Holiday Health Myths, Unwrapped

Decking the halls, wrapping the presents, stocking the medicine cabinet? Check, check, check: ‘tis the season for sniffles, sugar highs, and unsolicited advice about keeping your little ones healthy. Between grandma’s insistent “bundle up or you’ll catch cold” warning, wellness influencers swearing by the latest health-boosting craze, and parents running on empty trying to keep this special time of year magical for the whole family, it can be tougher than finding batteries on Christmas morning to separate fact from festive fiction.

Since Mission MightyMe is all about science-backed and nutritional goodness for babies and kids, we’re breaking down common naughty vs. nice holiday health myths and digging into what can *actually* keep families feeling well during this busy and fun-filled holiday season (trust us, we know it’s a marathon and a sprint).

🧣Myth #1: “Cold Weather Makes Kids Sick”

The truth: Germs, including viruses and bacteria, make kids sick — not cold air itself. That being said, cold weather may foster common illnesses like colds and flu: they tend to circulate at higher rates in the winter because we spend more time indoors in close contact with others, due to the chillier temps. But fresh air and outdoor play are actually great for your child’s immune system and mood. So layer up, get outside and cross your fingers for some snow for Frosty.

💦 Myth #2: “You’ll Catch a Cold if You Go Out with Wet Hair”

The truth: While it may feel uncomfortable, wet hair won’t give anyone a virus. Colds spread through droplets, not drafts. If your child is feeling chilled, warm them up, but don’t stress about a dash to the car after bath time (so go ahead with that drive around the neighborhood to pick out the best Christmas lights before bed!).

🍊 Myth #3: “You Can Boost Your Immune System with Supplements”

The truth: The immune system doesn’t work like a muscle you can flex — it needs steady support, not quick fixes. While supplements like vitamin C certainly play a role in supporting immune function in kids, there is no one-size-fits-all magic shield. A balanced and nutritious diet with plenty of fruits, veggies, protein, and sleep does far more for keeping illness at bay than any single supplement. Early allergen introduction is another important habit for keeping kids healthy: food allergies *are* preventable with early and regular allergen exposure, and a recent study showed it’s working – peanut allergies are down 43% since our co-founder’s groundbreaking research changed guidelines globally to recommend offering peanut foods to babies early & often.

Be sure to talk to your pediatrician about available preventative options for your kids, including annual flu shots. Remember: getting sick is a fact of life during this time of year (thank you, germy cesspools of school and daycare!) so don’t beat yourself up if your kids are feeling under the weather. We’re all doing our best!

→Read more: Busting top food allergy myths.

✈️ Myth #4: “Airplane Air Makes You Sick”

The truth: Airplane air is actually filtered and recirculated through HEPA filters, making it cleaner than most indoor air. The bigger risk is actually the tray tables, seat backs, escalator handrails and elevator buttons you may touch in the airport and on the plane – or an unwanted sick seatmate. Hand hygiene before eating and avoiding face-touching will help (which, we know, can be tough for kids). Consider packing masks just in case your neighbor has a cough or sniffles – and definitely come prepped with hand sanitizer & disinfecting wipes for a quick cleaning sesh before you settle in for the flight.

Myth #5: “Avoid Giving Nut Products When Your Child Has a Cold”

The truth: There’s no evidence that eating nuts or nut-based foods (including peanut puffs like Mission MightyMe) can make a cold, flu, or respiratory illness worse. In fact, nuts are super nutrient-dense – hello, protein, healthy fats, vitamin E, zinc and more! – and can actually help support the immune system. Here’s a breakdown:

• Nuts and nut-based foods are generally easy to digest unless a child has specific GI sensitivity.

• Nuts don’t increase mucus production (that’s a persistent misconception, often confused with dairy myths).

• There is no guideline-based recommendation to pause allergen introduction simply because a child has a mild illness like a cold or sniffles (unless they have more severe symptoms, uncontrolled asthma, GI upset or are vomiting).

• In fact, there’s a larger correlation between a diverse diet and fewer food allergies.

**One important caveat: you should avoid introducing any new allergens or foods to babies if they’re not feeling their best, as you want to be able to distinguish between an illness and an allergic reaction. Check out our Early Allergen Introduction Guide for more helpful tips!

🍬 Myth #6: “Sugar Makes Kids Hyper”

The truth: Science says otherwise – sugar actually doesn’t *directly* cause hyperactivity or behavioral issues in kids (but that doesn’t mean it’s harmless!). Excitement and anticipation overflowing from a combination of those holiday events, lights, visiting with rowdy cousins, a change to schedule, etc. is likely causing those energy bursts. Too much sugar can still affect sleep and digestion – and a study found lifelong benefits to avoiding sugar for the first 1,000 days of life – so balance is key. It’s tricky for toddlers to totally avoid the cookies at class parties or candy canes at Santa visits, but just try to stick with the general rule: Everything in moderation!

One helpful tip: focus on filling tummies with nutritious snacks like Mission MightyMe – made with simple ingredients, superfood sorghum, 50% nuts, 5g+ protein and NO cane sugar, corn, palm oil, preservatives or anything artificial. For those cravings, our Peanut Butter + Strawberry and Peanut Butter+ Banana Nutty Puffs are made with 100% *real* fruit (and no  natural or artificial flavors!), and a light sweetness that will hit the spot for babies and big kids alike.

→ Read more: Why organic from the start matters.

😴 Myth #7: “Kids Can Catch Up on Sleep Later”

The truth: Sleep debt is real — especially for little ones (and we know mom and dad feel it, too!). Late-night celebrations and travel can throw off schedules, which can make kids crankier (and even lower immune resilience). In this busy season, it’s hard to slow down, but try to prioritize rest where you can with quiet mornings, naps, or early nights after big events. Reminder: screen time before bed usually does the opposite of winding them down.

 🧼 Myth #8: Hand sanitizer is as good as washing your hands.

The truth: Handwashing with soap and water is *more* effective than sanitizer in many everyday situations — especially with kids, food, and anything sticky or messy. You’re not imagining it: kids seem to pick up things more easily because they touch *everything*. When possible, hand washing is preferable because it removes dirt, food residue and mucus, lifting germs off the skin and rinsing them away – while sanitizer only works on clean hands. Additionally, hand sanitizer doesn’t always eliminate all viruses (including norovirus), certain bacteria and chemicals like pesticides. 

The CDC recommends soap + water especially after using the bathroom, changing diapers, blowing your nose or wiping a child’s nose, before eating or preparing food, touching raw meat, handling trash, after outdoor play, after touching animals, when hands look or feel “sticky” or when there’s visible mucus (common with colds!). TL;DR: While sanitizer (60% alcohol and up) is still a great option for on the go, travel, running errands, etc., err on the safe side and saddle up to that sink and soap whenever you can. 

🌟 The Healthiest Holiday Habit of All 🌟 

You heard it here first: holiday stress is *not* just part of the season (yes, it’s common, but not inevitable!). Set boundaries by saying “no” to over scheduling, protecting your downtime (and sanity!), and focusing on what really matters to keep the whole family healthy – emotionally and physically.

The best gift you can give your family this season isn’t found under the tree – it’s a balanced approach to wellness that can last all year long. Skip the fear-based advice (put on those earmuffs to block out the noise if you have to!), stick to the science-backed recommendations, and sprinkle in some grace for yourself and others. Between organizing teacher gifts, attempting to decorate a tree with a toddler, getting out those holiday cards on time, and finding new hiding spots every night for that pesky elf, we’d say our plates are full enough :-)

If you’re looking for a pediatrician-developed and Santa-approved stocking stuffer, we got your back! (Check out our handy Store Locator to find a retail location near you.) Happy holidays to you and yours, from all of us at Mission MightyMe!

*FDA HEALTH CLAIM: For babies with an increased risk of peanut allergy (babies with severe eczema, egg allergy or both), introducing age-appropriate, peanut-containing foods as early as 4 months may reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy. Caregivers should check with the baby’s healthcare provider before feeding the baby peanut-containing foods.

Mission MightyMe products must be avoided by anyone who has a known or suspected allergy to any of the ingredients. If you have any questions about what you’re feeding your baby, consult your pediatrician.

Please note: This blog post is for information purposes only and shouldn’t be used as personal, health, nutritional, or medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician with any questions about what to feed your child.