Cold & Flu Season Is Here: What I Want Parents to Know

Cleaner hands, cleaner air, and everyday habits your family can actually keep.

VOL. 1 · NO. 01

From Dr. Tega’s Desk

Cold and flu season does not require a perfect household or a cupboard full of “immune boosters.” I want families to have habits they can repeat on a busy school morning. Start with moments that already happen: coming home, sitting down to eat, and wiping a nose. Children learn best when adults join in. You cannot prevent every infection, and an illness is not a parenting failure. But small, consistent actions can reduce opportunities for germs to travel. This month, choose one routine to practice together—not six new rules to enforce overnight.

Your everyday germ-prevention plan

Wash well. Wet hands, add soap, and scrub palms, backs, between fingers, and under nails for at least 20 seconds. Rinse and dry. Wash before eating, after the bathroom or diaper changes, and after coughing or nose wiping. Singing “Happy Birthday” twice helps with timing.

No sink nearby? Use sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol; rub until dry. Supervise young children and store it out of reach. Visibly dirty hands need soap and water.

Catch the cough. Use a tissue or the inside of an elbow—not hands. Throw tissues away, then clean hands. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Keep drinks personal. Label water bottles and avoid sharing cups or utensils. Clean frequently touched handles and shared devices following product instructions. Keep cleaning products away from children.

Think about the air. Open windows when weather, outdoor air quality, and safety allow. Improve ventilation or use a suitable air cleaner; gather outdoors when practical. Handwashing alone cannot address viruses in shared air.

Make a flu-vaccine plan. Annual flu vaccination is recommended from 6 months of age, with rare exceptions. Ask whether your child needs one dose or two this season. Caregiver vaccination also helps protect babies too young for their own vaccine.

Use the stay-home check. Return to usual activities only when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms have improved overall and fever has been absent without fever-reducing medicine. For the next 5 days, add precautions such as cleaner air, distance, and an age-appropriate, well-fitting mask. Never mask children under 2. Follow school or childcare rules too.

Stage by Stage

INFANTS · 0–12 MONTHS

Wash hands before feeding or handling your baby. Postpone visits from sick friends or relatives. Babies under 6 months need protection from the people around them.

TODDLERS · 1–3 YEARS

Wash together before snacks. Use a secure step stool with supervision. Let your toddler choose the handwashing song and practice elbow coughs when everyone is well.

KIDS & TEENS · 4–18 YEARS

Pack tissues and a labeled bottle. Agree that reporting symptoms—and staying home when needed—is responsible, not letting the class or team down.

Try This Week

Put soap, tissues, and a wastebasket where they are easy to use. Choose one family rule: hands washed before every meal and snack.

Ask Dr. Tega

Can extra vitamins prevent flu?

No supplement replaces vaccination or these prevention habits. Discuss a restricted diet or possible deficiency individually with your pediatrician.

When to Get Help

Call early for suspected flu in a young or medically vulnerable child; antivirals work best when started promptly. Trouble breathing, blue lips, or difficulty waking need emergency care. A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher needs immediate medical assessment.