mix of 2 drops of Lemon Essential Oil, 2 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil, and 2 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil. I diffuse for 1-2 hours in either the kitchen/living area or the playroom. On a side note: if I’ve been up all night with sick kids and need a little boost in the morning, I like to put Peppermint Essential Oil in a diffuser for myself while I get ready. It helps me perk up and refocus.
On Guard Essential Oil Blend
doTERRA
At the first sign of any sniffles, I like to diffuse this DoTerra’s On Guard Blend.
Lemon Essential Oil
doTERRA
Once they’re sick, if it’s congestion, I like to diffuse a mix of 2 drops of Lemon Essential Oil, 2 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil, and 2 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil.
Lavender Essential Oil
doTERRA
Once they’re sick, if it’s congestion, I like to diffuse a mix of 2 drops of Lemon Essential Oil, 2 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil, and 2 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
doTERRA
Once they’re sick, if it’s congestion, I like to diffuse a mix of 2 drops of Lemon Essential Oil, 2 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil, and 2 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil.
Peppermint Essential Oil
doTERRA
if I’ve been up all night with sick kids and need a little boost in the morning, I like to put Peppermint Essential Oil in a diffuser for myself while I get ready.
Humidifier…
I always use a humidifier in my kids’ rooms when they start to get congested. I find it really helps them have a better night when they aren’t feeling well. Make sure to always change the water out daily from a humidifier, and disinfect the humidifier weekly with white vinegar. I adore these cute animal humidifiers by Crane!
Cool Mist Humidifier
Crane
I always use a humidifier in my kids’ rooms when they start to get congested. I find it really helps them have a better night when they aren’t feeling well.
Daily Vitamin Routine…
My kids have a daily vitamin routine that includes a multivitamin, a probiotic, Omega 3’s, and an immunity booster. I found that this daily routine works great for us, and because the vitamins are all geared towards kids, they taste great and my kids love eating them.
Kids Multivitamin
OLLY
My kids have a daily vitamin routine that includes a multivitamin, a probiotic, Omega 3’s, and an immunity booster.
Daily Probiotic
Culturelle
My kids have a daily vitamin routine that includes a multivitamin, a probiotic, Omega 3’s, and an immunity booster.
Omega-3 Gummies
Nordic Naturals
My kids have a daily vitamin routine that includes a multivitamin, a probiotic, Omega 3’s, and an immunity booster.
Immune Support
Zarbee's Naturals
My kids have a daily vitamin routine that includes a multivitamin, a probiotic, Omega 3’s, and an immunity booster.
Wellness Lollipops…
I have been loving the wellness lollipops by Wellements! The elderberry immunity pops are great, and I love using them as a little reward for my kids this time of year. Especially when I hear that somebody in one of their classes is sick…I’m like, “Who wants a lollipop?!” LOL. The sore throat pops are really helpful as well. Being sick is awful for kids and it makes me happy to give them a little bit of fun in the midst of it.
Honey…
If my kids are coughing like crazy, I like to give them a teaspoon of honey. This helps them, especially at bedtime when it’s tough to get comfortable and stop that cough tickle when they lay down. Honey has great natural antibacterial properties as well! Whenever I’m not pregnant I love using Manuka honey for myself for this reason!
Whipped Honey
Savannah Bee Company
If my kids are coughing like crazy, I like to give them a teaspoon of honey.
Natural Disinfectant…
When my kids are sick I go ape sh*t all over the house with my disinfecting! I like to use rubbing alcohol on the phone surfaces, iPads, and light switches, and then I use the Seventh Generation disinfecting spray on all hard surfaces. I wash the stuffed animals they’ve been playing with, and do a vinegar and water bath for the action figures and toys.
Rubbing Alcohol Pads
Care Touch
I like to use rubbing alcohol on the phone surfaces, iPads, and light switches.
Disinfecting Spray
Seventh Generation
I use the Seventh Generation disinfection spray on all hard surfaces.
The Protectant Against the Stomach Bug…
I think a healthy gut and probiotics can do great things towards warding off a stomach bug, but if my kids catch one, there is one thing I swear by The Grape Juice Trick! I actually learned about this on social media, and I do it religiously at the first sign of stomach bug for the members of the family who are NOT throwing up: Mix 8 oz. of Welch’s Grape Juice (the purple one), 2 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar, and drink this combo down 3-4 times a day. I do this religiously when faced with a stomach bug and it really works! Knock on wood, I haven’t gotten the bug from my kids since I started doing this!
Grape Juice
Welch's
I think a healthy gut and probiotics can do great things towards warding off a stomach bug, but if my kids catch one, there is one thing I swear by: The Grape Juice Trick!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Bragg Organic
I actually learned about this on social media, and I do it religiously at the first sign of stomach bug for the members of the family who are NOT throwing up: Mix 8 oz. of Welch’s Grape Juice (the purple one), 2 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar, and drink this combo down 3-4 times a day.
Rest Rest Rest…
I’m all about R&R for my kids at the first sign of feeling crummy. I truly feel that a Mama’s snuggles, and just recharging their energy, always do great things for making them feel better and me feeling less overwhelmed. I try to focus on that connection, trust my instincts– and to have faith that healthier days are right around the corner!
I would love to hear if you have any other methodologies or products that you swear by for Kids’ Wellness! Please share in the comments below!
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Hello Eva!
Great post once again 🙂
My 9 month old was sick recently and it was my first time tending to a sick baby.
What I did was I diffused an oil by Saje Wellness called Fortify Petite in the bedroom, and a humidifier. I also gave her a warm aroma bath every night, I used this minty body wash specifically for babies. I then rubbed her down with Baby Vick’s —behind ears and soles of feet. I also kept her nose passages clear via a baby saline spray.
What I did for myself was I diffused an oil by Saje Wellness called Immune—3-5 drops, in my living room and drank pots of lemon, ginger, honey tea.
It worked! I’m hoping these tactics will work as well next time!
-Steph
There’s a place near me that makes the most amazing lemon/ginger/honey tea ever– I love it this time of year!
It’s all I can do really since I’m expecting my second baby in May! Being sick sucks when you’re preggo.
It’s all I can do really since I’m expecting my second baby in May!
I’m a firm believer in a healthy diet and not overstimulating kids, especially when they tend to be cooped up. Lots of fresh, non processed food is a great base to stay healthy. Getting them involved with food prep is a great way to get them interested and kill some time all at once.
I try not to over schedule them and decline more of the birthday party invites than I do in spring / summer. Outdoor time is great and if you have a garage, put a space heater in it for some indoor / outdoor time. They can be shielded from the elements while still getting some fresh air.
great tips!
I love everything you mentioned plus a few you didn’t. Boiron Chestal Honey cough syrup is the best homeopathic remedy for cough that I have found. They have an adult version and a kid version. Also, I’ve used the grape juice trick as well, but also at the first sign of the pukies from my kids and I start popping activated charcoal. So far I’ve managed to avoid the tummy bugs (thank God! Because how will the house function if mom is puking? Lol) And last, green tea. Good for adults and kiddos if you can get them to drink it!
Great post Eva!
Thanks! I need to use the charcoal as well
Great post! Love your proactive approach. We do the same and it makes such a big difference. In addition to what you’ve listed, I also swear by BeeKeeper’s Naturals Propolis Throat Spray and Oil of Oregano (for adults).
I LOVE Oil Of Oregano for me as well! I can’t take it while preggo and definitely feeling the loss this winter. ugh.
Love this. I find this all overwhelming. You break it down in a clear and straight forward manner, in what works for you. I hope to take a few nuggets for my family!! Thanks!
I hope it helps!! xo
I’m a new mom and these are all great tips, thanks!
Curious to know when you started the supplement routine with your kids and how it evolved from when they were babies. (My daughter is 3 months old and currently on vitamin D and a baby probiotic.)
I started the supplement routine at 2.5 with each kid! Most multiv’s for kids start at 2 I’ve noticed.
These are great! I swear by Gaia Elderberry Syrup 2x day during this season, plus a daily multivitamin and Airborne Immunity support chewable tablets. If they do get sick, I too use the humidifier and honey. I also use Baby Vicks Vapor rub (if under 6yrs old—regular kind of older) on chest/back/bottoms of feet (I know weird, but it helps with coughing for some reason—maybe to do with reflexology ??♀️). Good luck fighting those germs mama!
Thanks!
So far I did not believe that all these supplements were necessary for kids with balanced diet and normal development, especially for so young kids.I thought it was more of a marketing thing and our personal insecurity that might have urged us to offer all this stuff to our kids.I have never taken as a kid a multivitamin or similar nor did I offer my 4 yr old son any of this stuff and besides some mild colds with low fever and a couple of times the stomach bug he’ s been perfectly healthy (thank God) so I never thought about buying any of these products.Perhaps for older kids with extra needs during demanding exams some boost with vitamins might be necessary.After reading your post I will check on all these products and similar ones and see if there is a point on using some of them.I mainly
focus on nutrition, make sure my boy eats daily 2 to 3 different seasonal fruits or freshly squeezed juice and that he has a balanced diet with meat, fish, vegetables, legumes.For the difficult days with respiratory infections a hot chicken soup is the best medicine, lots of water and some pain killer perhaps.I insist a lot on protecting my kid from the cold by wearing him warm clothes -not too many of course that would make him sweat – but not very light either, like short sleeve T-shirts or light , even inside the house with good temperature.I NEVER leave him running around the house barefoot during winter.I always make him wear warm socks with silicon bottom.I have noticed that when I dont pay too much attention to this and leave him with lighter clothes and thin socks he catches a cold easier or his nose is running constantly.Viruses thrive in cold environment so am extra wary about that.Your trick for avoiding the stomach bug (which for me is the worst nightmare of all infections) is very interesting because I did not manage to avoid contracting the bug when my son had it.What do you think about vaccination against the flu for your kids and during pregnancy ?
That’s amazing that you are able to give him such a balanced diet! If my kids ate more of these types consistently I would feel better about not supplementing with vitamins/minerals but I find my kids are healthier when I do.
It may benefit your readers for you to link to dōTERRA.com to purchase the oils. Amazon sells them even if they’ve been unsealed or adulterated. No one needs a membership or to do any MLM stuff to buy from dōTERRA’s site!
I completely agree with all of the above items you mentioned. This cold and flu season I have had the kids take 1 tsp of elderberry syrup (a brand called Suro) 1x per day. If I hear a cold coming on I increase this to 1 tsp 2-3x per day. I have found this along with a daily multivitamin has really helped them! Oh… and the best of all: a 25 min bath with 1/2 cup Epsom salt and a few tbsp baking soda. I do this at first sign of cold. AND 1x every two weeks
I’ve never tried with the baking soda! Need to do that next time.
Hi Eva,
I do everything you recommend. I also swear by occicoccilum once every morning during winter time or three a day during the flu. I also LOVE the Kids Nordic Natural DHA fish oil capsules because it is one less gummy to give so less sugar content. I’ve also started spirulina powder (a very small amount) mixed with any juice such as blueberry juice and shaken and I have my Daughter drink it fast and I am pretty sure it is helping her with her asthma.
I do the Vitamin D drops on her tongue since it has been shown to help with colds.
Lots or morning sun and laughter too that is the best medicine!
Where can I find that gorgeous blue and white stoneware vase in some of these photos?
Thank you for letting me know. I have kids growing up and I thought about what can actually help them feel good. Therefore, I found a lot of useful things in your article and I’m going to put it into practice. Hope this really helps us. My wife and I love aroma oils ourselves, but we would never have thought that they have so many benefits for us and our children. Now I think we should study this topic a little more. Thanks for the useful information.