This post was sponsored by AstraZeneca as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

As a mom of two young boys, germs are never far away. Now that fall is in full swing, it seems like every time the door opens a new virus blows into the house. Between apple picking, searching for the newest pumpkin-scented decorations and creating fall crafts, we’re now also battling aches and coughs.

“Mom, will you come watch a dinosaur movie with me on the couch?”

My 4 year-old is always on the go, so I knew he wasn’t feeling well early this week when he asked me to snuggle up with him in front of the TV. Even though I relish these far-and-few-between moments to cuddle with him these days, it’s important to get him on the mend quick so he can get back to building dinosaur skeletons and hunting for fossils in our backyard.

Plus, there are only so many times you can watch the same Spinosaurus documentary in a row without getting a bit restless.

It seems that our family is constantly recovering from a stubborn case of sniffles that hops around the house to each family member. We’ve already got our “kick the cold” routine down like clockwork this school year – wash all the bed sheets, pull out the cozy pajamas and strategically place boxes of tissues around our home. Repeat steps as needed until cold is gone. We also load up on arts and crafts projects at the kitchen table to keep us occupied.

With my youngest son being just 16 months old, I’m mindful that the risk of RSV goes up in the fall and winter months. RSV is a common, seasonal virus and is the No. 1 cause of hospitalization for babies under 1. In New Jersey, it typically occurs between November and March, but you can check out the CDC’s interactive map to see the peak months for your state.

October is National RSV Awareness Month, and serves as a time to educate about symptoms, risks and ways to prevent the disease. The risk is most serious for children under the age of 2. So, when my little one gets a cough, I pay special attention to other symptoms that could signal something more serious, such as fever, gasping for breath and wheezing.

It’s important to know the facts about RSV and help protect our babies’ little lungs while keeping them safe and warm. Do you know how to protect your little one’s lungs this season? Go to here to learn more on how to help keep your kids healthy this RSV season! #LittleLungs #RSVAwarenessMonth