How to prevent sickness and keep children healthy. Make sure a child is vaccinated and has the appropriate medical care he or she needs. Taking care of your kids' health is no easy task for parents. On top...
Taking care of your kids' health is no easy task for parents. On top of working, organizing everyone's life, and keeping things in order, you still have to be on the lookout for your children's health and safety. You may be a single mom or dad or have a spouse to help, but how can you most effectively take care of the children in the home so you don't have so many health worries? Hilda Martinez, a nanny of 40 years, says don't fret about all the details; just make sure to keep your children's monthly check-ups.
"Make sure you always keep their shots up to date. Make sure they have a physical every year. Go to the check-ups when due," Martinez says.
Preventing sickness in children is extremely important. Martinez says following consistent hygienic rules can eliminate many germs in the home.
"Parents can start prevention by washing their hands constantly and teaching kids when they go to the restroom or when someone has a virus, that they constantly have to wash their hands. Try not to take the child out for the first three months. Try to limit their visits to places where people are sick," Martinez says.
Martinez says this may sound like advice we've all heard before, but people are always on the go and they forget about the things they can do to prevent sickness in the home. She says it's just a matter of how much a priority you put on your children's health.
For first-time moms or father's, health issues related to your children should be closely monitored. Here are some helpful health tips when dealing with children who are sick.
If you are wondering when you should take your child to the emergency room, Martinez says it's better to be safe than sorry. If your child has a consistent high temperature that can't be brought down by Tylenol, and your doctor is unavailable, Martinez says seek emergency medical help.
"If they don't stop crying, that's a sign you need a doctor," Martinez says.
Martinez says don't mess around with ailments like diarrhea. She once took care of a child with diarrhea and within a matter of one day the child was in intensive care.
"This little girl was dehydrated and she had black around her eyes. She was real skinny, and seemed to shrink overnight. It didn't look like her anymore. She was dying. Never let diarrhea persist," Martinez says.
Another point Martinez stresses is keeping all medicine stored away in cabinets or areas children can't reach. Martinez says she knew a mother who accidentally left her depression medication on the coffee table. The mother just went to the other room for a few minutes, and the child ended up overdosing on the pills and he died.
According to the Home Safety Network, poisoning by solids and liquids is the most common form of accidental injury and death by poisoning. It accounts for one in five deaths.
Martinez says it is important to practice healthy habits in your home to keep your children healthy and prevent sickness. Your children will get sick. How much you focus on prevention can be the determining factor.
