Breezy Mama

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Swine Flu

Best Ways to Treat Colds/Flu; This Year’s Shot & More

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Ahhhhh…choooo! Oh boy! Here comes Cold/Flu season. Always a good time… cough, cough. I’ll never forget the joys of my whole family getting the flu three years ago when I was pregnant. There was, um, barfing galore and no person in their right mind would come help us because they didn’t want to catch it! Somehow we managed to avoid it the next two years (read: the flu shot actually worked those years) but colds are always inevitable. To get the best approach for treating the good times of sick season, Breezy Mama turned to Dr. Gregg Alexander. Plus! Answers to all of this season’s flu questions, such as will the Swine Flu be a concern and what is THE shot of the season to (knock on wood) avoid the flu, when to treat a fever and when to let it do its job and more.

Is Swine Flu a threat again this season?

The possibility of getting Swine Flu this season does [Read more…] about Best Ways to Treat Colds/Flu; This Year’s Shot & More

How to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy and Boost Their Immune System

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IMG_7029_3You may have heard that the flu has been making the rounds and it’s spreading quickly – even (gasp!) the Swine Flu. There are the general measures to take such as repeatedly washing hands, avoid touching one’s nose and mouth and avoiding sick kids, but perhaps one of the more overlooked ways to protect your child is just plain ‘ol feeding them healthy foods that will help boost their immune systems. For me and my picky eaters, this is a lot easier said than done. So, Breezy Mama spoke to Christine Wood, M.D. author of How to Get Kids to Eat Great and Love It! for tips on feeding those tiny people their veggies, foods to avoid giving them, advice for picky eaters, how not to become a short order cook and more.

Listen, my hubby and I put vegetables on our kids’s plates every night, but we’re realizing they’re rarely touched. What’s your advice for getting them to actually eat them?

Sometimes parents [Read more…] about How to Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy and Boost Their Immune System

Best Products for Conquering the Swine Flu

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penguinA week ago Monday, I wrote about how my three-year-old came down with the Swine Flu. Yes–it’s true, it hit us when we least expected it. I mean, we went to Disneyland when the panic first hit the news last spring and we didn’t catch it. Anywho, what’s done is done. Hopefully, you, or anyone in your family will not get as unlucky as we did, but if you do, here were my must-have products to help my son get through it. All or most of these recommendations you might find handy for the common cold or seasonal flu, too. Remember, always check with your pediatrician first. –Alex

Crane Penguin Humidifier
This one is really easy to fill, it lasts a long time (I wouldn’t have to refill it at night), and it gave [Read more…] about Best Products for Conquering the Swine Flu

My Son Had the Swine Flu: Learn from My Experience & Advice from a Pediatrician

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Kieran on his first big outing after recovring from the Swine Flu. Can you say happy?
Kieran on his first big outing after recovering from the Swine Flu. Can you say happy?

My Story:

Yes, it’s true; we were able to celebrate summer with my son coming down with the Swine Flu. This past July, Kieran woke up one morning with a runny nose. It was clear, so I didn’t think much about it and we went to our scheduled playdate. At it, he was acting tired, and would rather sit in my lap than play with his friends. When he opted to not have cake I knew something was up. That night, I put him to bed early figuring he just needed a good night’s sleep. The next day we headed up to Santa Barbara to see some family—it was a big trip, I hadn’t seen them in years so I didn’t think about canceling. Besides, Kieran seemed fine—he did just need a good night’s sleep.

After running around on the beach all day, Kieran started to [Read more…] about My Son Had the Swine Flu: Learn from My Experience & Advice from a Pediatrician

Swine Flu: What the Pediatrician Community is Saying Today (4/29) and More

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Dr. Gillin answered our questions on whether she’s treated patients with Swine Flu, what concerns she has been hearing from parents, the measures being taken in California and more. 

Now that California Governor Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency, what can we expect as far as a vaccine in California? When do you guess pediatrician offices will offer them?

It takes time to develop a vaccine to any virus. It will take some time to develop and manufacture and test a vaccine. Although the U.S. is prepared to develop [Read more…] about Swine Flu: What the Pediatrician Community is Saying Today (4/29) and More