According to one mom, you can prevent runny noses and chills by setting clear boundaries with your kids.
She said it’s rare for her to get sick, despite having three children who are exposed to viruses every day at daycare and school.
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The mother shared her tips for staying healthy on Reddit’s Parenting forum, which has more than 7 million members.
She wrote in response to a complaint from a father that he regularly felt ill due to his interactions with his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
“It is possible, you just have to set boundaries, like NO SHARING FOOD,” she said, writing under the name Noch_Cat_3678.
“I am a mother of three children aged 9, 4 and 2.5 months and I rarely catch a cold because I don’t share their food with them and I don’t wash my hands often.”
She says her children receive her affection, but she is careful about how she expresses it.
“I give lots of hugs, but limit the forehead kisses,” she said.
“I explain my boundaries to my children and they have no problem with it and often help me to reinforce those boundaries.
“My husband, however, catches everything they catch because he has no boundaries and doesn’t have the same dedication to washing his hands.”
According to the University of Utah HealthIt is normal for babies, toddlers and preschoolers to catch a cold up to eight times a year.
School-age children catch a cold an average of six times a year, and teenagers about four times.
The illness can last about 18 days, with the first five days being the worst.
Illnesses such as diarrhea or vomiting usually occur two to three times a year in children.
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Many Redditors told the father that he couldn’t prevent his daughter from getting sick.
However, they had even more tips to reduce the frequency of this problem.
“I get about a quarter [of the] “The diseases my child has,” someone said.
“We have an air purifier on, but it’s mainly about washing hands and basic hygiene.
What are the symptoms of a cold?
According to Children’s healthColds are most contagious in the first two to four days after symptoms begin.
Symptoms may include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, sore throat, cough, fever, muscle aches, and loss of appetite.
“I wash my hands after I wipe his nose, and I don’t eat food that has been in his mouth or let him put his hands in mine.
“We also use a fair amount of hand sanitizer or wash his hands when he’s sick.
“I get all the hugs and kisses, but I try to avoid mouth and nose kisses when he’s sick.
“We also teach him to cough away from us, ideally into his elbow.”
Another Redditor advised the father to improve his own health by paying attention to diet and exercise.
“Vitamins, supplements (red and green), exercise, good sleep,” they said.
“You can’t avoid it completely, but this helps.
“I noticed that after the age of 18 months my son became significantly less sick, just a little runny nose here and there.
“I haven’t been sick since January and I’m very happy about that.”
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