Germs of Endearment: 7 Smart Ways to Prepare Your Family for Flu Season

Last January, I started my 2-year-old and 11-month-old in daycare a couple of days a week. The first thing I learned about cold and flu prevention? Don't start your kids in daycare in the dead of winter, in the height of flu season. We passed illness around the house the entire four months they were in childcare. This year, I vow to follow every recommendation to prevent us from getting sick. Of course, it's no easy task with kids, as they just don't follow protocol for ways to avoid the spread of germs. (Seriously, do they have to put everything in their mouths?) But it doesn't mean I'm not going to try. So even though summer is just wrapping up, I'm already thinking about the cooler months and planning to avoid the illnesses that come along with the season. Read on for 7 ways to steer clear of the colds and flu - and how to be prepared should you or your family get sick. -By Erin Whitehead

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