Keep My Child Home for Fear of H1N1?

I did not keep my son isolated, and since I am a school teacher, it was next to impossible to not be exposed. We just stocked up on germ-x and clorox wipes. Despite the extra efforts, we both got it anyway. I've had it twice. It was very mild and not a big deal, we both felt miserable for a few days and then were fine.

It's not ebola or typhoid, it is a just a strain of the flu that's like any other strain, except for a fancy name and no vaccine for it previously. It's not any more deadly then any other flu going around, few have died from it, most cases are relatively mild. Boosting the immune system is the best way to prevent sickness--good whole foods, supplements. I don't keep any of my kids home unless they are sick--what's the point? You can't prevent them from getting sick....people in general are germ magnets (not just kids) year round, so why keep him away from any activities now? Most kids get sick, most fight off illnesses relatively well, and life goes on.

I know it can seem scary with this flu season and you have a little one. I know that H1N1 can be a threat, and you are taking the steps you feel are necessary to keep him safe and you feel relieved by getting him the vaccine. (I'm neither for or against the vaccine, and though I have never immunized my 4 kids from the flu, I realize that every parent has to make their own decision). This all said, don't give into the fear. Even while waiting for his vaccine, keeping your child from venturing outdoors when he's healthy is giving into the fear. Why do you feel that he is going to get the swine flu? What other ways do you keep him healthy? Plenty of sleep, washing his hands often, getting fresh air outside, eating really really well, getting some extra vitamin C and other vitamins that are known to promote a healthy immune system (Get Colostrum!)I know that it's hard to get young ones to eat all their fruits and veggies. If this is the case with your son, you have to get creative in hiding the veggies and fruits with smoothies or pureed in spaggetti sauce. Really, there are basic ways to keep your child healthier, and in the chance he still does come down with a bad cold or the flu, or even the swine flu after getting the vaccine, he will be healthy enough to fight it and get over it quickly if he has a stonger immune system. Listen to your inner wise mamma. If you still feel that you prefer to keep you child indoors more during flu season, make that decision out of love and not out of fear. How do you want to spend your energy?

Best wishes and I hope you all stay healthy.

In peace,
Alejadrina
mom of 4, married 15 years.
Birth and Parenting Mentor
www.birthingfromwithin.com

That will be the prevalent strain this year, that's all. My son has had several children in his kindergarten class with H1N1, and for all it was very mild. My daughter also had several kids in her preschool class with it. The best thing to do is boost your son's immune system, good nutrition, low sugar, some supplements like vitamin C and D3, and if he shows signs, start giving him elderberry syrup immediately. It is AS effective as Tamiflu but all natural, not expensive and SAFE for kids (and adults too). And I would just encourage you to know what is in the vaccine like thimerisol (mercury), aluminun, squalene (a toxin that has been linked to gulf war syndrome) and many other toxic chemicals. My son is recovering from Autism so I have a different view on the toxins we put into our kids at an alarming rate. Prior to, I was 100% pro-vaccine and since understanding my son's disorder and learning more about them, it has definitely changed my tune. A good immune system is your best fight, hands down. But, it is a personal choice each parent has to make, I just wanted to encourage you to fully understand what's in that vaccine prior to giving it to him. Best of luck!

Does he have a compromised immune system? Do you keep him home all winter worrying about the regular flu? Remember, H1N1 is just a flu. Actually, less people are dying from H1N1 than the regular flu, much less. Both my kids had H1N1 and were fine. My daughter even has spina bifia and did ok. I'm glad they got it now so if it mutates they have a better chance of fighting it. Also, you would have to keep the entire family home so that no one brings home the virus. Do what you feel you need to do for your family.

Here's a great video on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1z7KSEnyxw&feature=re...

H1N1 is much more mild that the regular seasonal flu that people get every year. I would NOT put the vaccine into my children! There has been no time for adequate testing and following of the people who receive it. It was fast- tracked through the FDA, which means they tested it for less than 5 days before declaring it safe for everyone to use. There is no way to know that yet. Most drugs are followed for months if not years before getting passed by the FDA. Even then, remember the Vioxx scandal? No thank you. We all had H1N1 and it knocked me down for a few days with headache and fever but both of my kids had one day or less of feeling kinda crappy and that was it!

If you are really worried, take him to a chiropractor for an adjustment. Each one improves immune function by 200%!

Hi K.,
I have a 4 month old daughter, an 18 month old son and a 6 year old son who started kindergarden this year. Other children in his school have the swine flu. We are not getting the vaccine even though it was made available to us. We wash our hands but don't do anything out of the ordinary.

Of course your beautiful boy is the light of your life and I can understand that you want to protect him. The best lesson you can possibly give him is to not live in fear. Act responsibly and sensibly but instead of allowing the media to dictate that you live in fear, educate yourself- do research on the subject. You will find plenty of sources that blow the cover of the 'horror' of the swine flu up and show that it is just not what the media is making it out to be. good luck!

As long as you teach your son good hygiene habits, cough in your elbow, wash your hands before eating, don't touch your hands to your face (use the back of your hand if you have an itch)and use antibacterial hand sanitizer each time you get into the car from an excursion (shopping carts), etc,you should be in pretty good shape. Personally I never let my kids play in the mall or restaurant play areas. Too many germs there. It was rare that we ate fast food, but occasionally we would meet up with friends at a fast food play area. Every time the kids would get some sort of gastrointeritis - just as bad as the flu if you ask me. Just use common sense and get the vaccine when you can. We all got ours, seasonal and H1N1.

As long as your son's immune system isn't compromised in some way, there is nothing to worry about regarding the swine flu. The symptoms are not any worse than the regular flu.

Hi K.! My son had H1N1 and he sailed through it beautifully and no one else in the house got it.

I know it's hard not to fear but it really will be alright. It's not any worse than the usual flu. Just keep your son's sugar intake as low as you can, get some kids vitamin D 3 drops (Carlson's brand is the best) and some probiotics and you will have done all you can. All the vitamins I have listed are essential to building immunity.

It will be okay, mama!

my daughter has friends in her class with it so I kept her home just those few days when everyone was home sick. You need to just be smart about it. Dont have him around sick people but build his immune system up with natural things and healthy food and wash hands alot. YOu have to live and not be afraid. It is just the flu! The media has made it so much worse than it is.
Check out www. drmercola.com
and read all about the swine flu and how it is blown out of proportion. Just keep healthy with diet and handwashing:)

Looks like you are in NM - so don't know how the supply is there, but my son's school district has teamed up with the city Fire Dept and are doing a one day clinic for all of the students in the district. Maybe you could check with your local Fire Dept to see if they might have any info on public clinics coming up, especially since you have a young one!

There will always be an outbreak of one thing or another. Are you going to keep him locked away forever? Because germs will always be there.

If you just practice good hygiene and wash his hands after contact with others or after using the bathroom and before he eats, you should all be ok. And if you do get sick, see your doctor within 36 hours for a prescription of tamiflu.

My daughter and I had the swine flu in June and we are fine.

I'd just keep him from other activities if you notice other kids at the activity are sick or something. Give him good vitamins and if he starts having symptoms give him extra vitamin C, antioxidants, and have him gargle with warm salt water if he is old enough and swab out his nose with a q-tip dipped in warm salt water. Make sure he washes his hands after the activity and you can even have him change clothes when he gets home. I wouldn't keep him isolated unless he has a weak immune system or something. Keep him healthy and eating right and getting plenty of fluids and rest and he should do fine. Good luck!!!

Go to www.walgreens.com. Find a Walgreens near you that has the H1N1 vaccine. It costs $18 or they can run it through your insurance. I took my kids last night. There was nobody there (no wait). They got the nasal spray on the 31st of October and were told to go back in 30 days. There were no more shot clinics scheduled for this year. I had to do something! So, I went to the Take Care Clinic in Walgreens. You can even get the shot if you want. It's available for ANYONE!

Dear K.,

If you go to Partners in health care Naturally
you can purchase a homeopathic vaccine
that has no side affects and is 100% effective for $10.
Both you & your 3 year old can take it.
Me & my 3 year old finished ours last month.

They are located on Montezuma St north of the town square,
and are listed in the white pages.
They also have a great naturaal herb pharmacy with fantastic
natural cold & flu remedies for the next time you need them.

Blessings, D.

Hi K.,

I understand your desire to keep your little one safe, but...

Kids who get strong healthy food, fresh air and normal exposure to germs generally build stronger immune systems than those who are kept isolated from exposure to real life. So, unless your little guy has some kind of auto immune disease, send him into the breach - and have him wash his hands afterwards.

Btw, we won't be vaccinating our kids for H1N1. They don't receive annual flu vaccines and are extremely healthy without them.

You do not need to wait to get the vaccine. Call the Mollen Clinics ###-###-#### and make an appointment to go to their office for the H1N1 shot or mist.

Or you can call Sunrise Pediactrics ###-###-####. The only requirement is that you have an office visit while getting the shot. The doctor wants to make sure the child is okay to receive the shot (doc has to for insurance purposes).

Children under 9 need two doses, 30 days apart. After the first dose they are 76% covered and would get a milder version of the H1N1 flu if they did get it. And there is a chance they wouldn't get it all even after one dose. I wouldn't risk it, I would get the second dose to be fully covered 100%.

The day we were supposed to get the shot 2 people in my house already had swine flu.

We've all had the vaccine now just to be safe, but I would think keeping them home would get old very fast, as active as little ones can be.

One of my children is in school, so there's no way to keep him away from other kids. My daughter just turned 4 and isn't in school or day care, but we do our regular stuff - go to the store, run errands, etc. We usually walk to pick up my son from school, so she is around other kids some, but not a lot. We've not been to the mall, in the play areas or to any fast food restaurants with play areas, but that's how we usually are around this time of year. Too many bugs out there other than swine flu - and those places are just gross.
We've definitely been doing a LOT of hand washing! Whenever we've been out somewhere, we come in and wash hands first thing. I also keep saniwipes in my purse, in the car and around the house. I don't have hand sanitizer since we have the wipes - I just like them better because they aren't as messy.
I've not gotten my kids vaccinated against H1N1 because I've not been able to find anywhere they are available in my area.