*This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.
The Thanksgiving leftovers are all gone. The tree is up. The panic has finally set in that there is less than a month before Christmas and we haven’t even STARTED to shop for gifts. Ugh!!!
The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year. It’s also something else… cold and flu season.
As the weather gets colder people are forced to stay inside. And as you probably know, when you are stuck inside with sick people there is a high probability that you might catch their cold or flu too.
As a mom I have always impressed upon my kids the importance of washing their hands all the time, most especially when they touch something that has been touched by many other people. Thankfully my children, who are now young adults, still continue to wash their hands constantly. They also use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available. They also cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze, and make sure to wash their hands afterwards.
I work as a teacher’s assistant in a kindergarten program during the day, and with a K-3rd grade after school program in the afternoon. If there is one thing I have learned it’s that young children have horrible hygiene. I am constantly reminding them to wash their hands. I even have to show them repeatedly how properly wash their hands. I cannot tell you how many times the kids in my car simply rinse their hands off in cold water (no soap, no hot water). Or they don’t wash their hands at all – even though they said they did. In addition they still cough and sneeze without covering their mouths.
There is not much I can do except constantly remind them of what they SHOULD be doing, and to make sure I don’t catch anything from them. After class I make sure to wipe down everything I can. I also make sure to wash my hands after I use items they have used (crayons, markers, toys…). I also use my sleeve or shirt to open the door.
When I am at home I always makes sure to keep our things clean and sanitized. I wipe down counter tops, sanitize things that are touched frequently (light switches, remotes, door handles…). I also have boxes of tissues available in every room.
Another thing I do is make sure that we have ample cold medication on hand. That last thing you want to happen is to come down with a cold and not have anything on hand to help relieve the symptoms.
Make sure you have products available for every member of your family, that way you can start to relieve symptoms before they get any worse.
Ever since my kids were little I have always made sure to have ample children’s cold medicines on hand such as Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin® and Children’s Dimetapp®.
When sick gets real, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare has products that can help – Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin® and Children’s Dimetapp® – to tackle the ickiest of symptoms.
Ease those aches and pains, while reducing a child’s fever fast with Children’s Advil® Suspension*, a great solution for kids as young as 2 and up to 11. Children’s Advil® comes in several great-tasting flavors, including: Sugar-free Dye-free Berry, Bubble Gum, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape flavors. There’s also Infants’ Advil® White Grape, which provides unsurpassed fever relief (among OTC pain relievers) with a syringe for easy dosing for children 6-23 months. Children’s Advil®, is only to for aches and pains such a headaches, flu, common cold, or tooth aches. This product is not indicated to treat other illnesses such as severe headache, strep throat, earache, etc.
Formulated just for kids, Children’s Robitussin® DM Day/Night Pack (Children’s Robitussin® Cough & Chest Congestion for ages 4+ and Children’s Robitussin® Nighttime Cough Long-Acting for ages 6+)** non-drowsy daytime formula helps break up chest congestion, while the long-acting nighttime formula relieves coughs and runny noses to help kids get the rest they need. Please note, while the daytime product is for ages 4+, the nighttime product is only for ages 6+
All in a great tasting grape flavor, Children’s Dimetapp® Cold & Cough for ages 6+ tackles a child’s most bothersome stuffy and runny noses, all while working to relieve cough.
My kids are not so little anymore, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have to keep children’s medications on hand. Believe it or not, our son won’t take “adult” over the counter medications. He doesn’t like the taste at all. He prefers the sweeter, more palatable taste of children’s medicines. Frankly, I tend to agree with him. Grown up over the counter medication is gross.
It doesn’t hurt to make sure you have extra over the counter medications that you can leave with the grandparents or babysitter/daycare too.
If you would like to learn some more tips on what you can do to protect you and your family from colds or the flu, visit the Sick Just Got Real website. In addition, check out the Sick Just Got Real Facebook page.
You can also check out the hashtags #ColdFluPrep and #SickJustGotReal on social media.
I am interested in what YOU do to prevent you and/or your family from catching colds, or worse, the flu.
One lucky reader will win a Sick Just Got Real prize package that includes:
- $25 virtual Visa gift card (can only be used with ONLINE purchases)
- (1) Children’s Advil® Suspension, Grape
- (1) Children’s Robitussin ® DM Day/Night Pack
- (1) Children’s Dimetapp® Cold & Cough.
This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end on December 9, 2017. The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via email and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen in their place.
To enter please comment on this post and tell me what you do to protect yourself and/or your family from catching colds or the flu.
For extra entries you can use the Rafflecopter widget (below) but you must complete the initial entry requirement or the additional entries won’t qualify.
Kimberly
*I have partnered with Pfizer Consumer Healthcare to bring you this information. Although compensated the opinions expressed are entirely my own and not influenced in any way.
KV says
I wash my hands or use sanitizer. I bundle up when I am outside.
mami2jcn says
We get flu shots, take vitamins, use hand sanitizer, and stay away from crowds.
Jessica To says
My son and I take daily vitamins and wash our hands as soon as we walk in the door.
HS says
We use hand sanitizer, wash hands frequently and eat plenty of produce to help.
Latanya says
We get the flu shot and take our vitamins.
shelly peterson says
We take vitamins, get a good nights sleep and be sure to wash our hands and use hand sanitizer.
Lauren says
We wash our hands often.
Cheryl says
We drink extra fluids, get our flu shots, stay home if we’re sick, and wash our hands.
Kayley says
Lots of vitamin c and hand washing!
Sheila K. says
I take lots of vitamins every day!
Julie Wood says
We drink a lot of fluids, wash our hands all the time, stay away from sick people, get a flu shot and eat a healthy diet.
Lisa Brown says
I use wipes around the house, everyone washes hands as much as possible, take more vitamin c and/or zinc.
Kelly D says
I give my kids vitamins every morning, hand sanitize for school and make them wash their hands a lot.
Ashley C says
Washing hands is the biggest thing we can do
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
Maureen says
Vitamins and we wash hands constantly around our house plus a humidifier is going on in the home,
Katie Smith says
We wash hands and use lots of hand sanitizer!!
Donna L says
I wash my hands often, carry hand sanitizer and I drink lots of water.
stephanie says
we wash our hands all of the time
Elena says
we take vitamins and get flu shots
Natalie says
I make sure that my entire family washes their hands very regularly, gets exercise to keep up a good immune system and does not share water bottles.
Adrienne Gordon says
We try and wash our ahnds a lot.
Ann Fantom says
We eat healthy meals, take a daily vitamin, get plenty of sleep and wash our hands frequently.
Erika W. says
We always remind the kids to wash their hands and not touch their eyes, nose and mouth with their fingers. We also get lots of rest.
Margaret Smith says
We make sure to wash our hands whenever coming in from the public. Also we cough into our arm and not our hands.
Cynthia C says
I avoid crowds whenevwe possible and keep my hands clean.
Lisa Bourlier says
I strongly encourage frequent hand washing and avoid germy situations!
Elle says
We take daily vitamins, take extra vitamin c and wash our hands often.
Sandy Klocinski says
I avoid close contact with people who are sick. When I am sick, I keep my distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Tari Lawson says
I wash my hands often and carry hand sanitizer for when soap and water are not available.
Crystal F says
We do a lot of hand washing and wiping down with bleach wipes. They haven’t worked this year though since we’ve all been sick the last 2 weeks.
Sarah C says
Exercise, drink lots of water, get lots of sleep
mary chapman says
I remind everyone to make sure they are washing their hands, airing out the house each day
cheryl s says
lots of hand washing, vitamins and we get our flu shots
Tom says
We all get the flu shot and use hand sanitizer
heather s says
Hand washing and antibacterial
diane therkildsen says
wash my hands daily
alice minx says
We wash our hands a lot, and use lysol wipes on everything
David Basile says
Keep washing our hands
Jennifer b says
Wash hands, up our vit d and stock up on zinc for when u feel a cold coming on. Also bone broth chicken noodle soup.
Rebecca C says
I wash my hands constantly to try to avoid getting sick. I also try to eat extra healthy over the winter so that my immune system is in good shape. Lastly, I get my flu shot!
beth shepherd says
We take vitamins and wash our hands often. thank you
heather says
We take our vitamins and wash our hands a lot to avoid colds.
Lasonda says
We wash our hands or use hand sanitizer.
Julie Bickham says
I always have hand sanitize handy. Also I make sure we get plenty of vitamin C.
Chrissy says
We drink a lot of water and try to keep eating lots of fruits and veggies!
Tabathia B says
I usually keep soup on hand, orange juice, vitamin c, honey for tea and ibuprofen for fevers.
Lori Hicks says
We use sanitizer like a psycho! A tip I always use is putting a dab of vasoline on my Sons nose to prevent chafing from blowing so much!
Cynthia R says
We take a multi vitamin, get plenty of sleep/rest, and wash our hands.
Michelle Donovan says
Lots of hand washing and 8 hours of sleep are my go to’s for winter germs. We do multi vitamins all year round as well.
Starla says
These are all such great products that have been staples in my home. We have medicine, tissues, lots of hand sanitizer, hot soup and fuzzy blankets!
Theresa Jenkins says
We all do immune booster vitamin c
Allison Swain says
We constantly wash our hands, drink water, take vitamins. And if we catch anything I always have essentials ready like cough drops, meds, kleenex.
Thank you for the chance to win this!
Sadie B. says
We all wash our hands when we get home from school. We also stay home when we are not feeling well.
kathy Persons says
Wash our hands and frequently touched surfaces by everyone
Jeanna says
We are taking our daily vitamins and i am insistant on hand washing!
jenny says
Clean hands, lots of rest, lots of fluids and healthy food!
Laurajj says
During the winter months, we try to keep the germs out by washing our hands whenever we come home from being out and about.
Birdie Skolfield says
we wash hand and use hand sanitizer often we take Vit C and get plenty of sunshine while on our daily jogs that seems to protect us from cold and flus
Denise B. says
We keep the house clean and aired out.
Anne Higgins says
Wash often – provide separate hand towels for each family member – get plenty of sleep and stay active.
Kristen says
We wash our hands a lot.
Kelly Grant says
Not enough apparently. I am sick lol.
Robert Young says
I’m always washing my hands and I try to sanitize as much as possible.
Susan Christy says
Eat right, hydrate, stay away from sick people, wash hands.
Antoinette M says
We get our flu shots, take vitamin C and wash hands often.
Tara Darity says
We take our vitamins, drink lots of water to stay hydrated and frequent hand washing!!
Linda G. says
we wash our hands often, get plenty of rest and drink lots of water.
Jessica Whitehouse says
Vaccines… my kids get the flu shot every year, and my husband and I get the shot as well. We practice good hand washing and use sanitizer.
Ty Beth says
We wash our hands and also take vitamins.
Dawn Schmidt says
We tend to take vitamins and partake in a lot of handwashing.
BusyWorkingMama says
We wash our hands frequently, eat well and take our vitamins.
Kyl Neusch says
We wash our hands often.
Susan Smith says
We drink a lot of fluids, take vitamins,wash our hands often, get a flu shot and eat a healthy diet.
Erica B. says
We get a lot of rest.
linda says
We get flu shots and get enough rest as well as wash our hands often.
Dianne Robbins says
Handwashing, cover our mouths when we cough, get flu shots annually, stock up on meds when they’re on sale, use Purell on our hands, use Lysol on surfaces.
Ashley C says
We wash our hands, sanitize everything, and try to eat a healthy diet
Sarah Hayes says
we was our hands and use essential oils
Amanda L. says
We all take vitamins and black elderberry syrup.
Amanda lea says
My girl takes elderberry syrup and plenty of vitamins to keep her immune system strong
susan smoaks says
I do what I can to stay healthy by eating healthy and exercising. I try to keep my immune system working right.
Kristin McCall says
In my family we use a lot of germ x and keep our hands to ourselves.
Danielle Wood says
Make sure my kids wash their hands regularly and make sure they eat healthy meals.
Sarah L says
Lots of hand washing, getting plenty of sleep and drinking lots of water.
Thanks for the contest.
Claire McKeon says
We try to eat healthy to keep up our strength and wash our hands. A lot.
Edye says
We get flu shots every year!
Lisa V. says
We practice/do wash hands and use hand sanitizer.
Dawn Monroe says
I use a lot of hand sanitizer and Lysol. Its hard to avoid germs when the kids are attending school or Daycare.
Mark Marville says
We get flu shots and wear gloves!
Kim H says
Hand washing and using germ towels when we go out shopping
Robby Rob says
lots of hand washing and avoid touching your face
brandy c says
I do a lot of hand washing and eat a good diet full of vegetables and complex carbs.
Leslie Rathbun says
Frequent washing of hands
Ed says
Hands are washed frequently.
Leela says
Stay away from sick people (if you can), keep clean and wash regularly.
Haya says
We are very careful about washing our hands.
Jane McGregor says
Wash our hands often!
Alexandra Y says
Staying away from sick people, wash hands.
amanda whitley says
i make sure to wash my hands regularly and teach the kids to also and use hand sanitizer often.
Peter G says
Drink plenty of fluids, hand washing, throw away all tissues immediately and use lysol in trash cans. Stay away from sick people and hope for the best.
Candie L says
I make sure we wash our hands often. Thank you
Peggy Rydzewski says
I keep hand sanitizer and zinc at my desk at work. seems like someone always is sick.
Donna Clifford says
Wash our hands a lot, get plenty of rest, and drink lots if water.
Erin M says
I keep everything clean and we wash out hands and sanitize often.
Stacie Reid says
Flu shots, sanitizer in every room, etc.
Samantha Thomas says
I keep stock in hand sanitizer. I always have some on me.
Brad Merrell says
We carry hand sanitizer with us
Hesper Fry says
I have my family wash their hands a lot and get plenty of rest.
Seyma Shabbir says
We always wash our hands, change the hand towels daily and if someone is sick, they have a personal towel instead of sharing.
DanV says
To protect myself and family from catching colds and the flu we wash our hands a lot
Tracy Shafer says
Sanitizer and lysol in the house.
Mary Gardner says
We teach the kids to always sneeze or cough into the inside of their elbow and wash their hands often, and we do the same.
Christian Alejandro says
Keeping hands clean is an easy and effective way to ward off those winter colds.
Wendy McBride says
Keep hands washed a lot. Take vitamins. Eat healthy as possible. Don’t drink after others.
Lisa says
We wash our hands often and drink tea.
Betty Curran says
We make sure to take our vitamins and eat a well balanced diet.
kathy pease says
We use hand sanitizer and take cold eze
laura bernard says
We eat well and keep clean.
Rosanne says
I try and stay healthy by getting a lot of rest and I drink a lot of fluids all the time. I also take vitamins and probiotics so my resistance is good. I can be around an ill husband or ill grandchildren and not get ill
Eileen Boyce says
We take vitamins and get the flu shot!
Rosey says
We wash our hands often. If we are in a place we cannot, we bring hand sanitizer.
Michelle H. says
I am battling bronchitis right now. And I did take steps to protect my family. I took the flu shot. I wash my hands and encourage my family to wash their hands. I take vitamin c. I clean common areas such as handles and stair rails.
Yona Williams says
Constant handwashing is what we do, and I try not to visit relatives who I know are sick.
Leah Shumack says
We make sure we are washing hands and not coughing/sneezing into our hands to spread germs ourselves too.
Amy Deeter says
We wash our hands, take vitamins, and drink plenty of fluids
Stephanie Liske says
We make sure to wash our hands and keep the house clean.
Jake B says
Try to drink a lot of water and always be sure to wash hands. Even using hand sanitizer if no way to wash if out and about.
Trisha McKee says
I teach my children to always wash their hands and to use sanitizer. If I feel a cold coming on, I stay home and rest and do not spread the illness around.
Trisha Musgrave says
I make sure to disinfect everything if someone does get sick. I also make sure hand washing is a priority!
Vikki Billings says
I disinfect the bathroom and kitchen daily, make sure everyone washes their hands a lot and make sure they get plenty of sleep.
Kelsey vinson says
We wash our hands or sanitize them a lot throughout the day. I teach them not to eat or drink after other people too.
Breanne says
We wash our hands often and drink plenty of fluids.
kristina daniels says
we wash our hands, and bundle up when we go out, also, we always cover our mouths when we cough.
Maria Beas says
First of all, wash hands very often, then drink lots of liquids and last eat a delicious and warm chicken soup. I also carry lots of tissues. Thanks for the chance to win such an amazing giveaway. Happy Holidays.
Sand says
I get a flu shot every year and to wash our hands often and disinfect commonly used items.
Jerry Marquardt says
I try to keep hands as clean as possible, to prevent spread of germs.
Philip Lawrence says
My family and I wash our hands on a regular basis and cover our mouths when we sneeze or cough.
Janet Boyanton says
Lots of hand washing.
Buddy Garrett says
We eat healthy, exercise, get enough rest and treat colds with age appropriate cold medicines.
Lacie Hester says
We practice lots of hand washing and lots of vitamin C (orange juice, oranges and etc) to keep the immune system working great!
Shatema says
I build up out immune system.
Richard Hicks says
We all try to wash our hands frequently to prevent colds etc
Janine Hwang says
We try to wash our hands often
Amber cheras says
We clean like crazy wash our hands use hand sanitizer and stock up on soup and juice.