The cold weather is here in El Paso! People are bundled up and waiting for the snow to fall. But with cold weather comes more seasonal sicknesses. Since these illnesses can affect children more than adults, you should have a plan for keeping you and your kids healthy this winter. Having a plan will reduce the number of common diseases affecting children in winter.
Taking care of your kids’ health during the cold winter months can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be that way. At El Paso Family & Pediatric Clinic, we give expert advice on nutrition and sanitation, common diseases and how to avoid them this winter, and recommended vaccinations for your children. Here are our top 5 tips on keeping your kids healthy this winter season.
If you want to learn more about ways to protect your children from common illnesses or how to treat them, contact us or call (915) 231-6224 and visit our pediatric clinic today.
COMMON WINTER ILLNESSES TO WATCH OUT FOR
It’s common for children to get sick during the winter months. Here are some common winter illnesses in children:
- The common cold
- Bronchitis
- RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
- Influenza (The Flu)
- Ear infection
KEEP YOUR CHILDREN HEALTHY THIS WINTER
While you can’t completely prevent your child from getting sick, you can help them stay healthy by following these 5 tips:
Stay up-to-date with vaccines and flu shots.
Vaccines play an essential role in a child’s health, working with their own immune system to create immunity against certain diseases. You should follow the recommended immunization schedules given to you by your doctor. These include yearly flu shots you can receive at your child’s routine check-up with their pediatrician or any El Paso pediatric clinic. Attending regular well-child visits every time your kid is healthy will also help them stay healthy as they grow older.
Teach them effective handwashing.
Teach your children how important it is to wash their hands after using the restroom, blowing their nose, touching pets, and before and after visiting a sick friend or relative. Make sure they understand that there are three steps to washing correctly: one side at a time, under fingernails, and between fingers, then up to the wrist. Doing this properly will help avoid visits to your pediatric clinic.
Make sure they stay warm and dry.
Dress children for the cold El Paso weather by adding one layer to what an adult would wear comfortably; this includes many layers of light clothing, such as turtlenecks, sweaters, and socks underneath a thick coat. Maintain warmth with mittens or gloves, a hat, a scarf, and waterproof boots, even when playing in the snow.
Include immune-boosting foods and drinks in their diet.
Mix things up with citrus fruits high in Vitamin C, such as grapefruit, kumquat, lemon, or lime. Garlic, ginger, spinach, and red bell peppers are also immune-boosting foods – containing twice as much Vitamin C than Citrus! Try incorporating a cup of warm tea with lemon and honey into your child’s bedtime routine – it will benefit their immune system and help them relax before sleeping at night!
Keep your kids physically active during the winter.
Although it is usually too cold for outdoor activities this season, children should remain active indoors by playing various indoor games such as basketball, soccer, or flag football. For those who live in areas where they can also participate in other sports, such as ice hockey or snowboarding, these are regular occurrences, while others may choose to do so less frequently.
SEE A DOCTOR AT EL PASO FAMILY & PEDIATRIC CLINIC
Despite your best efforts, there is no foolproof way to keep your children healthy this winter— or any other time of year. If you’re looking for medical help from a team that understands what it’s like to parent during these times and knows how much work goes into raising a child (even when they’re well), look no further than our El Paso pediatric clinic.
For years, we’ve been providing high-quality medical care in El Paso for all ages; contact us or call (915) 231-6224 to learn more about how we can improve your children’s short- and long-term health.