My learnings as a mom: 3 Myths about cold & flu – Busted!

As a mom, do you know what I’m most terrified of? It is what we call “common cold & flu”. And as luck would have it, my daughter inevitably suffers from it at the turn of the season. No matter how hard I try, it just keeps coming back.

And as soon as your child falls sick, what comes free of cost, is advice! Opinions from everyone around me flood in and though I love the support, it can get confusing too   –   I’m sure many moms   reading this are nodding a silent “yes”!

While I paid full attention to what everyone had to say in the start, I realised with time that some of the information and suggestions did not hold true (not with my daughter atleast!). Of all of these, I share with you today the three most common words of caution that I found were just myths…

Myth#1: Wet and Cold? Your baby is going to catch that flu!

Fact: The biggest myth ever, and unfortunately we all have grown up with this – your child will catch a cold if s/he gets wet or if the weather is cold. A wet head or cold might cause chills and a headache but certainly is not responsible for cold and flu. It is the cold virus which is the reason for your child catching the flu. I’ve heard that there are more than 200 viruses which cause flu and the body cannot provide resistance to fight against all of them, all the time.

Mommy tip: Allow your child to play and dance in the rain every once in a while – and you can join in too!
 

Myth#2: Avoid milk, it will cause phlegm

Fact: Phlegm is the sticky-thick mucus formed during cough and cold. Dairy products like milk, curd or cheese do not cause phlegm. They might thicken the mucous but even this isn’t true until one has some food allergy or suffers from lactose intolerance.

Mommy tip: A glass of warm milk with a teaspoon of honey or a pinch of turmeric actually soothes my daughter’s throat.

Myth#3: Nasal Sprays are not good for your child

Fact: Nasal sprays are decongestants which are helpful in the management of common cold and blocked nose. They are my go-to remedy to help my daughter get good sleep at night when she suffers from a blocked nose. Nasal sprays narrow the blood vessels, reducing swelling and congestion. This helps in clearing the air passage helping your child to breathe easy whiles/he sleeps.

Mommy tip: Use nasal sprays as per your child’s age (paediatric nasal sprays are available as well) and in consultation with your paediatrician.
 

As parents, we try to give the best to our children. Probably this is one of the reasons why we hear and accept every piece of information given to us. While it is okay to do so, you should also use your discretion and see what works best for your child. Your own experience, interactions with fellow parents, reading up on related topics and above all, your instinct, should come into play to differentiate between fact and myth.

Did you find the learnings shared by Hina useful? Hina awaits your thoughts and comments. Have you uncovered some myths while nursing your child’s cold and flu? Please share with fellow parents in the comments below!
 

Disclaimer: A special initiative powered by Otrivin to help you breathe easy. Always use as directed on pack. Opinions expressed above are independent opinions of the author.