20 Ways to Keep Your Family Healthy

ill girl child with thermometer and caring mother

I jokingly say I have the sickest kids in America, but sometimes I feel as though it’s true.  This summer our sickness peaked with a round of never ending-pinkeye, reoccurring strep, mixed in with a mild stomach bug.

In July we spent $300 on insurance co-pays {our co-pay is only $25!!!} and I was desperate to find ways to keep my family healthy.

We often missed out on life {2 years ago we even missed Christmas because of a terrible flu!} and it pains me to pay pricey pre-school tuition just to keep my babies home sick.

I knew there had to be a solution and started praying that God would lead me to ways to protect my family from germs.

Researching like it was my job, I’ve  put together what I’ve nicknamed, our “Family Wellness Plan”; a series of intentional steps we take to ward off those yucky germs as much as possible.

As you prepare to keep the cold and flu germs at bay, may you find these ideas helpful and may your family stay healthy!

Even though it’s supposed to be only 2o Ways to Keep Your Family Healthy, my FAVORITE way to ward off germs is through the use of Young Living Essential Oils!  Yes, they really do help to keep the family healthy and at their best.  The #1 germ controller is THIEVES!  Love it!

 

1. Keep hand sanitizer in the car and use it after you reenter from a public place.

2. Whenever kids get in the car after school, use hand-sanitizing wipes to wipe down their faces and hands.

3. Upon arriving home from school,  immediately change kids out of school clothes and put the germy ones  in the laundry.

4. Change kids clothes before going down for a nap if they’ve been in a germ filled place.

5. Wash kids hands {and yours, too!} shortly upon arriving home from being out and about, and ALL throughout the day.

6. Have your family take JUICE PLUS!!!!! Juice Plus is a “whole food based nutritional product that provides nutrition from 17 different fruits, vegetables, and grains”. These products have been on the market for over 20 years and were recommended to my family by our pediatrician as a way to boost immune health.  There is a vast amount of research about the benefits of these Non-GMO, no additive gummies {capsules for adults} and I feel confident that I am helping my children build a strong immune system!  If you are curious about Juice Plus for your family, hop on over and read more here:  A Healthier Immune System

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7. Don’t use the community pen! If you think about how often you use the same pen as everyone else in the store… GROSS!

8. Wash your laundry in hot water. Personally, I want to be sure as many germs are killed as possible.

9. Wash your sheets and hand-towels on a regular basis. {I wash ours at least once a week.}

10. When washing your hands, use disposable paper towels, not a hand towel.

11. Disinfect toys often.

12. Remove all parts of sippy cups and water bottles to scrub thoroughly.

13. Change out toothbrushes at least once a month or immediately after an illness.

14. After an illness, discard toothpaste as well. {How many times has the brush scraped the top of the toothpaste?}

15. Get everyone in the house their own toothpaste.

16. Keep toothbrushes separate and in their own container.  Be sure to wash containers often or throw them away.

17. Don’t put your purse down on the floor in a public place or in a common place for germs {public restroom counter, etc…}.

18. When at home, keep your purse and book bags out of the kitchen.  Think about the germs they carry near your food prep! Ugh!

19. Carry your own sanitizing wipes to wipe down your shopping carts.  Stores are getting better about carrying them, but often, they the container is empty!

20.  When little kids are shopping with you and in the cart, use a cart cover.  When my kids were no longer infants, I stopped using one, but recently starting using it again to protect  little hands.

 

 Follow my Pinterest board, Health & Wellness, for tips to keep you feeling and being your best!

How do you keep your family healthy?  Do you take drastic measures to keep your family well?

This post was shared with my friends at SITS Sharefest, Blessing Counters, Mommy Moments, Capture the Joy, Mom’s Morning Coffee

 

 

16 Comments

  1. What wonderful advise! I learned a few things that I will be implementing in my home…thanks for taking the time to write this important post!

    1. Thanks, Janelle! So many of these are simple ways to keep the germs out and we need all of the help we can get! Thanks so much for stopping by!

  2. Okay, I’m going to be really honest. I’m really laid back when it comes to germs. I make sure to wash hands frequently and all that, but I don’t change clothes after going out. I’m a big believer in building immunity by being a little lax about germs. My opinion may change when my son gets to school though. I do think it’s important to be extra careful during the winter though. I make sure we all eat plenty of oranges and clementines for that vitamin C.

    1. I completely understand! I promise I am not a germ-a-phobe, but when you are sick as much as my babies, drastic times call for drastic measures! It’s so nice that you don’t have to be so germ conscious! Enjoy it!

    1. Thanks, Sarah! You don’t really get this desperate unless you have kids that are sick all the time. It’s such a pain! I hope this helps!

  3. I have 5 kids and sometimes sickness rolls through our home and lingers forever. Some of the seasons have been long and isolating. I am one of those moms who refuses to share germs on purpose. If my kids are sick we skip play-dates, school, church, everything.
    I taught a little boy who later passed away from a long battle with cancer. His mom shared that she wished she could come to church and get out more often, but people bring their sick kids everywhere and her son couldn’t afford even a little cold.

    I love your tips. I have hand sanitize r in my car. I need to remember to have the kids use it!!

    1. Wow! This is a wonderful reminder how some children are so fragile they can’t handle even basic germs. What a tragic story! So heartbreaking!

  4. Jane Preston says:

    Great advice! Our family has been taking Juice Plus for almost 14 years and have only been sick about four times in 14 years!! Best prevention and love that kids (4-18/college undergrads) can get it free.

    1. Amazing, Jane! Our kids have had drastic reduction in illnesses, and when they do get sick, it is very quick! I love Juice Plus!

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