The common cold is contagious. Your child may catch the cold virus if they touch an object that someone with a cold has touched in the last few hours, such as toys, door handles, books and pens. Your child is more likely to catch a cold by touching their nose, eyes, or mouth afterwards. If someone with a cold sneezes or coughs around your child, they may also catch it by breathing in the droplets.
Teach your child and maintain good hygiene practices to reduce the chance of catching colds. These include:
- discarding tissues immediately after using them and washing hands after
- not sharing cups or utensils
- regular handwashing
- teaching your child to cough and sneeze into their elbow
Even so, it is hard to completely avoid cold viruses. It is a good option to get your child above the age of 6 months vaccinated with the yearly flu vaccine to build up their immunity against common seasonal viruses.
Do not send your child back to school or bring them out to crowded places when they are still recovering from a cold as it is easy to catch another virus soon after. Some children appear to be sick for months as they often catch back to back colds due to this reason.
Most children do not need additional vitamins or supplements to build their immunity. This is a natural process which occurs with each exposure to a virus in the first few years of life. A good balanced diet and adequate sleep will keep your child healthy.