The List: 15 Cold and Flu Fighters

A peek inside a diaper bag will tell you something about moms: they know a thing or two about survival skills.

Battling against cold and flu season is no exception, and part of any good survival plan is being prepared for emergencies. So before that cough from their bedroom claims the rest of your sleep, know that you are prepared with The List: 15 Cold and Flu Fighters, these everyday items you might want to have on hand in anticipation of the dreaded day.

But before we hit you with the goods, we thought you might be wondering about the flu shot, when to take your child to the doctor, and more. So we asked our pediatrician, and here’s the lowdown:

• If you decide the flu shot is for your family (and most pediatricians recommend that you do) remember that the vaccine only works against a certain strain of the flu, not all. So if you get sick afterwards it does not mean that inoculation didn’t work, it likely means you unfortunately caught a different strain.

• A fever, cough and runny nose may be the flu, but if your child is alert, active, and acting pretty much like themselves, a trip to the doctor isn’t always necessary. Go with how the child is behaving. It’s not always necessary to take them in to see their doctor or go to a clinic when symptoms appear.
• Hand washing is key to keeping everyone healthy.
• Fevers are what typically send parents to the hospital during cold and flu season. The SickKids Hospital website offers an outline of what to do, and when to worry.

Even if you do all the right things, you can still get hit. You’ll likely need a bit of chicken soup, popsicles, Vitamin D drops and a Neti Pot (to name a few). But you’ll want to read the rest. The List: 15 Cold and Flu Fighters will have you prepared for whatever winter storm hits your house this year.