The air is getting cooler, the wind is picking up, and pumpkin spice is in everything. Autumn is my favorite season, but there’s one part of this time of year I absolutely dread: Flu season.

And is it just me, or is it starting early this year? I try to stay vigilant, especially with weakened immune systems in our home, but I’ve already noticed the congestion and heard coughs.

So what do I do to keep littles healthy this time of year? Here’s a list of the most important things I do:

Keep Them On Probiotics

I do this year round, but I will up their doses during flu season. I started K on a powered form before she was one and continued with M and J. Affectionately referred to as “magic dust,” I can give it straight or mix it in a bottle. As they’ve gotten older, I transitioned them to a chewable tablet but also make sure I include natural probiotics into their diets. Yogurt and yogurt-based foods are favorites in our house, so that makes things easy! (For a list of recipes for our favorite smoothies, check this post here.)

Probiotics are said to promote gut health and overall immune support. While the claims are disputed in the US, I personally have noticed the difference between when the girls are regularly taking theirs versus when they’re not. I encourage you to do your own research and see what works for you! I can also point you to what we use here and here. Mine is this one.

Teach Your Kids To Practice Good Hygiene

There is nothing kids share quite as well as germs. Especially when they’re little and want to put everything in their mouth. This is amplified when they don’t feel well and suddenly everything is being sneezed on, coughed on, drooled on…you get the picture. I encourage the girls to cover their faces when they sneeze or cough (they have hankies instead of coughing into their sleeves or elbows). I add extra tea tree oil to our hand soap, which is regularly utilized. They get extra baths and we stock the water with salts and oils. I’m a firm believer that the best way to get rid of germs is with good soap and water.

Wipe Everything Down Nightly

And speaking of soap and water… I make full and unapologetic use of the washing machine and part of their chores include bringing me their dirty items. I clean their toys at night and spray their play areas down with my homemade Thieves and disinfectant sprays. The anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties in these cleaners is AMAZING and does not leave the residues that Lysol and other cleaners can. Things that get wiped down every night include doorknobs, counters, and the dining table. Weekends I’ll tackle the big chores, but I don’t go to bed at night until our most-used items and areas are prepped for a healthy tomorrow.

Diffuse, Diffuse, Diffuse

Again, this goes back to utilizing my oils. I keep a diffuser going almost 24/7 in the main rooms of our home and run them in the bedrooms at night. Favorite health-boosting oils in our home include lemon, peppermint, frankincense, and rosemary. I generally have a blend of them going customized to whatever I feel like we need a boost of that day. Head cold? Extra peppermint. Runny nose? Extra lavender. Long night? Grapefruit. Creeping crud? T-h-i-e-v-e-s.

*** ALWAYS diffuse less oil in nurseries and children’s bedrooms than you would diffuse in other rooms. Children are much more sensitive to oils, so it’s very important to dilute the amount of oils when it comes to their little bodies. As a general rule, I only use about one drop of each oil per 8oz of whatever I’m diluting it with (lotion, carrier oil, soap, etc.) Oils can be increased as they get older. You should ALWAYS check for allergic reactions when using new oils. NEVER use something new and leave your little alone and unattended. I’ve never had a bad experience, but I’ve read horror stories. ***

Don’t Be Afraid to Go OTC

I love natural. But I am not one of those people who will let their child suffer and refuse to utilize available treatment methods. If holistic methods aren’t working and your littles are sick… reach for the Tylenol or take them to the doctor. One round of amoxicillin won’t negate all the other good things you do for them. I would much rather nip a cough in the bud than let it snowball into flu or, worse, pneumonia because I wouldn’t just take my baby to the doctor.

At the end of the day, what matters the most is you have healthy littles who can spend the season enjoying themselves instead of sneezing!

What do you do to protect against flu season? Share in the comments below!