I sit here nursing the first cold of Back to School cold season. Ugh. I knew one of us would inevitably fall prey to the extra school germs, I just didn’t think it was going to be me. But of course! I was so focused on making sure the kids practiced their germ care that I probably forgot about me. Mom’s health is always last on the list, eh?

We’re actually in a great routine with school so I truly hope neither of them catches it. Ellie seems to be enjoying her new full day in Kindergarten and Ronin is having fun in 2nd grade. I’m lucky, he’s always liked school. But oh! If Ronin, especially, gets sick it’s not a good scene. As I’ve talked about before, because of his allergies and reactive airway disease we need to do whatever it takes to take care of him. My poor boy and those allergies. 

We use a lot of natural products because they’re just better for him. Well, for all of us really. Fragrance and chemicals react to Ronin’s skin. We’ve seen that from very young, when he had terrible eczema before discovering that so many baby products do not contain natural ingredients. Back then I just didn’t know the difference. I was ignorant and thought all products were created equal. 

So many products on the market are filled with artificial preservatives, colors, sweeteners, flavors, fragrances and other additives. And with his sensitivities we try to pay attention to that. 

But back to this dang cold of mine! 

I recently wrote about Back to School cold care and tips for avoiding germs. I think it had some really great ideas based on my experience, and are so important for our family to follow. If Ronin gets sick he develops these asthma-like symptoms that are just not fun for any of us. I can’t tell you how many times during the past 8 years that we’ve been up in the wee hours helping my poor boy calm down and breathe through a croupy cough and trouble breathing, just because he developed a small cold.  And when that happens, it’s on to doctors and medication. So avoiding getting sick is paramount.

On that cold care post a reader commented that one of her biggest tips was replacing her family’s toothbrushes often. I couldn’t believe that had never crossed my mind. Our dental care! I know you’re supposed to replace toothbrushes regularly to take better care of your teeth but after a cold, it’s just so smart. Then I started thinking about the water cups we use in the bathroom. I’m ashamed to say that often times the kids are using the same cup and probably share germs galore. And while they certainly don’t share the same toothbrush, sharing toothpaste could also be a culprit. 

So I decided to completely revamp their dental routine this week. We popped over to Walmart and picked up brand new toothbrushes, and will certainly replace them after their next colds. They’re the kind that have suction cup bottoms, because I figure if they stand up they’re less likely to pick up germs from the counter. You just never know. 

I also learned that Tom’s of Maine® carries natural kids toothpaste, so we added that as well. I absolutely love that Tom’s of Maine® products don’t contain artificial colors, flavors, fragrances or preservatives. Perfect for my sensitive Ronin, but also great for all of us. The company is also cruelty free, so no animal testing, and their products and packaging are environmentally friendly. Tom’s of Maine® also carries other natural products including bar soap, mouthwash and deodorant.

If you’re interested in checking out Tom’s of Maine® natural products, visit the roaming demo happening on September 19th in select Neighborhood Walmart locations. They’ll be handing out select product samples and coupons. To find out if there’s a demo at your local Walmart click here for a store list.

Plus, I found some adorable straw cups that I decided to personalize so we’re sure they don’t share their bathroom drinking cup. I chose the plastic mason jar mug with a straw for germ-fighting reasons. The lid will help keep germs from going into their water and the straw is easily changed out regularly, especially if sickness hits the house. 

Personalized Straw Drinking Cups Tutorial

What You’ll Need:

plain plastic drinking cups with lid and straw (I got these at Walmart)

duct tape (in colors of choice) 

small sharp scissors

Instructions:

I decided to created a sort of badge shape to personalize the cup so I wrapped the cup with two strips of duct tape then drew on the badge shape with a permanent marker. 

Next pull off each piece of duct tape and using a pair of sharp short scissors, cut out the shape on each piece. Short scissors actually make it much easier to cut the very sticky duct tape. It helped me maneuver to make the small rounded cuts. Also, it’s important to hold the tape taut for easier cutting.

After cutting out the badge shape, I then cut the letters of their names. I free handed these because I don’t have any special craft cutting equipment. But I think they turned out pretty cute anyway. I did alternating colors for the kids to make them truly their own. 

You can learn more about the products made in Maine by Tom’s of Maine®, including their ingredients, purpose and source, by visiting www.tomsofmaine.com.

Do you use natural products from Tom’s of Maine®?