Skip to main content
Logo for WebMD
Logo for WebMD
  • Coronavirus Update
  • Check Your Symptoms
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Dentist
  • Connect to Care
  • Find Lowest Drug Prices
  • Health
    A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Common Conditions
    • ADD/ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Arthritis
    • Cancer
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Eye Health
    • Heart Disease
    • Lung Disease
    • Orthopedics
    • Pain Management
    • Sexual Conditions
    • Skin Problems
    • Sleep Disorders
    • View All
    Resources
    • Symptom Checker
    • WebMD Blogs
    • Podcasts
    • Newsletters
    • Questions & Answers
    • Insurance Guide
    • Find a Doctor
    • Children's Conditions A-Z
    • Surgeries and Procedures A-Z
    • Featured Topics
    • woman experiencing chest discomfort Symptom Checker COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • photo of migraine Slideshow Get Help for Migraine Relief
  • Drugs &
    Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Find & Review
    • Drugs
    • Supplements
    Drug Basics & Safety
    • Commonly Abused Drugs
    • Taking Meds When Pregnant
    Tools
    • Manage Your Medications
    • Pill Identifier
    • Check for Interactions
    • Drug Comparison Tool
    • Featured Topics
    • assorted vitamins Slideshow Vitamins You Need as You Age
    • berry and yogurt on spoon Slideshow Supplements for Better Digestion
  • Living
    Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Diet, Food & Fitness
    • Diet & Weight Management
    • Weight Loss & Obesity
    • Food & Recipes
    • Fitness & Exercise
    Beauty & Balance
    • Healthy Beauty
    • Health & Balance
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Oral Care
    Living Well
    • Women's Health
    • Men's Health
    • Aging Well
    • Healthy Sleep
    • Healthy Teens
    • Featured Topics
    • grocery cart Article Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes
    • walking sneakers Quiz Do You Know the Benefits of Walking?
  • Family &
    Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    All About Pregnancy
    • Getting Pregnant
    • First Trimester
    • Second Trimester
    • Third Trimester
    • View All
    Parenting Guide
    • Newborn & Baby
    • Children's Health
    • Children's Vaccines
    • Raising Fit Kids
    • View All
    Pet Care Essentials
    • Healthy Cats
    • Healthy Dogs
    • View All
    • Featured Topics
    • apple slices and peanut butter Slideshow Smart Snacks When You're Pregnant
    • photo of dogs kissing Slideshow Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats
  • News &
    Experts
    News & Experts
    News & Experts
    Health News
    • Coronavirus News & Updates
    • COVID-19 Vaccines -- Latest Updates Here
    • COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts
    • Social Distancing, Quarantine Explained
    Experts & Community
    • WebMD Blogs
    • News Center
    • Featured Topics
    • photo of coronavirus cell WebMD News Get the Latest COVID-19 News Here
    • photo of person typing Newsletters Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter
  • Mobile Apps
  • Subscriptions
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • My Profile
    • My Tools
    • My WebMD Pages
    • My Account
    • Sign Out

    Cold, Flu, & Cough Home

    • Cold
    • Cough
    • Flu
    • News
    • Reference
    • Slideshows
    • Quizzes
    • Videos
    • Questions & Answers
    • Medications
    • Find a Doctor
    • Cold & Flu Map

    Related to Cold, Flu, & Cough

    • Allergies
    • Bronchitis
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Ear Infection
    • Flu Vaccine
    • Sinus Infection
    • Strep Throat
    • Drug Interaction Checker
    • More Related Topics
    • Cold, Flu, & Cough
    • Videos

    What to Do When Your Baby or Toddler Has a Cough

    Staying Well Around Colds

    Video Transcript

    Dr. Sandra Fryhofer: See the numbers go up? It's cold and flu season. Most adults get sick once or twice. But for small kids, it can be a lot worse. Studies show your child could have fever, cough, sniffles and more… as many as six to ten times a year. Hello, I'm Dr. Sandra Fyhofer. So how do you keep everyone else healthy when a family member is sick? Here's what I tell my patients: my prescription for staying well.

    Dr. Sandra Fryhofer (cont.): Wash your hands. You've heard it before, I'll say it again. Wash your hands every chance you get. Wash 'em as for as long as it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice. It's the single most effective way to keep from getting sick from any type of germ. If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol based hand gel.

    Dr. Sandra Fryhofer (cont.): Don't touch your nose or face. Most viruses are passed by contact with mucus fluids, so keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes. That's important all during cold and flu season, but especially important if you're around someone who's sick.

    Dr. Sandra Fryhofer (cont.): Confine the illness. Do your best to isolate the person. Put them in a different bed or bedroom. If that's not possible and you have to share a bed, sleep with your back to them. The same goes for a sick child who crawls into bed with mommy and daddy. That's when it really gets tough.

    Dr. Sandra Fryhofer (cont.): Sanitize common areas. Unfortunately, rhinovirus -- the most common type of cold virus -- can live on things like telephones, stair railings and door handles, for several hours, maybe even a few days. That's why hands are not the only things to keep clean. Wipe down all high touch areas with disinfectant. In the kitchen, that means places like silverware drawers, sink faucets, trashcans, doorknobs, as well as refrigerator and cupboard handles,. In the bathroom, be sure to clean shower doors, tubs, and toilet flushers. Clean the toilet twice a week with disinfectant and close the lid before flushing. …You don't want germs from your toilet to wind up on your toothbrush!

    Dr. Sandra Fryhofer (cont.): Speaking of toothbrushes, change them often— at least every three months—and immediately after any sickness, you don't want to re-infect yourself. Everyone in the family should have their own color coded toothbrushes—be sure to store them at least an inch apart to avoid cross contamination. Don't share. Obviously you don't want to eat or drink after someone who's sick. Consider using color coded drinking glasses or disposable cups . After all, it's easy to mistake the dirty dishes for clean ones. Color-coding is also a good idea for hand and bath towels, so family members don't spread germs. And be sure to wash all towels, and sheets more often during cold and flu season and use hot water.

    Dr. Sandra Fryhofer (cont.): Jumpstart your immune system. Regular exercise, good nutritious meals, and plenty of sleep won't kill germs. But your immune system will stand a stronger chance of fighting them off if you're living healthy. You might consider adding a multivitamin. And last, but not least, check with your doctor about getting a flu shot. Flu is serious business. It kills over 36,000 Americans each year. For WebMD, I'm Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.

    Related Videos

    Editor's Picks

    • woman with cup of coffee

      Video

      The Truth About Coffee
    • tongue scraper and tongue

      Video

      5 Ways to Beat Bad Breath
    • couple having sex in bed

      Video

      Why Orgasms Feel Good

    Latest Videos

    Top Picks

    • 10 Foods to Eat When You Have the Flu
    • Personalized Treatments for Your Cold Symptoms
    • Tips to Survive Cold & Flu Season
    • Flu Shot and Side Effects
    • 15 Immune-Boosting Superfoods
    • Myths & Facts About Colds

    further reading

    • A Visual Guide to Enterovirus D68
    • What is Enterovirus D68: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
    • Who Is at Risk for EV-D68 or Enterovirus D68?
    • Natural Prevention for Colds and Flu
    • Preventing Sickness
    • Enterovirus D68 Topics

    Today on WebMD

    hot toddy

    Natural Cold & Flu Remedies

    15 tips to help you feel better.

    man sneezing into elbow

    The Truth About the Common Cold

    Do echinacea and vitamin C really help a cold?

    teen girl coughing

    Calm a Nighttime Cough

    Get a good night’s rest with these remedies.

    elder berry

    15 Immune-Boosting Foods

    Eat these to fight colds, flu, and more.

    Recommended for You

    thermograms of woman and man Quiz

    Can Fevers Be Good for You? Facts About Body Temperature

    woman washing hands Article

    Best Ways to Avoid Colds and Flu

    Allergy And Sinus Symptom Evaluator Article

    Is It a Cold or a Sinus Infection?

    money in wallet Slideshow

    Germy Things You Touch Every Day

    woman sneezing Article

    How Exactly Do You Catch a Cold or the Flu?

    lab test results Quiz

    Superbugs: Fact vs. Fiction

    Waking up from sleep Article

    6 Things Crashing Your Immune System

    woman with sore throat Slideshow

    Anatomy of a Sore Throat

    Tools & Resources

    • Tips to Survive Cold & Flu
    • Do Antibiotics Cure Colds?
    • Calm Your Cough at Night
    • 15 Immune-Boosting Foods
    • Inside an Ear Infection
    • Scratchy Throat: Is It Strep?

    Health Solutions

    • Penis Curved When Erect
    • Could I have CAD?
    • Treat Bent Fingers
    • Long-Term Acute Care
    • Enlarged Prostate Facts
    • Cancer Detection
    • Rethink MS Treatment
    • Is My Penis Normal?
    • Risk of a Future DVT/PE
    • Discover hATTR Symptoms
    • Weight-Loss Surgery
    • Liver Transplants Save Lives
    • Bent Finger Causes
    • AFib-Related Strokes
    • Preventing Infection
    • Missing Teeth?

    More from WebMD

    • Finding the Care You Need for MS
    • New Hope for Narcolepsy
    • Eat Better in the New Year
    • Psoriatic Arthritis and Your Sleep
    • What Psoriasis Feels Like
    • First Psoriatic Arthritis Flare
    • Talking to Your Doctor About RA
    • Start a Home Fitness Program
    • Avoiding Crohn’s Flares
    • Common Psoriasis Triggers
    • Relief for Blocked Hair Follicles
    • Types of B-Cell Therapy for MS
    • Tackling Pain of Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Why Prostate Cancer Spreads
    • When Ulcerative Colitis Flares
    • Where Breast Cancer Spreads
    • Logo for WebMD
      • Visit WebMD on Facebook
      • Visit WebMD on Twitter
      • Visit WebMD on Pinterest
    • Policies

      • Privacy Policy
      • Cookie Policy
      • Editorial Policy
      • Advertising Policy
      • Correction Policy
      • Terms of Use

      About

      • Contact Us
      • About WebMD
      • Careers
      • Newsletter
      • Corporate
      • WebMD Health Services
      • Site Map
      • Accessibility
    • WebMD Network

      • Medscape
      • Medscape Reference
      • MedicineNet
      • eMedicineHealth
      • RxList
      • OnHealth
      • WebMDRx
      • First Aid
      • WebMD Magazine
      • WebMD Health Record
      • Dictionary
      • Physician Directory
    • Our Apps

      • WebMD Mobile
      • WebMD App
      • Pregnancy
      • Baby
      • Allergy
      • Medscape

      For Advertisers

      • Advertise with Us
      • Advertising Policy

    © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.

    WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

    See additional information.