It has crept up on me a little sooner than I would have liked–the cold and flu season. Already kids are coughing on each other, wiping their noses on their sleeves and being sent to school with fevers. Not my kids, yet, but I know it will be coming soon.
When someone in the family is ill, it can really upset the household. That is why I try to prepare things at home ahead of time, if I can. It makes the sudden middle of the night vomit sessions, all day coughing jaunts, and those days when you just can’t get off of the couch just a bit easier to deal with.
Here are some of the ways that I prepare.
Make sure that the laundry is up to date, especially the sheets, blankets and towels. Having clean bedding and clean towels on hand is a must. You may need to change them frequently. If you can, stock up on some extras the next time there is a sale. It is amazing how quickly you can go through those things when the whole family is sick. The same goes for favorite pajamas, sweats, etc.
Have a few easy meals in the freezer or the pantry. You’ll want three to seven days of favorites that are easy to eat and easy to digest. Also stock up on ginger ale, soup, crackers and dry cereal.
It is also good to have some cash on hand for other items that you might need at the last minute, such as juice. You could always ask a friend to pick up a few things for you, and cash is good for this.
Of course, you’ll want to have a stash of over the counter medicine, tissues and other col related needs. If you have young children, consider pull ups even if they are potty trained, in case they get hit with the runs. A sick bucket is always a good thing to have, too. We keep three heavy duty dish pans for this purpose. Since they are wide, you don’t have to worry too much about the sick person missing the bucket.