Prevent Your Child from Getting Sick at Daycare

Prevent Your Child from Getting Sick at Daycare

 In Parenting Tips and Tricks
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‘Tis the season for sniffles. As your child builds a strong immune system in their first few years of life, they will be getting sick a lot, and spending most of the day with other kiddos can up the ante. Infants and toddlers are especially prone to putting shared toys and germy hands in their mouth and eyes, spreading infection between them. While it is inevitable that your child will become ill from time to time, there are a few things you can do at home to prevent your child from getting sick while in daycare. 

At Books & Rattles schools, we do a lot to protect our students from getting sick. We follow the NYC Department of Health guidelines as our sick policy, which includes calling parents as soon as a child is sick, requiring that a child with a fever stay home for 24 hours after returning to a normal temperature, and requiring a written note from a doctor once recovered from a communicable (shareable) disease. Our teachers and staff also regularly sanitize surfaces and toys.

While we do our part to fight germs and sickness for our students, there are more things you can do at home to keep you and your entire family healthy this winter, and year round.

Get the Flu Shot

There are all kinds of illnesses your child may get from daycare. Some common ones are pink eye, colds, stomach flu, and hand, foot, and mouth disease. One common and dangerous illness is the flu (influenza). Flu is particularly easy to catch, since it can be spread to others up to 6 feet away.

The flu can be very serious, especially for young children. Young children have the highest rates of infection and are hit the hardest by flu complications. The 2017–2018 flu season was one of the worst in recent history. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports that it was the third most severe since 2003–2004, and was severe for all age groups. The AAP recommends the flu shot for everyone 6 months and older.

If your family has not received their flu shots yet, be sure to get them as soon as possible. It will protect your child and those at high risk around them.

Teach Healthy Habits

While we teach your child healthy habits in the classroom, you can reinforce these lessons at home. Check out the CDC’s awesome activities to help teach kids about germs and staying healthy. This resource includes songs, coloring and cut-out puzzle activities, and even a pledge sheet stating, “I pledge to cover my mouth and nose when I cough or sneeze. I pledge to wash my hands in a sink.”

Here are a few important things to teach your children about germs and staying healthy:

    • Germs are everywhere, and they can make you sick. People can pass colds and flu around through germs.
    • Wash, wash, wash your hands! This is the best way to prevent the spread of germs. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Try this:  Sing this song twice to the tune of Happy Birthday. “Wash hands well each day / To keep germs away / Scrub with soap and water / And be on your way!”
    • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze so you don’t pass germs on to others. Throw the tissue away right after you use it.
    • If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your upper sleeve or elbow. Do not  sneeze or cough into your hands!
    • Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth until your hands are clean because germs spread that way.

Pro tip: Use colored foam soap to get your child excited to wash their hands.

Be a role model for these healthy habits, and practice them often.

Boost Your Child’s Immune System

While you combat germs getting into your child’s eyes and mouth, you can also be proactive about keeping your child’s immune system strong. A good immune system plays an important role in fighting off sickness. Be sure your child has a nutrient-rich diet and is getting the sleep he or she needs.

Harvard Health put it best: “Like any fighting force, the immune system army marches on its stomach. Healthy immune system warriors need good, regular nourishment.” One of the best resources to ensure your child has a healthy and well-balanced diet is to follow the MyPlate Method. Start with these small changes:

    • Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Focus on whole fruits and vary your veggies.
    • Make half your grains whole grains.
    • Move to low-fat and fat-free dairy.
    • Vary your protein routine.
    • Eat and drink the right amount for you.

Is your child getting enough sleep? Not sleeping enough also affects your little one’s immune system. The National Sleep Foundation shares the following sleep range guidelines:

    • Newborns (0–3 months): 14 to 17 hours
    • Infants (4–11 months): 12 to 15 hours
    • Toddlers (1–2 years): 11 to 14 hours
    • Preschoolers (3–5 years): 10 to 13 hours

You likely cannot prevent your child from a sick-free winter. Speaking of immunity, it is okay that your child gets sick now and again. The good news is, many pediatricians and scientists agree that children who are frequently sick during daycare years have a stronger immune system later in life.

We hope that you can make a routine of these healthy habits and practices, and that your family has a healthy winter!

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