The first Monday of October is National Child Health Day. I’m taking a little time today to share some ways you can keep your kiddos healthy while still staying on budget.

Here is a recent post about freebies and deals for vision-related needs. If your kids are hard on glasses like my big kid is, contact the company/optometrist’s office if the glasses break within 6 months of receiving them. My kiddo gets 1 pair per year through insurance, and I make sure that if anything goes wrong, we contact the office and get them repaired or replaced ASAP.

Here in California, vision and dental insurance are included under health insurance plans for kids 18 and under. To learn more, check the back of your kid’s health insurance card for phone numbers.

Mental Health is also important for kids, especially in Middle and High school when there are so many changes going on all at once. Here are some free resources for all family members. 

BrightLife is a Mental Health resource for kids in California- more info can be found here. 

Studies have proven that poor dental health and hygiene can lead to other more severe health issues, so please take care of the kiddos’ chompers! My kids love the Toms of Maine Strawberry toothpaste (also available in fluoride-free).  They are not bubblegum or mint fans. Whatever it takes to get them to brush their teeth!!

Another thing that is important to overall health is PROPER REST. The CDC recommendations can be found here. My littlest is hard to get settled for bed, so here are some of the ways we help get her ready to rest each night:

• Blue light glasses after dinner to watch TV or use devices.
• A Relaxing bath. I like Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath with Pure Epsom Salt, Melatonin Sleep Soak with Essential Oil Blend
• After a nice, relaxing bath, I give her a calming massage with Asutra Magnesium Body Butter Lotion Lavender Scent. It’s a little pricey, but a dime size amount is enough for an entire 8-year-old kid’s body. It lasts about 6-ish months, and some of the rest of use use it too.
• Clean temperature-appropriate pajamas, sheets (I prefer 100% cotton), pillowcases, and blankets.
• Favorite stuffy.
• This star dome light is a new addition and it’s a hit. It’s the perfect amount of light without keeping the kiddo from resting. We’ve also done a fairy jar in the past too.
• If your kiddo takes meds at night, dispense them per the directions from their doctor. I give my daughter meds at about 7 p.m. I use these medicine organizers for each of us. I’m really thinking about changing to monthly ones, like this.