Little children adore the monsoons. The joy of playing in a downpour or making paper boats to send tumbling down the drain is indescribable. Your responsibility as a parent begins now, so make sure your child is well taken care of and given the best automobile possible before the rainy season begins. Monsoons provide relief from the heat and dryness of summer. Nevertheless, humidity and rain provide challenges. Learning about monsoon care for babies.
Changes to the environment are common during the monsoon. Although rains provide a welcome reprieve from the sweltering summer heat, they also usher in a host of unwelcome guests: humidity, insects, illnesses, and an abundance of air bacteria. This time of year is very dangerous for infant health. Viral infections, stuffy noses, congested chests, aching joints and muscles, discolored feces, etc., are all quite prevalent during the wetter months. There’s no way to totally shield your infant from danger during the monsoons, but taking extra precautions at home and in public may reduce his or her risk.
In This Article
- Indoor Monsoon Care For Babies
- Outdoor Monsoon Care For Babies
- How Often Should I Bathe My Baby In The Monsoon?
Indoor Monsoon Care For Babies
If you have an infant at home, you need to have foolproof indoor care for him. The below tips will help you keep your baby safe from monsoons:
Clean-Baby, Healthy Baby
Babies could sweat a lot because of the humidity in the atmosphere. Wipe your baby with a clean cloth, and do check his neck, underarms, ears, private areas, and other places for any fungal or skin infections
Maintain Food Hygiene
If your baby has started to eat solids, make sure that he is always given fresh food to eat. Use boiled and cooled water to mix in his formula. Wash the baby’s feeding utilities with boiled water. A kitchen geyser would really help!
Wash Hands
Every time you change your baby, and before feeding, make sure you wash your hands with a disinfectant. If your baby is eating solids, keep his hands clean at the onset and end of a meal. Cut the nails short so that nothing goes in the mouth.
Dress Them Warm
Infants or newborns need to change quite often – especially nappies. During the rainy season, it becomes difficult to completely dry their clothes, and some amount of moisture remains on them. Even little moisture-laden clothes can send chill waves to the baby – never dress the little one in them. Iron such clothes to make them warm and dry before you dress your baby in them.
Dress Right
Weather changes often during monsoons. At times, there is humidity in the environment, and the next hour it becomes cold due to rain. Have her wear dresses made of cotton fabric during humidity and go for semi –woolen sort of fabric when it’s cold.
Change The Nappy
You need to check the baby’s nappy very frequently during the rainy season as infants pee comparatively more during rain. A wet diaper can make your baby feel cold, and can also provide a breeding place for bacteria. Take care to change the nappy very frequently, lest your baby develops rashes. Also, give your baby some nappy free time.
Safeguard From Mosquitoes
Mosquito bites are very harmful to babies so use mosquito nets to keep them safe. Dress them in long pants and full sleeved top to prevent them from mosquito or other insect bites. You can use natural mosquito repellents as well.
At The Hint Of An Infection
If you see any symptoms of viral in your baby like fever, sneezing, or joint pain (which is difficult to find out in infants), contact your pediatrician. Keep your baby away from those who are already suffering from viral or cough and cold, to avoid infections.
Eat Healthy If You Breastfeed
Breast milk contains important antibodies that help to strengthen the baby’s immune system. A baby should be breastfed till at least 6 months of age. If you are eating healthy, the baby will largely benefit.
Keep The Home Clean
Check that there is no stagnant water in or around the house. Get the drains cleaned, and all electrical loose fittings are done properly. With all this, keep your surrounding and home clean not to let mosquitoes breed around which could cause many diseases. Make sure there are no leakages on the roof or room walls.
Keep some medicines at home like infant nasal spray, Vicks balm, and syrup for fever (as suggested by your baby’s doctor). A ready medical kit can come in handy if the need arises.
Outdoor Monsoon Care For Babies
Changing seasons can cause your little one to fall sick. You should try not to venture out until the weather stabilizes, but if you have to, the following tips will come in handy:
- Avoid the showers Try not to go out if it’s raining. Even if you travel by car, or are carrying an umbrella, the monsoons cause the temperature to go down suddenly and your baby could feel cold
- Carry water and food If you formula feed her do not forget to carry boiled water from home to prepare his feed. If he is on semi-solids, carry something to eat from home. Do not give your baby outside food during monsoons
- Ensure vaccinations are up-to-date Make sure she gets all vaccinations on time. Flu vaccination is common these days for children during the rainy season. Ask your doctor about it
- Outdoor play If you have a toddler, you will not be able to keep him indoors all the time. Let him enjoy the drizzle a bit, but do supervise. If he is out, make sure he is dressed properly and adequately
- Mosquito safety For a toddler who wants to play outside, dress him in full clothes and apply some mosquito repellents to keep him safe from insects
- Maintain hygiene If it seems difficult to wash hands again and again, do carry a bottle of sanitizer and use it as and when required
- Avoid crowded places In monsoons, people often get sick and flu is common. Avoid going to crowded places lest your baby catches an infection
- Keep your surroundings clean Play and enjoy the rains with your baby in the vicinity of your house, so make sure that there is no standing water or foul smell in the vicinity, say your home garden or porch.
How Often Should I Bathe My Baby In The Monsoon?
Your infant does not move around much to get dirty, and hence would not need a bath daily. You can schedule your baby’s bath twice or thrice a week. But because it gets humid in some places during the rainy season, you could choose to bathe your baby at the hottest time of the day when it is humid. This is if your schedule permits you. Make sure the water temperature is comfortable for your baby. Keep your baby’s baths short and sweet, and do not let her skin get dry.
If you have a toddler, bathe him as and when he gets dirty, and make sure he does not play in wet, muddy areas. Also, encourage your child to eat at home only as eating out can have damaging effects on health. Keep your child well-hydrated and protect him from diseases. If you have to battle frequent power cuts during the season, check the food that has been stored carefully before serving it to the baby.
Though many would find monsoons as the best season, the fact that high moisture content in the atmosphere makes it a perfect breeding place for many bacteria. Paving way for many diseases. Enjoy the rainy season with your child, let the drops trickle by, but do ensure that your baby stays safe even as the pouring continues.
