The Cold and Flu Season is here...

Good day friends!

I just wanted to add a post on here about what we do during the cold and flu season to help stop the spread of germs.  It seems that no matter what we do, we still get sick.  My daycare kids have been sick for about 3-4 weeks now and I held off getting it for so long and voila, now I have it.  If anyone has anything to suggest or add, please comment below.  :)  

Hand washing
Hand washing is probably the most important of every step.  We frequently wash our hands.  The kids wash their hands when they arrive, before and after meals, after outdoor play, after arts and crafts, before and after any kind of food activity, and anytime I see the kids sniffling or wiping their noses with their hands or putting their hands in their mouth.  If we have to wipe a kids nose, we go wash our hands right away.  We have made an activity out of learning how to properly wash our hands and this activity is repeated when we get new children enrolled. We also have several bottles of GermX around for adult use.  I don't allow the kids to use this because they tend to put their fingers in their mouths.  My assistant and I use the GermX in between hand washings for added protection (though lot a good it does - I still got sick!!).  I also recommend that parents use the GermX that I have by the sign in and out sheet when they pick up their kids. 

Toy cleaning
Typically the kids toys get washed 1-2 times per week.  However, when the kids are sick, we clean the toys once a day.  I do this a couple of different ways.  Sometimes I fill my sink with a bleach solution and dump the hard toys into it for a while and then put towels down to let the toys air dry.  Sometimes I use this same method and and dump all the toys in my tub.  Sometimes we use the bleach solution in a spray bottle and spray each toy and wipe it all down.  Sometimes we use clorox wipes and scrub each toy down.  The recommended formula for bleach solution is 1 tablespoon of bleach to 1 gallon of water.  All softer toys that can be washed go directly into the washing machine.  

Daycare surfaces
All hard surfaces get washed frequently.  Tables and chairs get washed before and after meals with warm soapy water and then get sprayed down with a bleach solution.  I also clean the tables with my regular disinfectant spray cleaner at the beginning of the day, after any arts and crafts or block sessions, and then at the end of the day.  Shelves and any other hard surface get washed down at the end of the day with the bleach solution.  Bathroom gets cleaned at the end of the day (or sooner if needed) with the bleach solution.  Changing tables get washed after each and every use with either a clorox wipe or the bleach solution.  Floors get swept after every meal and as needed throughout the day.  Floors get washed with my Shark Steam and Spray mop at the end of the day or sooner if needed.  I have two throw rugs in the room that get thrown into the washing machine once a week but vacuumed after meals and at the end of the day.  Walls get the steam mop at the end of the day (I LOVE that steam mop!!!).  Windows and doors get washed with glass cleaner at the end of the day.  My couches (we have two in the room) get scrubbed with Mr. Clean at the end of the week or sooner if needed.  I think that covers everything for surfaces.  LOL!  

Bedding
The kids bedding is typically washed once a week, but when they're soiled or when the kids are really sick, we'll toss them in my washer when nappy time is over.  I use tide free for the kiddos bedding and soft toys because there is always one kiddo who has a sensitivity to my heavily perfumed laundry detergent.  Better safe than sorry.  

After all this is done, I still go and spray regular lysol around the room and on the couches.  Still... I get sick.  LOL!  

Have a great day!  :)  Remember, please leave comments below.  If you have any suggestions on something for me to write about, please let me know!  

Jenn