Nipping it in the bud .....

[Crystaltips]

We are off on holiday next Saturday ... and my kids are complaining about tickly throats .... I am worried that they might develop sore throats or any number of these bugs that are going around.

How can I protect them from this and help them fight off any unwanted infections. They do no have anything that warrants a trip to the GP.

Any ideas

How old are they Crystaltips - I think you have to be fatalistic about the under fives and bugs as their immune systems need the viral and bacterial exposure to develop fully IMO (and I have the vomit and mucus stains to prove it - ).
I think any child will fight off such things more quickly if:

• they are well rested (ha, yeah, right but YKWIM)
• they get their five a day (ditto above)
• if they need antibiotics you follow the end of the course with a week's worth of probiotic supplementing (Yakult, Actimel, or best of all if you can get it, Solgar's ABC Dophilus powder)

During the winter I do tend to supplement with Kindervital health tonic, and echinacea for kids on a fortnight on, fortnight off, basis.

And although people may wince at the sugar content, I give them a daily drink of cranberry juice with a meal. I think these little berries have strong antibacterial qualities - and now I am waiting for bundle to come on here and jeer at my faith in such things

HTH. To be honest if they haven't got anything when they board the plane the recycled air may ensure they will when you reach your destination...

Thanks Marina ... they are 10 and 12 ...

Never mind bungles quips ... this is JUST the info I was looking for .... Thanks

Aha, old enough to be adept at boy/man flu, child "stomach ache" etc
Would the "if you are too ill to come on holiday you can stay with great-uncle Walter" line reduce the snuffles do you think?