5 tips for caring for your child in flu season

By Sara Keli

When you are a parent, winter is a great time for snuggles on the couch and – if you are lucky – creating your own Frozen experiences in the snow. But as we all know, winter also brings the dreaded cold and flu season with it. And baby and toddler colds and cases of flu are nothing to sneeze at. 

The last two years of lockdowns and social distancing have meant influenza infections were kept under wraps. But as Australia opens up and winter arrives, health experts are concerned about what a lack of exposure will mean for the upcoming flu season and COVID.

Short of locking your family inside to hibernate for the winter, some exposure to the viruses that cause colds and flu is inevitable. So here is what you can do to care for them during the flu season.

1. Immunise your family against the flu

In a video published on the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne website, Dr. Margie Danchin explains how parents can help protect their children from the flu.

“The best to protect your kids from the flu is the give them to flu vaccine,” she says.

“Children who get the flu vaccine are less likely to get sick and are less likely to get admitted to hospital if they do get sick.” (Watch the full video here.)

The Australia Government Department of Health website says, the “annual influenza vaccine should occur anytime from April onwards to be protected for the peak flu season, which is generally June to September.”

You or your family may be eligible for a free flu shot, so check with your doctor. 

While we’re talking about prevention: remember to wash your hands well with soapy water or sanitiser after going out and before eating. Get your toddler into the habit, too.

The Royal Children’s Hospital also has a great fact sheet about the flu vaccine. Read it here.

2. Visit a doctor

No matter whether you are dealing with a baby’s first cold or an older child with a virus, if you have any concerns, visit a doctor. If you have a very young baby, it is advisable to see a doctor with any type of cold or flu symptoms: baby cold and flu are taken very seriously. 

You might also want to ask your doctor about baby medicine and vitamins that you can use to help boost your baby’s immune system or to treat a cold. 

3. Familiarise yourself with baby cold remedies

If your baby does get a cold, it’s a good idea to have a few baby cold remedies up your sleeve. Here are a few that might help:

• If your baby is congested, turn on the shower in the bathroom and sit in the room with the door closed. The steam can help to clear their congestion.
• A humidifier in baby’s room can also clear congestion and help them to get a better night’s sleep.
• Give them lots of cuddles! It might not be a medical remedy, but babies love cuddles and will especially love being close to you while they are sick. If you keep them upright you will also be helping them to breathe through a congested nose.
• A popular infant cough remedy for infants over the age of one is honey (but note that honey shouldn’t be given to children under the age of 12 months).

Try what works for you and always seek medical advice if you are unsure about trying a baby cold remedy you have heard about. 

4. Keep them hydrated

For anyone who is suffering from a cold or flu, keeping hydrated is really important. It’s especially important for babies – but little ones can often go off their food and drinks while they are sick. If you are concerned or if they are not taking any fluids, you should always seek medical advice. 

If you are breastfeeding, they may be struggling to feed through a blocked nose so offer extra feeds to keep their fluids up. A saline nasal spray can also be helpful when feeding – use it just before feeds to help clear the nasal passageways for a more successful feed.

If they are old enough to be drinking water you can also offer this to them regularly. 

5. Stock up on baby cold medicine

The thing with baby cold and flu is that it usually strikes when you are least prepared for it, so the trick is to always be prepared and stock up on baby cold medicine. Hopefully, you won’t need it, but chances are you will, so having it in the cupboard is going to come in very handy!