Staying Healthy During Flu Season!

Attention St. Louis Nannies and Sitters!

TLC for Kids wants you to stay healthy this cold and flu season!

As you know, the cold and flu season is upon us and likely to be more extreme this year than in years past. As child care providers who sometimes care for mildly ill children, it is important that you take extra measures to stay healthy yourself! In order to stay healthy it is important to maintain a healthy life style, wash hands frequently and consider getting a flu shot! Flu shots are available at your doctor's office, clinics, and most area Walgreen's. Please review the following information TLC for Kids in St. Louis sent our to all of our nannies about staying healthy this season!


- Jessica

TLC Nannies -- Tips for Staying Healthy Healthy During Cold & Flu Season

You can protect yourself and others by following these key action steps.

1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise, and relaxation.

2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner only if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.

3. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes. Germs spread this way.

4. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.

5. Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.

6. Get vaccinated against seasonal flu when vaccine is available in your area.



TLC has been receiving quite a few jobs from St. Louis parents looking for nannies to care for their sick children, here are a few tips!

When providing care to a child who is sick, the most important ways to protect yourself and others who are not sick are to:

1. Clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer after you touch the sick person or handle used tissues, or laundry.

2. Remind the sick child to cover their coughs or cough into their sleeve and clean their hands after coughing and/or sneezing.

3. Have the child clean their hands often, using soap and water or hand sanitizer. Children may need reminders or help keeping their hands clean.

4. Wipe down toys, counter tops and other items the child touches.

5. Avoid being face-to-face with the sick child.

6. When holding small children who are sick, place their chin on your shoulder so that they will not cough in your face.

7. Keep the sick child away from other people as much as possible.



How do I know if I have the flu?

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

*fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

* Not everyone with flu will have a fever.

What should I do if I get sick?

Don't panic! You may have a simple cold. If you get sick with flu-like symptoms this flu season, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with 2009 H1N1 have had mild illness and have not needed medical care or antiviral drugs and the same is true of seasonal flu. CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.

What is the incubation period of the H1N1 flu? How long will it take to get the flu after being exposed?

The estimated incubation period is unknown and could range from 1 to 7 days, and more likely 1 to 4 days.

Persons with novel H1N1 flu virus infection should be considered potentially contagious (able to spread disease) for up to 7 days after illness onset. Persons who continue to be ill longer than 7 days should be considered potentially contagious until symptoms have resolved. Children, especially younger children, might be contagious for longer periods.

For more information please visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu.htm

What are the kids going to do this summer? TLC summer nannies to the rescue!!

St. Louis families are once again faced with the dilemma of what to do with their young children over the summer break. Many working parents are learning that a summer nanny is like having your very own camp counselor, tutor, driver, and household helper all wrapped up in one. The cost is surprisingly affordable, especially when faced with paying multiple camp fees and extended care fees.

Fortunately, TLC for Kids, Inc. has the perfect solution! Families can hire an experienced, screened, and professional nanny to ensure that your children have a fun, exciting, and stress free summer.

Summer nannies will schedule fun parent approved outings for the kids like going to amusement parks, swimming, museums, bowling, play groups, the zoo, and more. TLC nannies will also do tutoring over the summer so that the kids are on track for the upcoming school year.

Summer nannies will drive children to classes, practices, and other activities, and even run family errands like grocery shopping! Some families opt to share a nanny with a friend or neighbor to make the cost even lower. All this, coupled with the peace of mind of knowing that the kids will have a safe and memorable summer, make hiring a TLC summer nanny the perfect option!

TLC for Kids also offers full and part-time, and after-school nannies as well as temporary day and evening care. TLC is St. Louis’ premier nanny agency, and has been finding families temporary and permanent nannies for over 24 years. For more information, please contact Kimberly at 314.725.5660.