By Estelle Sobel Erasmus

This post is sponsored by the SheSpeaks/TYLENOL® SMILING IT FORWARD™ campaign. All opinions are my own.
My daughter is normally quite stoic so when she gets sick it is a big deal for me as her mom. When she feels bad, her usually sunny, bubbly disposition quiets to a whisper and her glowing complexion turns pale with fatigue and discomfort.
At the first sign of fever, I do what most moms do and that is to give her TYLENOL® and lay a cool compress on her head. I gently stroke her hair or rub her back and let her relax into my soothing presence. I ache for her and want to wrap myself around her as a Band-Aid against any further hurt, but can only watch as the storm of illness passes over my child.
I wait with bated breath and little sleep for the tide to turn and her health to blossom again. That blossoming becomes a celebration. For that moment, that precious moment when she lifts her head from her pillow, turns to me, smiles and says “mommy, I feel better,” is like her birthday and New Year’s wrapped together with a big red bow, signifying that her health is strong and my vigilance has been productive.
That smile she gives me says it all.
I’m not alone.
A recent survey conducted on behalf of the makers of TYLENOL® by Harris Interactive discovered that 89% of moms with young children agree that there is nothing better than their child’s smile to let them know they are feeling better after a fever, cold or flu.
That’s why I’m happy to share the news about the SMILING IT FORWARD™ campaign, where now until mid-January moms across the country can join actress Alyson Hannigan of How I Met Your Mother in sharing their children’s smiles online so that for each smile shared TYLENOL® will make a $1 donation (up to $100,000) to Children’s Health Fund, an organization well-known for its mobile medical clinics that provide healthcare services to underserved children throughout the U.S.
TYLENOL® aims to garner 100,000 smiles, which equals a whopping $100,000.
“Being a mom has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” said Hannigan who was the first to share her photo online. “And being the first mom of many to participate in SMILING IT FORWARD™ warms my heart because it will help other children receive high-quality medical care like my daughters do.”
“When Keeva is up at night teething, or Satyana is fussy with a fever, it’s pediatric TYLENOL® products I rely on to relieve their symptoms,” continued Hannigan. “And when those smiles return to their faces, it’s the best signal I have that they are starting to feel better. I live for that smile, so I am honored to be a part of a campaign to bring more smiles to children across the country.”
I have uploaded a photo that makes me smile on the SMILING IT FORWARD™ website.

Please join me in uploading your own photo that makes you smile on the site, where you can view the TYLENOL® Smile Gallery, and receive tips from leading pediatrician Dr. Tanya Altmann about keeping families smiling through cold and flu season.
Sharing your photo will help TYLENOL® reach the goal of $100,000 dollars for Children’s Health Fund ensuring a doctor’s visit is always within reach for children in need.
Now that’s news worth smiling about!
How do you feel when you see your child’s first smile after they have been sick?
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That is a cute picture! Let’s hope the smiles spread more than the germs this winter!
Thank you for sharing your story. I use Tylenol when I’m dealing with a cold or the flu and it has always helped ease the symptoms.
This is really an amazing campaign. I love it when companies help children.
I just love this campaign from Tylenol. I’m not sure I ever quite thought about it, but sharing a smile with us is definitely the way we know our kids are starting to feel better and are on the road to recovery. I will have to check out the Tylenol Smile gallery!
I love this campaign. I love your picture
This is an amazing campaign! I use tylenol for my daughter a lot
This is a wonderful campaign. We def keep Tylenol on hand at our house all of the time.
What a great campaign! We keep Tylenol on hand, and I agree that seeing my son going back to his happy self after being sick is the greatest thing ever.
Kecia,
It makes such a difference doesn’t it?
Estelle
This is a great campaign. I can’t help but smile.
Thanks Janie. This is one I’m thrilled to be supporting.
Estelle
What a great campaign I love Tylenol they are the only pain mess I can have because I’m allergic to everything else.
Meghan,
Sorry to hear you are allergic to so many meds; glad that Tylenol is a safe one for you.
Estelle
I heard about the Smile campaign but didn’t take the time to read what it was until now. Such a good idea. And I’m a big fan of Alyson Hannigan from HIMYM also.
Jennifer,
Thanks for stopping by. It’s really a fun campaign and makes such good sense. I also love Alyson Hannigan, and remember her from back in her Buffy days.
Estelle
A great campaign. Every mom worries with that first cold, and every sickness moving forward. We are certainly Tylenol users in our home.
Lindsey,
It’s a really cool idea, and so easy to do. Who doesn’t take pics of their kids nearly every day.
Estelle
I love her pirate makeover! 🙂 I agree that there’s no better indicator that a child is feeling better than a genuine smile. I really like Alyson Hannigan, so it’s cool to see her getting behind such a great campaign.
Hi Casey,
Thanks so much. We had such fun at Disney World, and she loved her pirate makeover. I thought it was really cool that Alyson Hannigan put her name behind this campaign.
Estelle
What a fantastic campaign! And I love Allyson and Tylenol. I’ll be uploading my son’s picture.
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for participating by uploading your son’s picture. It’s such a fun thing to do and for such a good cause.
Estelle
This is a great idea to raise money! I uploaded a picture of my daughter too!
Hi Amy,
I’m so glad you uploaded a pic of your daughter to support this campaign. Thank you.
Estelle
Tylenol is so much a part of pain relief that I use it as my term FOR pain relief! It hurts a momma’s heart to see her little ones under the weather, doesn’t it?
Hi Liz,
It really does hurt when you see your little ones struggle with feeling ill. I always go to Tylenol as my first line of defense.
Estelle
I will have to check out the Tylenol gallery. I bet it would make me smile! It’s so true that it’s how I know my kids are starting to feel better after being sick- they finally start smiling again.
The gallery is adorable Shell. Thanks for stopping by.
Estelle
It’s a rule that every household has to have Tylenol in it, isn’t it??
Hi Jessica,
It’s really true isn’t it. I can’t imagine being without Tylenol in my cupboard.
Estelle
$100, 000..that’s amazing!
And, you are right, when they won’t crack a smile, that’s when I know things are bad.
Krystyn,
I know. When we see our children smile, it just melts our hearts.
Estelle
I’m 28 and I still turn to Tylenol when I feel a fever creeping in! There’s nothing better than knowing I have a product in my medicine cabinet that works as expected every time.
Hi Casey,
I feel the same way… for me and my husband… and for my daughter.
Estelle
This is a great campaign! I know if they smile, they are on the road to feeling better 😉
Cynthia,
It really does signify a change in the um, temperature when they smile after being sick. I do love this campaign and the cause it supports.
Estelle
I had no idea this campaign was going on, thanks for sharing! What a wonderful way to raise smiles and money!
Hi Elin,
It is a really cool and valuable campaign. I love the combo of smile and money and helping kids.
Estelle
Smiling it Forward — love it!
We have long relied on Tylenol to help us get through little aches and pains so we can keep smiling.
Lori,
Yes, it is the one go to item in my medicine cabinet for me, my hubby and my daughter.
Estelle
Such a great campaign Estelle. I love the smiles you get when your kids are feeling better. Such a relief!
Hi Nancy,
Yes, smiles from our kids when they get better definitely light up our world.
Estelle
I think there’s really nothing worse than when your kids are sick! Seeing that smile come back after they feel better is just priceless!
Jennifer,
Yes, it’s priceless and definitely the smile is a photo worthy moment.
Estelle
Even though mine are now teens, I still feel that sense of relief in their smiles. My son is suffering from anxiety and migraines during his first semester of college. Some days are really bad, lights out no one talk in the house bad. So when he has a talkative smile day, it makes my stress level go way down. Love that Tylenol is helping children. Going to upload some smiles now.
Chrishelle, Sorry your son suffers from migraines/anxiety; college is a tough transitional time. Smiling and talking do seem to go hand in hand and I’m just glad when my daughter feels better. Thanks for uploading smiles for the cause.
Estelle
My kids usually start smiling when the Tylenol kicks in!
Hi Erica,
I know. The key is the bated breath waiting till that Tylenol does kick in. But, then the wonderful smiles can begin!
Estelle
Nothing worse than seeing your child sick. Tylenol has helped my family so many times over the years. Seeing that smile again always fills me with such relief.
Thanks Helene. Yes, they really are a trusted name and one that I can count on time and again.
Estelle
It’s an incredible sense of relief when I see my little one smile after being sick and quiet. They don’t ask for much when they’re sick, but it’s the time I want to give them the most and do whatever I can to help them feel better!
Hi Kim,
I hate that helpless feeling and it’s good to know that there are resources right at our fingertips (besides hugging).
Estelle
that is news worth smiling about. i love alyson and i love this campaign- its so nice when big companies make gestures like this
Brett,
I know; I’m very choosy about the campaigns I get involved in, and this one was a no-brainer.
Estelle
What a great campaign. I love when my kids smile after having the cold or flu I hate when the babies are down makes me work even harder to get them back up and smiling
Kita,
I know. We all hate that helpless feeling and the need to make it better. Hopefully, the worst of the season is over now.
Estelle
You brought me way back to when my son would be ill. It would break my heart! And a smile was all I needed to know he was OK so I could relax. Because being tense would cure him (not!).
thanks!
Mitch
Hi Mitch,
Nice to see you here. I am glad this post evoked those memories of when your son was smaller and the importance of those
“I’m better now, smiles”.
Estelle
I was able to go to a Tylenol event where Dr. Tanya spoke with us. She was SO nice.
The Smile it Forward program is such a great idea… and so simple for people to participate in. You already post photos all the time… by taking an extra second posting your photos can help so much!
Colleen,
That’s why I love the idea of this campaign so much. You are absolutely right. Whether social sharing or just taking photos for ourselves, we do it as a nearly daily habit. So why not share for good.
Estelle
Tylenol’s been in my cabinet for decades. Forever, really.
Carol,
I know. When we think about it, it’s the first defense we have against our children’s fevers or feeling ill.
Estelle
I always turned to Tylenol, and now your post makes me feel even better that I did. Thank you for making me aware of this important campaign, Estelle! I will now share it with other moms!
Cathy,
Thanks so much. I really appreciate you passing along a smile–and a good word for such a good cause.
xo
Estelle
What a nice idea to raise money! Smiles are infectious, after all.
Sheryl,
It is such a good idea, I wish I’d thought of it for my nonprofit LOL.
Thanks,
Estelle
What a great smile your adorable daughter has! Love the whole idea of this campaign, and know it will put smiles on so many other children’s faces.
Lois,
I know. This is an amazing campaign. It’s so easy to find a great photo and share it, and boom $1 to deserving children. Love it so much.
Estelle