Staying healthy in larger families - is it possible?

[tortoisefairy]

I am so fed up with illness in our family and so I am looking to you for advice on how we can become healthier. How do you stop illness spreading throughout your whole families...or don't you?

We eat well, are well hydrated, good hand washing etc. so why am I dishing out my 3rd round of anti-biotics so far this year?

DS1 5 has just started school, could it be this?

How do you handle illness when all children are ill? How do you cope when you are ill too?

Do I need to just suck it up and accept that 3 children under 5 is going to be a monthly round of illness for us all?

Thanks in advance.

I think it is because if one gets ill then it gets passed around so everyone gets it, whether you are a family of 3, or 8. They build up immunity as they get older and the illnesses get fewer....honest!

I have an only and we've had 3 rounds of antibiotics this year!

I do think its a very difficult time when children start school. They tend to pick up every virus going and bring it home as a present for everyone else. I am sure its nothing you are/are not doing.

It does get better as they get older - honest!

It is a hard time, I agree with the other ladies. Once one gets it its just a matter of letting it run its course.

we have all had cold after cold since the beginning of december and its only now leaving us and hopefully thats it until next winter.

We do have plenty of fresh fruit and veg, and DC3 has a poorly heart too so she always gets anything that comes at her, so we give her extra vits each day too, just to help boost her. Saying that, she has only had 1 course of antib's in the last 12 months, so quite chuffed with that myself

We have 4 dc and it is very rare that any of us are ill (touch wood!) . We get lots of fresh air, eat well, all the usual stuff.

However when one does get ill, it usually works its way around all pretty quickly! But we only get sickness bugs, We have only had antibiotics once in 10 years.
I think just starting school is prime time for this though - whilst they get used to each others germs - a bit like Freshers Flu but without all the parties and cheap booze!

I am also sick of illness.It has been half term this week and I have had a sick child every day for the last 9 days.So what with the weather and sickness it has been a bit of a wash out.

The older ones definetly get less 10 and 8 but the 5 and 1 year old seem to be getting alot.

We wash hands alot and eat well but the children often all jump in the bath together and share towels, should I stop doing them doing that?