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# Dear Fearful, Cold and flu season is indeed upon us.
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/tired-of-feeling-left-out-in-the-cold-dear-dorie-im-a-little-tired-of-going-to-activities-with-my-toddler-where-were-surrounded-by-runny-noses-and-cou/
- Published: 2005-11-29T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T01:18:21.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Malibu, #archive-import

*— Flu Fearful*

Dear Fearful, Cold and flu season is indeed upon us. This means lots of runny noses, coughs and watery eyes in our little ones and, when it’s a virus, not much for mommy and daddy to do but wait it out. There is nothing worse than taking your healthy angel to a Baby & Me class and watching a little one sneeze on her. Blaming the parent is a natural instinct: “How could they bring him here when he’s sick.”

Here’s an update: You are never going to control other parents, some will stay home with a sick child, some will not. You can, however, take some preventative steps yourself: ■ Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids, preferably water. ■ Make sleep a priority — well rested children get sick less. ■ Wash your hands and the hands of your little one more times than you can imagine — this is the No. 1 way to prevent picking up a cold or flu virus. ■ Press the pause button when you see a sick child — remember that nobody takes a sick child out with the intent to get everyone sick, it could just be “one of those days.”

Keep your eye on spring and stay healthy. Good luck. — Dorie (Dorie Meek is director of the Infant & Family Support Program, provided by Saint John’s Health Center in partnership with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. Meek answers questions concerning children ages birth to 5 years old. Submit your questions to “Dear Dorie” at, or call (310) 452-6132; fax (310) 452-6392).

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 29, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/112905.pdf?ref=smdp.com)