As the cold temperatures are starting to arrive again, so is flu season. Finding yourself at home with a sick little one is no one’s idea of a great time. Besides having to take time off work, it’s also heartbreaking to see your little one in such discomfort. Take a look at some of the best tips for nursing your child with the flu back to health.  

Encourage Rest 

One of the most important things you can do to get healthy again is get plenty of rest. Encourage your child to sleep as much as possible, even though they might resist it. Make their room an inviting place, and wrap them in warm blankets. Even if they say they don’t feel tired enough to sleep, tell them to rest their bodies. This can be more difficult for younger children to stay in one place, however, older children may be enticed if you offer them a book to read in their bed. 

Encourage Plenty of Liquids 

One of the most common pieces of advice you hear for people with the flu is to drink plenty of liquids. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Keeping your child as hydrated as possible will help alleviate some of their symptoms.  If they are vomiting quite a bit, then try to encourage small and consistent sips rather than gulping all in one go. The younger your child is, the more risk they have for dehydration. So, it can’t be stressed enough how important keeping your child full of liquids is. 

Rinse Their Nose 

Many children with the flu may have a stuffed-up nose as part of their symptoms. Rather than letting their noses continue to worsen, make sure that you rinse out their nasal passages as needed. They may kick up a huge fuss about it, however, it’s a critical part of ensuring the mucus doesn’t get into your child’s lungs. 

A saline nasal spray should do the trick to break up everything inside of their sinuses. You may also want to consider using a humidifier in their bedroom at night. This will help clear their sinuses and prevent coughing. 

Keep Them Warm 

Even though your little one may be running a temperature, it’s important to keep them warm. Dress them enough so that their bodies stay toasty, but don’t overdress them either. One of the most important parts of dressing them warmly is ensuring that their feet are covered in warm socks. You may want to encourage them to put on slippers as well to ensure that the heat stays locked in. 

Give a Fever Reducer as Needed 

Use an age-appropriate fever reducer as needed to ensure that your child’s temperature is where it should be. Take your child’s temperature every few hours to monitor that it’s within healthy limits, and don’t give your child a fever reducer unless they need it.