Each year during flu season, keeping your children healthy is top of mind. Between school, activities, and time spent indoors, it helps to know how to prevent the spread of flu, recognize symptoms, and care for your child if they get sick.
Flu is more than a bad cold. It can cause serious illness, especially in children under five year old and those with certain underlying health conditions. However, a few simple steps can help protect your family and prepare you for the season ahead.
Jennifer Duchon, MD, MPH, DrPH, Hospital Epidemiologist and Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, shares seven tips to help your family stay healthy and know when to call your pediatrician.
“Start with a few simple steps, build healthy habits together, and keep your pediatrician in the loop,” says Dr. Duchon, who’s also Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “A little preparation can go a long way toward helping your family feel ready for flu season.
Make flu vaccination a priority
Annual flu vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect your family. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone six months and older, unless there is a medical reason not to receive it. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2026–2027 policy statement reinforces this longstanding recommendation: every eligible child should receive a flu vaccine each year, and any age-appropriate flu vaccine may be used. Children younger than nine years receiving the flu vaccine for the first time may need two doses to ensure adequate protection.
Schedule your child’s vaccine as soon as possible. Flu season started early this year. Protection takes about two weeks to develop, and some younger children may need two doses, depending on their vaccination history. Vaccination may not prevent every infection, but it can reduce the risk of severe illness and complications.
Jennifer Duchon, MD, MPH, DrPH
Make handwashing a habit
From classroom desks to playground equipment, children encounter germs throughout the day. Good hygiene helps limit their spread.
A child should wash their hands many times during the day with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after using the bathroom. Regular handwashing is one of the most powerful ways to prevent the spread of illness and infection.
Remind them to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow and avoid touching their face with unwashed hands.
- Make handwashing fun. Sing a favorite song or let younger children choose a colorful towel. Small routines can help healthy habits stick.
Know when to stay home
Flu symptoms can include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and unusual tiredness. Some children may also have vomiting or diarrhea.
If your child is sick or doesn’t seem “themself,” keep them home and follow your school or daycare’s illness policy. In general, children can return to normal activities when their symptoms are improving overall and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. This reflects current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) respiratory virus guidance.
- Make a backup childcare plan before flu season begins. Having a little flexibility can make unexpected sick days less stressful.
Build healthy daily routines
Nutritious food, enough sleep, hydration, and regular physical activity support your child’s overall health, even though they can’t guarantee flu prevention.
Offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein-rich foods. Encourage water breaks, age-appropriate sleep, and plenty of opportunities to play and move.
- Keep water bottles handy, stock healthy snacks, and create a calming bedtime routine. Small, consistent habits go a long way.
Prepare for sick days
A few essentials at home can make caring for a sick child easier. Keep a digital thermometer, tissues, soap, oral rehydration solution when appropriate, and your pediatrician’s contact information close by.
If your child gets sick, encourage rest, offer frequent fluids, and watch their breathing, alertness, temperature, and urination.
Never give aspirin to children or teenagers with suspected flu because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Ask your child’s health care professional which medications are appropriate and what doses to use.
- Put your sick-day supplies together before you need them. You’ll be glad to have everything within reach when your child isn’t feeling well.
Know when to call your pediatrician
Contact your pediatrician promptly if your child develops flu symptoms and is younger than five, has a chronic condition such as asthma, or seems to be getting worse. Prescription antiviral medications can help, especially when started early, often within 48 hours of symptoms beginning.
Seek emergency medical care if your child has:
- Difficulty breathing, very fast breathing, or bluish lips or face
- Signs of severe dehydration
- Confusion, difficulty waking, or seizures
- Severe muscle pain that prevents walking
A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby younger than 12 weeks requires immediate medical evaluation. Also seek medical attention if a fever or cough improves and then returns or worsens.
Trust your instincts. If your child seems seriously unwell, don’t wait to get help.
Protect vulnerable family members
The CDC recommends that babies younger than six months are too young for flu vaccination and are especially vulnerable to complications. Older adults and people with certain chronic conditions may also be at higher risk.
- Help protect loved ones by encouraging eligible family members and caregivers to get vaccinated, staying home when sick, improving indoor ventilation when possible, such as opening windows, and practicing good hygiene. When someone is ill, limit close contact with vulnerable family members when practical.