How can you avoid getting your kids' tummy bugs?

[prefernot]

Do you all find that whatever your little one gets you also get? I used to pride myself on my immune system before dd but now I seem to be ill as much as she is. She's 2. I can handle colds and coughs etc. but tummy bugs are my nightmare and seem to take me months to get over properly. Any tips on how to avoid them or do I just have to get better at dealing with them?

hi prefer not (its Evesmama in disguise!)
wish i could help as Eve seems to get whatever i do, but i suppose thats inevitable! suppose you could try wearing a surgical mask and detox wipes on our hands and feet?

hi prefer not (its Evesmama in disguise!)
wish i could help as Eve seems to get whatever i do, but i suppose thats inevitable! suppose you could try wearing a surgical mask and detox wipes on our hands and feet?

HV told me to use dettol spray/wipes on loo handle and all door handles when anyone has tummy bug/ cold....i also do light switches with wipes but not spray as maybe electic shocks are worse than bugs

oops!

Did that help Aunty?

And do you always all get what your kids have?

Evesmama (I'm going to refuse change re. your name), do you think a goldfish bowl on the head might help?

yes but take the goldfish out first

Don't let them leave the bathroom without washing hands. (And all of you wash hands as a regular thing.)

And, as well as loo handle and door handles, use dettox spray (or wipes) on toilet seat and rim, and basin taps, and anything else they may have touched with germy hands.

Eldest child is now 22, youngest is 11 and we can count number of tummy bugs on fingers of one hand practically.

I've always been confused about that Dettox spray stuff. Do you spray it on then wipe it? I just wondered if it was safe to leave it on a surface dd might touch then put fingers in / near mouth. And how do you stop them doing less hygenic things when they're at nursery etc.?

clingfilm on hands!
or on a serious note, try to tech dd to wash hands before eating after toilet and try to keep hands away from mouth!yeah dead easy!

Yes, spray on then wipe - I tend to use a squeezed-out sponge but you could use paper towels if that seems dryer/more hygienic, or the anti-bacterial wipes you can buy instead. The wetness usually evaporates pretty quickly.

You can't do anything about what she does at nursery, but you can do quite a lot to prevent anything she brings home infecting you too. Just washing hands a lot makes a big difference.

yes i think it does help....DS has some sort of mild tummy upset, tempersture, sore throat thing at the minute so I don't want ot tempt fate! but i'm off to get the spray now

Quite a few people swear by those gut vitamins, ummmmmmmmmmm Probiotics, that's them.

We had a really bad few months last year, when ds1 was at nursery, we all caught horrendous stomach bugs and as I was pregnant, they floored me every time. I bought a tub of antiseptic wipes from boots (the kind used to wipe over a cut or graze). When ds1 came out of nursery, we would wipe his hands over with a wipe - it seemed to solve the problem.

well call me paranoid (and dh frequently does!!) but I always wash hands when come home from playgroup/school. Defo before they eat anything and whenever been to toilet. If they have tummy bug, wash your hands whenever been touching them or in bathroom with them. Disinfect bathroom with solution of antiseptic disinfectant and water every time they have to run in! This costs less than using wipes or dettox every time!! Oh and I confine them to their rooms until they're better too! Aren't you all glad you're not ill in my house . Have to say I usually catch most of their colds though thats not too bad.