It's February and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. No longer will I hear the coughs from my children's bedroom down the hall. I'll stop wiping noses and the worry of whether or not my toddler will gag himself from coughing and vomit all over his pjs. Yup, Cold & Flu season will be over soon and I've thanks God that it hasn't hit us too hard.

If you're like me you can't wait for warm weather to appear and the "gunk" of cold's will be long gone till next winter. But wait! Reports this month are confirming a late, hard-hitting cold and flu season, parents enjoying a mild season thus far are not yet in the clear. So, as a Momma please keep your guard up.

We discovered this just a few days ago and our household is going through sinus infections, cold's, ear infections, and stomach viruses. It's not fun at all, but I was grateful for all the research I did on products in my Health & Safety Expo.

Despite the government’s advisory against the use of over-the-counter cold and cough medicine with children under six years old, a recent survey conducted by Kaz Inc. revealed that 74 percent of parents with kids in this age group give their children cold medicine when they are sick. Vicks is a brand I can trust and am happy to let all of you know about two products out there helping us on the last leg of Cold & Flu Season without using cold medicine.

Vicks Germ-Free Humidifier



So, I was cleaning vomit last night, not due to a stomach virus, but due to congestion's in my children's chest. They are suffering from sinus drainage and can't seem to cough the "gunk" up very well. It turns into gagging and ultimately vomiting.

Humidifiers are a must when cough and congestion strike our house. They hydrate mucus membranes, helping the body expel germs more effectively. We had the opportunity to try the Vicks Germ Free Humidifier, which features a patented UV light chamber that kills up to 99.999% of bacteria, mold and spores in the water vapor that enters the air.

I've always been leery of water just sitting there in the humidifier. How can THAT be healthy?! Well, the patented ultraviolet light process eradicates water bred germs leaving my mind at easy and healthful moisture for my entire family. I found it REALLY easy to use compared to other humidifiers I've tried in the past. You simply fill the 2 gallon tanks, lock in place, turn it on and you're done.

Personally, I liked that you don't have to keep refilling the tanks. The 2 gallons on each side have longer run times and can operate for up to 24 hours. You can use it with or without Vicks VapoSteam or Kaz Inhalant, but we like the menthol smell to clear our sinuses. We filled with vaposteam in the small cup on top and we were set for the entire night. One feature I liked that I don't see on many humidifiers is the humidity control. You can adjust to your personal preference by simply turning the knob from low to high.

Vicks has always been a brand I can trust, however, there is one tiny Momma Improvement I'd like to point out. I'm SURE this wouldn't bother you guys, but for me, a light sleeper, the trickling of the water, kept me awake. It's not even that loud, but I'm the type who can hear the ticking of a clock in another room so it was quite bothersome. I must point out that the children slept MUCH better than they had before we used the Humidifier.

There is also matter of cost. The average price for this humidifier is around 100 bucks or 99.99. To me, it's well worth the price in the long run, but with the struggling economy these days, that's a lot of money to shell out when that "Old Wives Tale" of simply sitting in the bathroom with the hot shower running might work just as well. So, yeah, it's pretty expensive, but it did NOT dissapoint me at all.

Vicks Soothing Vapors Waterless Vaporizer & Night Light


I can't even explain how much I absolutely love this vaporizer! It's even easier to use than the Humidifier. You have to be careful with Warm Mist humidifiers because of the hot steam coming out, but with this vaporizer those worries are gone making it safe to use in children's bedrooms.

Small Vapopads are inserted into the vaporizer releasing soothing vicks vapors without the water and lasting up to 8 hours at night. Besides being safe, it also doubles as a nightlight. It's all about convienence for me and that's how I few this vaporizer. There is no messy pouring, filling, etc. Insert Pad --> Plug In --> Relief! It's just plain simple.

I always throw in my little Momma Improvement when I write my reviews. This is no different as I simply advise you keep your door open. We're used to closing our doors because we learned it's safer should there be a fire, but the scent of the vapors can get pretty strong for small children. Make sure you keep an open airy room for those little noses.

Let's talk cost. For less than about 8.00 bucks you're well on your way to a restful night. EIGHT BUCKS people! That is a steal. It also comes with extra VapoPads, but once you run out refills aren't much more with the average price of 5.99.

Buy It

You can find Vicks products at major retailers and pharmacies.

If you're like me, always looking for tips to sooth the cold and flu for our children, go check out the Mommy Doc for more tips and tricks: www.coldandflucentral.com