As the weather cools (okay it's actually straight up cold for us in the Northeast now) and everyone heads indoors, one thing is almost guaranteed: winter sick season. Stomach bugs, flu, mystery fevers from school - you name it, it’s coming. Probably. And while we can’t bubble-wrap our kids (tempting), we can get our homes and our minds ready so the next bug doesn’t completely derail life.
Here are a few smart, simple ways to prep so you can stress less when germs come home.
1. Restock Your Sick-Day Supplies Now
There’s nothing worse than realizing your kid is about to puke and you’re out of Vommats. Or a fever shows up and you're out of Tylenol.
A few things worth checking now:
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Electrolyte drinks
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Tylenol/Motrin/fever reducers of choice
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Thermometer - does it work? Does it need batteries?
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Saline spray
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Popsicles (always popsicles)
- Tissues
And of course…
Your Vommat stash.
Winter is peak stomach bug season, and Vommat is one of those things you don’t think about until you really need it. Keeping a pack ready means no scrambling for towels, and no ruined mattresses at midnight.
2. Revisit Hygiene Habits
Encourage frequent handwashing for everyone in the household and remind your kids how important it is. Go over coughing and sneezing into elbows or tissues vs blasting anything and everything nearby. Teach the kids to avoid sharing personal items like towels, cups, and utensils generally but especially during sick season. Sometimes framing it around stuff that the whole family could miss out on will make it feel more real - "what if we can't go to so-and-so's birthday party because we have a bad cold spreading around the whole family? Yeah that would suck so wash your hands, please".
3. Environmental Updates
Consider getting an indoor air purifier - look for one with a certified HEPA filter to help keep your indoor air clean. Open windows whenever possible to increase ventilation. An indoor air humidifier is also a great idea. Regularly disinfect high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, remotes, and light switches - make sure the wipes you are using can kill viruses. Somewhat surprisingly, they don't all kill everything so read the labels. Hospital-grade stuff is where you get serious business.
4. Boost Immune Resilience
Prioritize good sleep, hydration, and eating balanced meals. Make sure vaccinations are up to date. Set yourself up for success. Everyone talks about being fit and healthy for summer and looking great in a bathing suit but being fit and healthy for winter will help you not come down with everything you get exposed to.
5. Teach Kids the “Early Warning” Rule
You know that look kids get before they throw up? Pale, quiet, then the panic-eyes. Talk to your kids before sick season about what to do when they feel that way:
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Stop what they’re doing
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Come find you
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Or if they can't make it in time, aim for a Vommat or bare floor. A two-minute conversation can save a lot of future cleaning so it's worth it.
6. Give Yourself Permission to Make Sick Days Easier
Sick days don’t need to be harder than they already are, think about some short cuts that you can pull the lever on when needed. Use paper plates. Cancel plans. Order takeout. All screens all the time. There are no rules, it's just survival - I am giving you a free pass for your parenting on sick days.
A Little Prep Goes a Long Way
Germs are inevitable, but the chaos doesn’t have to be. With a few minutes of prep and a pack of Vommats in the house, you can move into winter feeling ready.
Stress less. Vommat’s got it covered.
Featured image by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
