Winter may be almost over, but that doesn’t mean cold and flu season has ended just yet. In fact, I often find that March is the worst month in our household for illness, since the slightly warmer weather often tricks us into not dressing as warmly and thus weakening our immune systems. So far the weather is so cold that the boys and I have been spending most of our time indoors, but I know that there will likely be at least a few colds and flus left to deal with before winter ends!
When my boys do get sick, I depend on having great products on hand to help them feel better, and this year Kaz Canada is offering some must-haves for any parent that wants to help ensure their child’s health this winter. I received the Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer and the Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier to review and I’m sure they’re going to become essentials in no time.
The Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer was something I was especially happy to receive. A fever is one of those things that I always worry about with my boys, since I have trouble knowing when I should just wait the fever out and when I should seek advice from a doctor. The Braun thermometer featured technology to help ensure that my boys’ readings were as accurate as possible thanks to a pre-warmed tip and a positioning guidance system. Ear thermometers are such an easy and non-invasive way to check the temperature of both infants and children, so having a reliable one in the house is very helpful to me!
The Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier was a product that I’ve often considered buying, but I just wasn’t sure if it was worth the investment since I wouldn’t be using it very often. This humidifier was the perfect solution since not only does it help add moisture to the room, it also adds a relaxing ambiance by displaying soothing stars onto the ceiling with an independently controlled projector.
I especially liked this humidifier because it used cool humidifying to ensure that it was safe to have around children and because it filtered impurities out of the water as it worked. And as an added bonus, the scent pad heater released Vicks vapours into the air to help sooth sore throats and congestion. When my boys are stuffed up and coughing, making them as comfortable as possible is always a top priority so that they can rest and heal. I’m so excited that I can do that now with a humidifier that is clean, safe and easy to use. And when my boys are feeling good, I can still use it to create a peaceful nighttime environment with the star projector!
A sick child at home is never fun. And far from being just stressful, it is also often costly and sometimes very frightening. In fact, a recent survey conducted by the makers of Honeywell Air Purifiers and Vicks Humidifiers & Thermometers showed that 69% of Canadians surveyed estimated that having a sick child cost over $20 per day and 64% indicated that fevers were frightening to them. These tips from pediatrician Dr. David Greenburg can help you ensure that your child stays healthy through the final cold days of winter:
- Flu Facts – When homes are kept at the optimal 40-60 percent relative indoor humidity level, flu virus survival in the air can be dramatically decreased – by up to 30%. Homes with radiant heat see a bigger decrease in flu virus survival when using a humidifier compared to homes with forced air heat.
- Time to Recover – They might be running around the house, feeling healthy but it’s important to keep kids home from school, play dates, and after school activities for at least 24 hours after their fever breaks.
- Prevent & Protect – Many people say the best way protect yourself and your family from the flu is with the vaccine. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop protective antibodies, so the sooner you get vaccinated the better.
Kaz Canada wants to help you keep your home at the optimal humidity level for both health and relief from congestion, so the company is very generously offering one lucky Mommy Kat and Kids reader their own Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier, a $60 value! To enter to win, just leave a blog comment about how often your family has been sick this winter. But that’s not all! Visit the Kaz Mommy Knows Best Sweepstakes and enter your information for a chance at a fabulous Mommy Knows Best prize pack worth $350! There are multiple prize packs being given away until October 14, 2014, so don’t miss out on your chance to win!
With a little preparation and some great products, dealing with colds and flus this winter can be much easier. While having the humidifier is nice, it’s actually the Braun ThermoScan Ear Thermometer that I’m most excited to have. Just being able to know that a fever is still at a safe level is so helpful during an illness and eliminates lots of stress. Find the products at your local Loblaws, Walmart and Target stores across Canada, or check the website to find a retailer near you. You’ll be glad you did the next time your little ones are feeling under the weather!
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Jamie Bertrand says
once…. and it just happens to be now :S
Valerie Crawford says
About once for each of us.
Jennifer says
I would love to win, the winter air is so dry:(
Joanne Saunders says
Only once each
Brittney H says
1 kid 1 mommy with strep 2 kids mommy and daddy all had colds. Daddy still battling a sinus infection. So we could use that humidifier
Karen C Hill says
Knock on wood I was sick once and the rest of the family hasn’t been at all!
V. HIll says
Lucky so far – not at all.
Suzie M says
3 times this winter
Jena Garcia says
Twice for us
Darlene Schuller says
I’ve been sick 2x’s.. my 7 year old 3 times the teenager 2xs and hubby once! Not bad I don’t think.. seemed horrid at the time though!
Monique L.S. says
Too many times. haha. If I had to pick a number I’d say 4 times for my daughter and myself. My husband somehow avoids most of it, and has been sort of sick once.
Monique L.S. says
Hi. The Facebook like & share listed above goes to an older contest (Bathroom Buddies).
Kathryn says
Thank you so much, Monique! I completely forgot to change it! It’s been corrected now. 🙂
Jodi says
It seems like constantly lately, I’ve lost track! Could definitely use one of these!
Wanda Tracey says
we’ve been super lucky for awhile now,but as I am typing this with one hand I am touching wood with the other for good luck!!…LOL
Lori Jackson says
So far just one (((knock on wood :/ ))
Donna Christianson says
Our family has been sick twice this year, everyone at the same time 🙁
Josh S says
twice so far.
Lisa H says
Fortunately, I’ve only been sick a couple of times this winter but my husband and son have been sick about 5 times.
Lee-Ann S says
We’ve been lucky. DD’s only been sick once.
Michelle Michaud says
2 times
Stephanie S. says
Only 2 times and this never ending cough!!! Lol
Jennie says
hubby once, my daughter once that seemed to last two weeks and it feels like I have been sick every bloody day this year, I just get rid of one thing and then catch another!
MrDisco says
too many to count
Sheryl Pike says
So far only once… let’s hope it stays at that number *fingers crossed*
n.cassandra smith says
So far we’ve been lucky, no one has gotten seriously sick but there have been a few almosts. Looking forward to Spring.
Sharon Painter says
Off and on all winter hard to count between us all, just keep passing it around no matter how much cleaning or fresh air in the house!
Dawn says
would love that for my place.
Debbie Bramer says
3 times this winter, we always use Vicks and this would be great to win!
Lillian Brown says
one cold but still lots of winter left
Gina says
No serious sickness in our house but would love to win!
Diana says
three colds
Heather says
My daughter has had a couple colds. Those products would come in handy.
Sharon says
Just a couple of times!
Terri Rickert says
I have Lupus so I get everything that comes around, so I have about six times this year.
sabina edwards says
I get the flu shot every year (cus of the industry I am in) haven’t been sick in years but my daughter seems to get it constantly and has been sick at least 4 times so far (and is sick as we speak)
Judy C (Judy Cowan) says
Knock on wood, we haven’t been sick this winter.
lornar couponer says
all winter someone was sniffling or coughing around here
Julie Lee says
I feel like we’ve all been taking turns! Maybe about once or twice each now! Some at the same time!
Lisa G says
I’m knocking on wood as I write this, but we’ve only been sick once. It seemed to last forever though.
Toby says
Everyone just once each! They were doozies, though.
Jen Conlin says
All-3 weeks over the Christmas holidays. It was a rough go. Never want to go through that again.
Anne Taylor says
I think twice this winter we’ve been sick!
Louise Gilbert says
so far once, I really make sure everyone washes their hands when they were out
Tara says
Soo wanted one of these when I was looking for humidifiers, had to settle for something else.
Marilyn Legault says
Sick with colds twice this year after hanging around the grand kids.
Tina F says
daughter about 5 times the rest of us 2 times
Bailey Dexter says
Our family has had the flu twice and now some have it right now again!
Kristine Ewald says
We actually have been very sick this winter…Flu, two or three colds.
Alyssa C says
None yet !! Hoping to keep it that way for a while yet ..
wendy says
I have my grandchildren overnight 4 times a week and I have to say it’s been very trying these last few months. We just seem to be passing colds and flus back and forth ,it feels like someone is always sick. It’s so sad when you can’t do anything for the little ones and they don’t understand , I would love to try out the Vicks Starry Night Cool Moisture Humidifier, I think it would give relief to the kids and that gives relief to the rest of us.