I have 3 kids but rarely catch their colds – they know my ‘boundaries’ & have ‘no problem’ with my stance on affection
A SNOTTY nose and body chills can be avoided by setting clear boundaries with your children, according to one mom.
She said it’s rare for her to get sick despite having three kids who are exposed to viruses daily at daycare and school.
The mother shared her tips for staying healthy on Reddit’s Parenting forum, which has over 7 million members.
She wrote in response to a dad complaining about regularly getting unwell due to interactions with his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter.
“It’s possible, you just have to create boundaries like NOT SHARING FOOD,” she said, writing under the handle Neither_Cat_3678.
“I am a mom to three kids 9, 4, and 2.5 months and I rarely catch their colds because I do not share their food and wash my hands frequently.”
She said her children receive her affection but she’s mindful of how it’s expressed.
“I provide lots of hugs but limit kisses to the forehead,” she said.
“I explain my boundaries to my kids and they have no problem with it and often help me to reinforce those boundaries.
“My husband, however, catches everything they get because he lacks boundaries and doesn’t have the same dedication to washing his hands.”
According to the University of Utah Health, it’s normal for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to get up to eight colds a year.
Meanwhile, school-age children get up to six colds, and teenagers around four a year.
The sickness may last for around 18 days with the first five being the worst.
Illnesses such as diarrhea or vomiting usually occur around two to three times a year in children.
FEELING BETTER
Many Redditors told the dad he couldn’t avoid catching his daughter’s sicknesses.
However, they had more tips for reducing how often it happens.
“I get like one-fourth [of the] illnesses my kid does,” one person said.
“We have an air purifier running, but mostly it’s just hand washing and basic hygiene.
What are the symptoms of a cold?
According to Kids Health, colds are most infectious in the first two to four days when symptoms start.
Symptoms may include, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, sore throat, cough, fever, muscle aches, and a loss of appetite.
“I wash my hands after wiping 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 decent amount of hand sanitizer or hand washing on him when sick.
“I get all the snuggles and kisses, just try to avoid mouth or nose kisses when he’s sick.
“Also, we teach him to cough away from us, ideally into his elbow.”
Another Redditor advised the dad to boost his own health by focusing on nutrition and exercise.
“Vitamins, supplements (red and green), exercise, sleep right,” they said.
“You can’t totally avoid it but this helps.
“I found that after my son hit 18 months he got significantly less sick, only a few boogers/runny nose here and there.
“I haven’t been sick since January and I’m over the moon about it.”