With summer slowly coming to an end and the weather gradually cooling down, it's only a matter of weeks before cold season is once again upon us and everybody starts sneezing and sniffing. 

Especially if you have children in school or kindergarten, some virus is always going around during the fall and your kid is constantly exposed to all kinds of germs. Of course you want to avoid your little ones getting sick because not only is it the worst to see them ill and taking care of a sick child is anything but a walk in the park, but once one of your little ones is feeling under the weather it's usually only a matter of time before it hits you and the rest of your family as well. 

There's no fool proof guarantee or magical remedy to protect your child and you from falling ill, but there are some preventive measures and life style adjustments you can take in order to majorly reduce the risk of catching a cold. 

So here's a list of 5 easy things you can do to stay healthy and strong even during flu season  

1. Wash your Hands & Disinfect Surfaces

Now if you're going to do anything from this list, do this. Just think about it, most of our every day actions involve touching surfaces that have been touched by countless others before, and you don't know what kind of germs they left behind. So regularly washing your hands and using hand sanitizer is just a very simple habit you and your family should get into that can actually make a big difference. '

In addition to that it's a good idea to regularly disinfect surfaces, such as countertops, since viruses can survive and remain infectious on lots of materials. You can lower your risk of infection by using products that contain alcohol or bleach to disinfect frequently used objects, such as countertops, desks, and keyboards. Just make sure to keep them out of your kids' reach and read the labels and follow the instructions carefully. 

2. Stay Hydrated

Drinking a lot of water is one of the best and easiest things you can do for your overall health. It's great for your skin, energy and immune system. So, set a good example for your kid and try drinking 8 glasses of water (water, not juice or soda or other sugary beverages) a day. 

3. Get enough sleep

Apart from making you feel like hell, not getting enough sleep increases the risk of catching a cold. Now, we all know that a lack of sleep is kind of a regular part of being a mother, but when you feel like you’re starting to get sick, do yourself and your family a favour and try to get 8 hours of sleep. Yes, it might seem like you have too many things to do in order to call it an early night, but if you think about it having a bit of a less productive day is still a lot better than catching a cold and being completely knocked out for days. 

4. Stay active

Regular physical exercise can improve your general wellbeing and health and also reduces the risk of various illnesses. Moreover, physical activity benefits a person's immune function and decreases their risk of respiratory infections. So even if the weather is getting a little chilly, grab a jacket and take your kid out for a long, nice walk or make a trip to the local playground to power yourselves out.

5. Healthy Diet

Again, having a balanced and healthy diet is essential to general health. But making sure you and your child get all the necessary vitamins and nutrients also decreases the risk of catching a cold. Because a well nourished body, is a strong body and the stronger your body, the better it is at fighting off viruses before they can make you sick. 

One particular aspect many tend to overlook is that apart from healthy fruit and veggies, dietary fiber can also boost the immune system, because the short-chain fatty acids present in dietary fiber enhance immunity to influenza infections.

As you can see, a lot of those preventive measures are fairly easy to implement and won't only reduce your risk of catching a cold, but also improve your overall wellbeing. 

Let us know if you have any other go to tricks for avoiding getting sick. 

And with that being said, stay healthy mamas!