Winter health tips: Make sure kids wash their hands properly after coming home from outside. Use hand sanitisers. If a person in the house already has cough and cold, ask him or her to cover their nose to avoid spreading infection to others.
With the onset of winter comes the risk of diseases. So make sure your kids eat healthy and take necessary precautions to protect themselves from illness. Here are some health and hygiene tips for kids from Dr Asmita Mahajan, consultant neonatologist and pediatrician, SL Raheja Hospital that parents should keep in mind:
1. Get vaccinated
Children tend to get more respiratory tract infections during this season. First and foremost, all kids should get vaccinated for flu. It is an annual vaccine but there is no harm in getting it during winter too. This will give the child immunity.
2. Wash hands
Most of the infections, even respiratory, spread from one person to another through hands. Make sure kids wash their hands properly after coming home from outside. Use hand sanitisers. If a person in the house is already suffering from cough and cold, ask him or her to cover their nose to avoid spreading infection to others.
3. Take care of the skin
Kids should be taught to take care of their skin which gets dry during winters. They should not bathe in very hot water as that drains the skin of natural oils. A few minutes after the bath, they should moisturise well so the skin remains supple.
4. Take a bath daily
In a tropical country like India, kids should take a bath daily, especially if they are going out to play every day.
5. Use mosquito repellents
Protect your kids from mosquitoes, now that cases of dengue are still being reported. Before your kids go outside, apply natural mosquito repellents on their skin or use patches. The effects usually stay for about four to six hours after which the repellent needs to be reapplied.
6. Wash woollens
Before making your child wear woollen clothes, wash them properly with detergent so that the dust which may have accumulated from lying in the wardrobe for long gets washed away.
Baby care tips in winter to keep diseases at bay
7. Avoid cold food items
Eating healthy foods like leafy vegetables and fruits is also important. They should also be discouraged from having cold water or foods like ice cream or it can lead to throat infection or respiratory discomfort.
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