Winter Safety and Health

Winter is now in full swing, and as you’ve probably already experienced, many different types of colds and flu are spreading around. Having toddlers, this can be difficult to avoid. However, there are many things you can do to minimize your risk so that you and your family can be as healthy as possible this winter season. Keep reading to learn more of our best tips for battling the cold and flu season with your toddler, plus the products that will help keep you on track.

Tips for Battling Cold and Flu Season with Your Toddler

Did you know it is common for toddlers and pre-school-aged children to have as many as 8 to 12 colds, respiratory infections, and/or stomach bugs a year? School-age children and preteens average five or six illnesses annually; teens and adults may have two to three colds or illnesses per year. So, if you feel like your toddler is always sick, you are not alone!

Kids, especially young kids, are susceptible to illness due to their developing immune systems. Once they begin attending daycare or preschool, they will be exposed to many common childhood illnesses. Younger infants who have older siblings who are in school will also tend to get sick more frequently since their siblings are bringing home germs.

[source: health.CHOC.org - Why is my child always sick? A pediatrician answers your questions ]

Tip 1: Staying Hydrated

One of the best ways to battle the cold and flu is to stay hydrated. Keeping hydrated will keep your mucous membranes moist so that they can capture as many toxins as possible while you breathe. The dryer your nose is, the more susceptible you may be to toxins and germs.

Solution: Innobaby’s Cups and Water Bottles

Getting your toddler to drink water can be difficult when they simply don’t want to. Luckily, Innobaby makes plenty of developmentally appropriate cups and bottles at every stage of baby and toddlerhood so that your kiddo is as comfortable as possible drinking water and staying hydrated.

For Big Kids: Din Din SMART Stainless Cup

Our Din Din Smart Stainless Steel 9 oz. cup is designed with little hands in mind, featuring a double-lined wall and a plastic shell to help protect your child’s hands from hot/cold temperatures. An ergonomic handle designed specifically for little hands is perfect for transitioning from a sippy cup to a big kid cup. Our Stainless Steel cup is stain-resistant, odor-resistant, eco-friendly, and super easy to clean.

Tip 2: Balanced Nutrition

Eating a balanced diet will give your body the proper energy it needs to fight germs and viruses when they appear in the body. Eating a lot of unhealthy food can make it more difficult for the body to do this. Immune-boosting foods, such as foods rich in vitamin C, can help your body battle colds and flu.

Solution: Innobaby’s Mealtime Essentials

It can be difficult to break your toddler out of their regular food cycle, especially if you are in the thick of the “beige phase.” Being in the beige phase means your toddler is eating mostly pasta, bread, nuggets, mac and cheese, and things that are mostly, well, beige. This is totally normal for toddlers, and they will eventually phase out of it; however, it can be concerning for parents, especially if you want to protect their immune systems.

One of the best ways you can change your toddler’s eating habits is to give them new mealtime essentials, and we have some of the best to choose from.

One of our favorites is our Innobaby Din Din Smart Stainless Divided Platter with Sectional Lid. The kid-friendly, bus-shaped divided plate has five separate compartments, which is perfect for introducing a balanced diet and new foods. This divided plate for kids has separate compartments to prevent food from sliding and mixing, while the sectional lid keeps food in place while on the go!

For a lunchbox option, our FLEX&LOCK KIDS FlexBox Set offers similar compartments and the ability to use FlexCharmz! FlexCharmz comes in various shapes & colors, allowing kids to explore and reward healthy mealtime in a fun way. Made with flexible & durable silicone, the charms are easy to wash & dry for your child's next interactive playtime and make awesome non-food rewards for picky eaters.

Tip 3: Regular Handwashing

Your toddler’s first line of defense against germs is their hands. As you are well aware, your toddler touches everything! Whether at the park, the grocery store, daycare, or anywhere in between, germs are everywhere, and toddlers are sure to find them.

Toddlers are also notorious for putting their hands in their mouths, which can quickly lead to illness. As such, regular handwashing is essential for preventing illnesses in the winter season.

Solution: Innobaby’s Mini Fish Scrub

In addition to using hand sanitizer whenever possible, it is important for your toddler to wash their hands as soon as they are home from being out, before meals, and after playtime. Making handwashing fun and interesting for a toddler can be difficult, but we have made it easy and fun.

Innobaby Bathin' Smart Silicone Mini Fish Scrub features over 3,000 tiny micro-bristles that gently massage and break up dirt, Play-Doh, food, and whatever else may be on your toddler’s tiny hands! It also works great to get the dirt out from underneath their fingernails, and the bristles offer a fun sensory experience that makes handwashing feel good.

The scrub also features a suction cup on the back that offers two great purposes: One; it makes it super easy for your toddler to grasp and hold. Two; it suctions easily to your sink basin or bathroom mirror for handy keeping!

For more parenting tips, toddler hacks, and great family-friendly products, visit us at Innobaby.com!