7 Top Tips to Stay Healthy this Winter Season

This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

Winter is upon us and with the cold and blustery weather comes colds and flu. There are many people that are highly exposed to colds and flu germs more than others such as flight attendants, doctors, nurses, teachers but most definitely my 10 and 12 year old boys! They bring home germs from school all winter long.

So here are some of my top tips to stay healthy this winter!

1. Wash your hands. Yes, this is a simple, yet effective way to keep away most cold and flu germs. Keep your hands away from your face especially after sneezing, so wash your hands several times throughout the day.

2. Get outside more. This may sound like the wrong advice, but getting outdoors in the fresh air or taking a walk, and even meeting up with friends for some social activities greatly improves your mental state and can fight depression. All of this helps maintain your immune system when you are in a good mood. If your child does start to feel some aches and pains coming on you can ease them by trying one of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare products like Children's Advil Suspension. This is a great solution especially for kids ages 2-11. Great flavors like Bubble Gum and Grape help when it's time to take medicine.

3. Be cautious of carriers. Now that you are out and about in the wintery conditions, be careful of those that already have a cold. Even if your friends and family don't show any kind of cold or flu symptoms doesn't mean that they aren't carrying something that could easily affect you. If those icky germs happen to find your child and they experience aches, pains, and flu like symptoms, then Children's Robitussin, or even Children's Dimetapp can zap those nasty germs and help ease those symptoms. But now is the time to really use hand sanitizer. Keep it with you all winter long.

4. Remember to relax. All the stresses of daily life can take a toll on your immune system. Stress is one of the top reasons why we come down with a cold. Take time to do things that relax you and keep your mind and body stress-free. This can include taking a hot bath or reading a good book. Getting enough rest each night will help keep stress low. Our kids being sick is stressful, and if your child is sick and up during the night the amount of sleep you get will definitely decrease. Try Children's Robitussin DM Day/Night Pack as it is long-acting and helps break up chest congestion and relieves coughs. Keep in mind that the daytime Robitussin is only for ages 4+, and the nighttime is for ages 6+. But better sleep for everyone!

5. Clean all surfaces. Make sure in your home that you keep all of your kitchen, bathroom, and anything else that lots of hands touch clean at all times. Use antibacterial cleaners and wipe surfaces down several times throughout the day if possible. This will keep germs away and that's exactly what we want so we don't catch a cold.

6. Work Hard, Play Hard. Everyone works hard so when it's time to have some fun, make sure you include some exercise in your daily routine. The more you move the better your circulation will be and this helps those immune cells in your body. As you get out more and move, your kids may end up feeling a little under the weather, so this is the time to try Children's Advil. It can ease aches from those fun days of playing hard outdoors.

7. Drink more water. We have all grown up hearing "drink plenty of fluids" when you have a cold or flu. But you don't have to wait until you are sick to do so. Stay hydrated to maintain a healthy immune system.

One of the best products that I have found work great for my boys during cold and flu season is Children's Dimetapp® Cold & Cough. It comes in a great tasting grape flavor and as soon as their symptoms begin, I give them the Dimetapp and they start to feel better. This product tackles my children's most bothersome stuffy and runny noses, all while working to relieve cough.

When sick gets real, the pediatric brands of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare are there with three solutions - Children's Advil®, Children's Robitussin® and Children's Dimetapp® - to tackle the ickiest of symptoms.

Ease those aches and pains, while reducing a child's fever fast with Children's Advil® Suspension*, a great solution for kids as young as 2 and up to 11. Children's Advil® comes in several great-tasting flavors, including: Sugar-free Dye-free Berry, Bubble Gum, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape flavors. There's also Infants' Advil® White Grape, which provides unsurpassed fever relief (among OTC pain relievers) with a syringe for easy dosing for children 6-23 months.

Formulated just for kids, Children's Robitussin® DM Day/Night Pack (Children's Robitussin® Cough & Chest Congestion for ages 4+ and Children's Robitussin® Nighttime Cough Long-Acting for ages 6+)** non-drowsy daytime formula helps break up chest congestion, while the long-acting nighttime formula relieves coughs and runny noses to help kids get the rest they need.

Each winter it is best to keep all the Pfizer pediatric products on hand because you never know when those nasty, icky, pain in the you know what germs will sneak up on you. Keeping yourself and your kids healthy all winter long can be a struggle, but with these super tips you can enjoy the fun of winter without being sick!

*This product is not indicated to treat other illnesses such as severe headache, strep throat, earache, etc.

**Please note, while the daytime product is for ages 4+, the nighttime product is only for ages 6+. It is important to remember to always read and keep the cartons for complete warnings and dosing information on Pfizer Pediatric products and to use as directed.