Educate your child about germs in easy to understand language.  "When we're sick the germs grow and live in our nose and mouth.  When we cough, or sneeze, or wipe our nose with our hand, (demonstrate for effect) we spread those germs to other people and THEY get sick."  Now introduce the Sniffle Sleeve and teach your child the associated story with your particular sleeve pattern outlined on the shopping page.  The main story is about ladybugs, particularly the special ladybug on the sleeve.  (He's tiny and many like to search for him.)  Even if your germ warrior is using rescue dogs and fireman, or the heat of flames, the ladybug is a handy helper that can be used on any sleeve.  Use the story that will appeal to your unique child.

          •  Ladybugs are beneficial insects, they clean up gardens by eating aphids, mites, and many other pests, controlling all those garden "germs." 
                    
          •  The germs that escape your mouth and nose every time you cough or sneeze are TERRIBLE for our family and friends, but PERFECT ladybug food.  Every time germs come out of our nose (sneeze heartily) or the back of our throat (cough cough cough) and onto the sleeve, the ladybug scurries around and eats them all up. Yum Yum. (You may need to tell your child that spitting on the sleeve doesn't really contain the BEST germs.)

          •  The best way to make sure the ladybug is well fed is to tuck the mouth and nose into the crook of your  elbow whenever a cough or sneeze comes along. (Again, a demonstration works wonders.)  Some people find that when they use the opposite hand to help hold the sneezed-into-elbow up to the nose, this difficult and acrobatic move is easier to execute.

Have the child hold their shirt sleeve while you pull the Sniffle Sleeve all the way up above the elbow so that the ends are spread equally on the upper and lower arm, allowing for maxium coverage when a child tucks their mouth and nose directly into the crook of the elbow.  The label should be on the outside of the upper arm, especially if you intend to use essential oils with the sleeve.   Explain that the ladybug doesn't want to get sprayed, but loves to scurry over to collect the germs as soon as they're done being delivered.
* "Feeding" the sleeve concept courtesy of Back Enterprises, LLC and Germy Wormy (c) 2008

Why should I use Essential Oils? 
Specific oils are strongly antiseptic in nature and can provide a natural antibacterial and antiviral barrier to mitigate the spread of germs and support a child's immune system.   Oils can also simply be soothingly aromatic. The Sniffle Sleeve is a fantastic vehicle for essential oils for children. 

Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt in his book, Advanced Aromatherapy, quotes a clinical study, "It was found that through inhalation, the components of essential oils reached therapeutically active levels."  A seperate study, also noted in Dr. Schnaubelt's book, found that for inhalation only minimal doses should be used, just enough to produce a very faint scent.

    *Essential oils should be used judiciously and only following the exact guidance outlined by a professional. 

Why avoid using over the counter cough and cold products?
The FDA recently released a Public Health Advisory on over the counter (OTC) cough and cold products for children. An excerpt from the updated Public Health Advisory is as follows: 

“FDA is recommending that these drugs not be used to treat infants and children under 2 years of age because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur.” 

The Public Health Advisory further states: 

“The FDA has not completed its review of information about the safety of OTC cough and cold medicines in children 2 through 11 years of age.  We are aware of reports of serious side effects from cough and cold medicines in children 2 years of age and older.  FDA is committed to completing its comprehensive and thorough review of the safety of OTC cough and cold medicines in children 2 years of age and older as quickly as possible and expects to communicate our recommendations to the public in the near future.” 

What about antibiotics, the common cold, coughs, flu and bronchitis?

There are multiple sources of information on the ongoing problems with the over prescription of antibiotics.  One of the CDC's newest health campaigns is: 
"What Everyone Should Know and Do
Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. No Antibiotics Please!"
      *Click here for a print friendly parent brochure from the CDC

Similar to the CDC's description, the University of Maryland School of Medicine has stated the following on bacteria and antibiotics: 

“Since bacteria are living organisms; they are constantly changing in an ongoing effort to resist the drugs that can kill them. When adults and children use antibiotics incorrectly, bacteria adapt and become resistant, and can become an antibiotic-resistant infection.

Two main types of germs -- bacteria and viruses -- cause most infections. It is important to understand that antibiotics should not be used for viral infections, and equally important for parents to learn about the differences between bacterial and viral infections.

Viruses cause disorders such as:

• most coughs
• most sore throats
• all colds
• all influenza
• runny nose 

Antibiotics cannot cure viral infections. Your child usually recovers from these common viral infections when the illness has run its course. “