[Stormster]

I know I"m always the one to give flying advice and I do have a ID Research sister but she's not even answering her phone (working on Swine Flu stuff!) so....

E picks up EVERYTHING. We've been sick every time we've flown, either colds or Norwalk Virus or whatever.....last time I kind of know what we did wrong, let him play with kids at airport (he even put a sippy cup of one of them in his mouth!) so besides lots of purell, making sure I use a changing PAD (yep i changed him right on the changing table once or twice in airplane YUCK) lots of hand washing, staying away from people as much as possible does anyone have any advice? I don't know if there IS anything else!

I read you can point your air to go down in FRONT of your face that way any droplets in the air are going away from you. Of course we could wear masks but that's a little crazy to me....plus most masks that we would have access to don't work that well, don't keep everything out. UGH i'm so worried, E really has a cruddy immune system and mine'snot so great either!

Any advice???? I thought DH and I would take that airborne stuff as well???

[oceanica]

We flew for Kee's dedication around easter and I brought a small wipe container with chlorox wipes and wiped down the seats, the little table, the armrests, everything I could. It probably did nothing but it made me feel better. Nobody got sick fortunately.
Oh and DON'T touch the magazines or anything else in the seatpocket!

[Lovebug]

I agree. Also, are you using a disposible changing pad? I'm a HUGE fan of those. Otherwise, you're putting your changing pad right into the firepit of germs and then putting it back in your diaper bag to then transfer them everywhere. With the disposibles, you can toss them out! Lol.

[fisbaby]

Weird, I just read your post and then saw this article on CNN. You might check it out, it's called "Flu and Your Health on a Plane"!

Commentary: Flu and your health on a plane - CNN.com

[yehudit]

Too bad he's too big for a baby bjorn where you can have him face you and put his hands inside the pouch.

I would try boosting him immune system well before your trip with lots of vitamin C whatever else you think might help (sorry I can't give much advice on what specifically to try).

Also, you already know to bring purell -- use it before and after you get on the airplane, and try to avoid letting E play with other kids. Maybe bring a stroller and some Benadryl ?

[Cjmeck]

Does he use a pacifier? Savannah only uses one at night, but if we were flying, I would definitely give it to her to keep things out of her mouth. I think your idea of staying away from other kids is fabulous; I mean, seriously they are little petri dishes, aren't they?
I just got home from Wal-Mart with Savannah. I used the shopping cart cover like I always do and didn't give a second thought to the swine flu thing. But then as I'm standing in line to pay, a lady with 3 kids in front of me announces to the cashier that they all have chicken pox. 2 of which are running around like maniacs, attempting to approach my daughter. I swear I about tackled one of them to keep him away from her! And then we followed up our visit with a bath in purell... Germs germs everywhere! Goodluck to you! Oh, and I wonder if you can boost E's system with some vitamin C supplements? I'd look into that to see if its safe for toddlers.

[binkybear]

In the airport I would do everything to keep him in his own clean stroller, not giving him the opp to even touch another surface or person. The same in the plane, his seat (window, floor, other seat back, etc) that you've wiped down prior to him getting into. You guys wipe your hands before they cross his "stroller/seat zone".

I know, easier said than done....but this one time it's just gotta be that way, yah know? If you keep it in your head that there are no other options then you'll make it work with momma creativity. Good Luck

[Stormster]

Thanks guys! All great ideas. And yes he will "need" benadryl anyway because he has another double ear infection so that worked out well!

GREAT idea with the disposable changing pads. I used to use them and will again! Also wiping down the seats, etc....

At least I'll have something to do on the plane! Be the crazy cleaning lady! I've taught E to wash his hands btw it's the cutest thing, so it's also something to do on the plane. Can i squirt Purell directly on his hands as well? He loves rubbing his hands together! But I don't want to poison him!

Going to read Fis' article now.

[Beth.]

You don't want E to use the regular Purell that you use. If he sucks on his fingers after, he could easily be poisoned. I think there is a kid friendly, alcohol free version that he could use. Check out what they have at Target. The stuff I have on my desk right now is 62% alcohol ... I wouldn't use it on my kiddo.

Also remember that E isn't touching door handles, flushing toliets, touching the faucets, etc, where the really nasty germs are. Wet wipes are probably good enough on his hands.

[Stormster]

Thanks Beth!

[DannieAS]

Originally Posted by Beth.

You don't want E to use the regular Purell that you use. If he sucks on his fingers after, he could easily be poisoned. I think there is a kid friendly, alcohol free version that he could use. Check out what they have at Target. The stuff I have on my desk right now is 62% alcohol ... I wouldn't use it on my kiddo.

Also remember that E isn't touching door handles, flushing toliets, touching the faucets, etc, where the really nasty germs are. Wet wipes are probably good enough on his hands.

I second that....target, smart&final, walmart should have one that is alcohol free....we use one for the mod-severe classroom because the children forget about good mouth covering or always have gunk on hands.

[oceanica]

I am not sure that alcohol free will work as well though.
Also, touching seatbelts, armrests, seats, and anything else that someone else may have touched or coughed on IS touching where the "really nasty" germs are.

[Stormster]

CDC said it has to have at least 50% alcohol. That's ok i'll work around that and just wipe his hands a lot. I met someone who said she has only ever had to take her 8 and 10 year old to well baby checkups, they NEVER get sick! She puts it down to keeping hand wipes with her and in the car (on each car door) so when the kids get int he car first thing they do is wipe their hands. At the time I thought "what a nutter", but now I see she's the smart one!

[Beth.]

Originally Posted by oceanica

Also, touching seatbelts, armrests, seats, and anything else that someone else may have touched or coughed on IS touching where the "really nasty" germs are.

Yep, agreed. That's why we travel with antibacterial wipes and everything gets a really good wipe down (and then allowed to dry) before the kiddo is allowed to touch anything. We figured out that I should board the plane first with the car seat and antibacterial wipes. I give our seats a really good washing, get the seat installed, get things settled, etc. And then dh boards at the end of the boarding time with the kiddo. Once she's in her seat, I wash her hands/face really well (she's restrained so she gets a really good scrubbing!). It's less time for her to be on the plane too. However, it means I have to trust dh to not let her get into anything nasty while still in the airport!

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by Beth.

Yep, agreed. That's why we travel with antibacterial wipes and everything gets a really good wipe down (and then allowed to dry) before the kiddo is allowed to touch anything. We figured out that I should board the plane first with the car seat and antibacterial wipes. I give our seats a really good washing, get the seat installed, get things settled, etc. And then dh boards at the end of the boarding time with the kiddo. Once she's in her seat, I wash her hands/face really well (she's restrained so she gets a really good scrubbing!). It's less time for her to be on the plane too. However, it means I have to trust dh to not let her get into anything nasty while still in the airport!

Wow Beth, you are HARD CORE! I am inspired