Parenting: when sick gets real

This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Carter's Sibling ShirtsI’ve got three little kids, all of whom have independent schedules and loads of interaction with other kids. This basically means that cold and flu season is a constant struggle to stay healthy, and to minimize any illness that hits home. This year has been especially bad and there hasn’t even been one day that the kids’ classes were full or there weren’t a few last-minute playdate cancellations due to illness. 

I can’t have them live in a bubble or sanitize every surface they *might* touch, so what’s a parent to do? I want to make sure they can see and play with their friends and not miss out on crucial lessons, but I definitely don’t want them bringing home every little sniffle that goes through their classes. Awesome Science Party friends 2To combat illness, we implement these basic rules for keeping healthy:
1)    Wash hands frequently, and make sure kids know how to wash properly.
2)    Staying home when we’re sick – no need to send the illness around the school, family, or playground.
3)    Keep a good routine. With healthy amounts of activity, good diets, and plenty of sleep, we manage to avoid quite a few illnesses a year.

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Corolle Dolls Wows this Holiday Season

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide – Day 24 When I was young, my mother and I bonded over dolls.  Whereas I liked reading, arts and crafts and cooking, my mother preferred dancing, music, and writing.  However, we both liked dolls.  I think this is a big part of the reason that every year when I was … Read more

B-Ready for everything with Britax

Get Out and PLAY Event – Day 21 If you’ve been in Washington over the past two months, it’s likely that you saw us crisscrossing the state with our newest ride. No, not a car, a stroller: specifically, the new Britax B-Ready stroller. In an effort to save money, use less gas, and get some … Read more

phil & teds Metro Backpack Carrier: Father’s Day Pick

Get Out and PLAY Event – Day 18 The more I learn about Phil&Teds, the more I covet every single item they make.  From the moment I started thinking babies, there was one children’s company that just stood out in every way.  Maybe it’s their modern and minimalistic design, or maybe it’s the fact that … Read more

RECARO ProRIDE Convertible Car Seat

Get Out and PLAY – Day 12 Safety is something we don’t take lightly here at Rave Central.  This is why we have been RECARO fans long before we ever had kids.  Long hailed as the leader in premium factory and aftermarket seats and used in racing cars throughout the world, RECARO has made seats … Read more

ERGObaby for the Second Time Mom

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Day 17 I've reviewed a lot of baby carriers in my days, but there's one that continues to get numerous emails each month.  That carrier is the ERGObaby that we reviewed back in 2009 that everyone, including us, loves. And, every single person who contacts me gets the same response: I … Read more

ERGObaby Carrier

“Ergo we go” I had seen the ERGObaby carriers around town for a few months and was always curious about them but I hadn’t realized just how excited I was to try the ERGObaby until I got my own.  Taking it out of the package, I was oddly giddy as I pictured baby and me exploring … Read more

Kokopax Carrier Review

Babywearing is to thank for at least 90% of our productivity since baby was born.  Hands free snuggling equates to parenting bliss, and as baby neared her first birthday I was terrified that it would all come to an end once baby got too big for the front pack or the carrier got too cumbersome … Read more

SleepyWrap Baby Carrier

“A Snuggly Sleep Solution” I would have never, ever figured out how to use the SleepyWrap without the instructions.  So, even though it just about killed me, I didn’t even try my normal first use without reading approach.  I read up on the instructions on the way to our destination and by the time we … Read more