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Top 23 Scary Stories to Tell Your Kids
Bedtime stories are a beautiful part of childhood. As kids, we have lived all those amazing tales of courage, adventure, thrills and fun, but the ones which remain etched in our memories are the scary tales for children our parents and grandparents told us.
Now as parents, you would love to narrate tales to your own kids, but a little bit of caution is required. Here is a handy guide to help you weave some fascinating night stories for kids and make them memorable.
Horror Stories for Kids
Caution: These short horror stories are not meant for very young children who could be frightened more than they should be.
1. The Hook
Age Recommendation: 8 years and above
It was dark when a teenager and his girlfriend stopped at a lonely and secluded Lover’s lane to spend some time alone. The car radio was broadcasting warnings about an escaped criminal called “The Hook”, nicknamed so because of the hook that replaced his right hand. Scared, both the boy and the girl leave the place in a rush when the car begins shaking. When both reach a nearby coffee shop, the girl notices a blood-covered hook hanging from the back seat window.
How to Tell: - Create enough drama around the fact that the couple was saved because they rushed out quickly and the fact that the hook was left hanging, suggesting that “The Hook” was nearby.
2. The Candy Man
Age Recommendation: 8 years and above
Daniel was a poor man who worked at the local candy factory. Since he was a talented artist too, the factory owner hired him to paint his daughter Rose’s portrait. Daniel and Rose fell in love with each other which invited the wrath of Rose’s father and the town dwellers, and they tortured and beat him till he died. Daniel is long dead, but his tortured soul did not leave the world. Legend says that even today if you call out the name “Candyman” five times, Daniel’s ghost will come to haunt you.
How to Tell: Build interest around why the kids should not call out the word “Candyman” five times and its repercussions. Keep it simple yet interesting for the kids to connect.
3. The 13th Floor
Age Recommendation: 8 years and above
As the legend goes, there is a haunted home in the city of Pennsylvania. Many years ago, invitations were sent out to people asking them to attend a Halloween party here, and Jack and Mary were amongst the invitees. The home consisted of a maze of identical passages and staircases, all leading to the 13th floor. Most people never made it to the 13th floor, scared by people dressed up as ghosts and ghouls. But Jack and Mary made it to the 13th floor despite all this. But we do not know what they found out on this floor as they were never seen after that fateful party.
How to Tell: Make use of voice modulations to convey the fears and scariness of the guests and dramatise the ending with a low voice.
4. The Clown
Age Recommendation: 8 years and above
This story is about a family that moved into a huge house with a large number of rooms. A few days later, the two little boys of the couple began complaining about a clown coming into their room at night, but the father did not take it seriously. When a young girl came to babysit the kids while the parents were out, she went to the basement to watch TV after the kids went to sleep. She became uncomfortable because of the clown statue near the door and called the parents to ask if she could watch TV in the hall. The father told her to leave the house immediately and wait with the neighbours. The girl later came to know that the family never had a clown statue in their home.
How to Tell: Use a low voice to build up the eeriness when the babysitter watches the clown statue standing near the door and how the girl leaves the house with the two kids and play on the urgency.
5. The Flying Dutchman
Age Recommendation: 10 years and above
Way back in 1961, a ship from Holland, called the Flying Dutchman was on its voyage and was near the Cape of Good Hope when the captain saw that they were in the path of a massive storm. With the help of the crew, the ship managed to steer clear of the storm but not for long, and it began to sink. The captain screamed at the storm that he would keep going around the cape in circles until time immortal if that’s what it took. If you are caught in a storm near the Cape of Good Hope, you can still see the Flying Dutchman and his crew sailing into the storm.
How to Tell: Dramatize the storm, powerful winds and rains to give the story a real feel. Talk like the captain did and you will have your kids hooked on the story.
6. The Stare
Age Recommendation: 10 years and above
A young girl was travelling by train one late night. There were two old men sitting across her, and an old woman sitting between them, kept staring at her in a weird way. The train stopped at a station and a man, wearing a trench coat, stepped in and sat next to her. The young girl still felt the old woman staring at her continuously while the two old men were least bothered. When the train halted at the next stop, the man in the trench coat grabbed the girl and pushed her on to the station. When the girl began to scream, the man said, ”I am sorry, but I just saved your life, as the old woman was dead and the old men were propping her up”.
How to Tell: Paint a villainous image of the man in the trench coat and build up suspense until the end when he pulls the girl to safety.
7. Hide and Seek
Age Recommendation: 8 years and above
This story is about two brothers who were playing hide and seek in their home while their parents were visiting their friends nearby. As the older boy turned towards the wall and began counting, he heard his brother scampering around searching for a place to hide. He searched everywhere but couldn’t locate his brother, when he heard a scraping sound from the cupboard. He called out to his younger brother but there was no response; only an eerie silence. He opened the cupboard slowly and bent down to peer closer, when a white, icy cold hand pulled him back. He then heard his younger brother calling out to him from behind, and frightened, the boy tried to break free from the grip of the icy cold hand. Both the brothers then rushed out of the room and out of the house, screaming. What if the hand had pulled the boy inside the cupboard?
How to Tell: Dramatise the scraping sound and the silence that follows. Ask the question “What if…..” in a monotone and see the reaction.
8. The Vanishing Hitchhiker
Age Recommendation: 6 years and above
As my Uncle Sam was driving down the highway one late rainy night, he saw a young girl wearing a pretty dress, asking to be dropped off to a nearby place. Uncle Sam was kind and dropped her off to her home, chatting and talking throughout the ride. The next day, he realised that the girl had forgotten her sweater in the car and went to her home to return it. An old lady greeted him at the door and when Uncle Sam narrated how he had met the young girl, the old woman said” I don’t think that’s possible since my daughter died many years ago while she was returning home after a party”.
How to Tell: Emphasize on the old woman’s revelation about her daughter being dead and bring the story to a dramatic end.
9. The Big Toe
Age Recommendation: 10 years and above
A woman lived in a large house all alone. One day while she was working in her garden, she found a large hairy toe under a flower bed, brought it inside and kept it in a glass jar. That night, when she was getting ready to sleep, she heard the wind howling through the windows and a hoarse voice asking “Where is my toe?” The entire house was shaking when she heard the voice asking the same question. To finish, ask the question once again in a low, eerie voice and suddenly jump up and point at your audience and say “You’ve got it!”
How to Tell: Keep your voice low throughout the story and give it a dramatic finish as you say “You’ve got it!” in a loud voice.
10. The Old Television
A couple lived with their only son in a house on the outskirts of the city of Spain. The boy’s room had an old television which he would ask to be covered with a cloth every night as he went to sleep. One day, the father asked the boy why he wanted the TV covered at night. The boy said ”Because that’s where they come from”. The parents ignored the comment, thinking it was his imagination. One night, the parents had to go out, so they hired a baby sitter to stay with their son. When they returned late night, they found the babysitter sitting outside the home, mumbling, “They took him away.” Confused the parents rushed into the boy’s room and found that the television cover was off and the boy was gone.
How to Tell: Pause briefly when you are near the end and use a hushed tone to say “The boy was gone”.
Caution: Use words like 'torture' and 'killing' with care, while sparing grisly details of death if you find the audience getting spooked.
Funny Ghost Stories for Kids
Here are a few funny ghost stories which will have your audience in splits even as a chill runs down their spine!
1. Hitchhiker
Age Recommendation: 8 years and above
A man was standing on a lonely highway on a dark rainy night, waiting to hitch a ride back home. After a long time, he saw a car approaching him very slowly and silently, suddenly stopping before him. Desperate to get home, the man jumped into the car, only to realise that there was no one in the car, not even the driver. As the car approached a bend, a hand appeared out of nowhere and steered the car over the bend safely. Scared the man jumped off the car and ran all the way to the nearest coffee shop. As he entered the shop, a couple of guys shouted at him, ”Hey! Here’s the idiot who jumped into our car while we were pushing it over the hill”.
How to Tell: Create a lot of drama and suspense in the initial part only to give it a funny twist at the end of the story.
2. The Cursed Doll
Age Recommendation: 6 years and above
A young girl was extremely fond of dolls and had a huge collection of a variety of dolls at home. Once while she was browsing at a toy store, she found the most beautiful doll ever and was keen to add it to her collection. When she asked the store owner, she was told that the doll was cursed. But the girl insisted, and the owner reluctantly sold it to her. When she reached her home, she got into the elevator, and the doors closed behind her. The lift did not move, and the girl began wondering if this was because of the cursed doll. Suddenly the doll moved, turned her jet black eyes towards her and opened her mouth to say, “Push the floor button, you silly fool.”
How to Tell: Bring the story to a crescendo, especially as the girl gets into the elevator and it doesn’t move. Use your funniest voice to speak like a doll would and watch the kids erupt with laughter.
3. The Cemetery Gates
Age Recommendation: 6 years and above
One dark night, a policeman was given the duty to guard a section that consisted of an old cemetery. As he went on his rounds and approached the cemetery, he noticed that the gates were open and he also heard rustling noises in the dark. He suddenly saw something white rushing towards him. Panicking, he drew his gun and fired a few shots at it. The next day, the policeman was found dead outside the cemetery with his gun in one hand, and his hand clutched to his heart. The poor fellow had suffered a massive heart attack and an old newspaper with bullet holes in it lay fluttering nearby.
How to Tell: Emphasize on how panic and assumptions can lead to such fatal incidents. Create an eerie feeling while describing the cemetery and the rustling noises.
4. Fear of the Dead
Age Recommendation: 10 years and above
It was especially dark that night when a young woman was walking back home from work, her route having a cemetery on the way. As she came near the cemetery gates, she began to shake and tremble with fear. Suddenly, she saw a man walking just ahead of her, and she was relieved. The young woman caught up with him and asked him to walk with her to her home. As they came near the cemetery, the girl told him that she was terribly afraid of the dead. The man looked at her, smiled and said: ”Why should you be afraid of us?”
How to Tell: Make sure you create enough eerie feelings about the cemetery and the night. The last question should be asked with a maniacal smile.
5. Who’s the Boss?
A young girl went to a summer camp during her school vacation. This girl was extremely bossy and hence was an unpopular figure amongst the other students. Tired of her selfish nature, the students complained to the organisers and asked them to move the girl to another cabin. No one knew that the cabin that girl was moved into, was a haunted one. Just before going to sleep, the girl scribbled on the wall “I am the Boss”. As the lights were switched off, the girl felt a pair of hands creep up to her neck and slowly strangled her.
The next day when the organisers came looking for her, they found her dead. Just above the earlier scribbling were written the ominous words “No, I am the Boss”.
How to Tell: Keep your audience interested in what happens next by narrating the girl’s night in the cabin in a slow and deliberate manner.
True Ghost Stories
Caution: You don’t want to put the excessive fear in your child’s heart so tread carefully around those parts of the story that contain graphic violence or depicts the same.
1. The Army of the Dead
Age Recommendation: 8 years and above
A laundress and her husband had recently shifted to a new city and were just settling down. The laundress would hear heavy footsteps outside the window every night and decided to ask her neighbour about it. She told the laundress that a large number of soldiers had died in the nearby hospital during the war and they marched off every night to fight the enemies.
That night when the laundress heard the marching sound, she opened the window and saw a dreadful sight. It was the army of the dead soldiers walking like zombies with horses, cannons and ambulances following them.
How to Tell: Give a detailed description of the zombie army, their looks and the way they would walk. Give a small demo if possible too.
2. The Maid
Age Recommendation: 10 years and above
A widowed man and his little son moved into their new home in a faraway town. Their large spacious house was known to be haunted, but the man did not believe it when the locals told him that. While the kid was exploring the house, he reached the kitchen and saw the maid working there. She told him that there could be ghosts in the house and he had to be careful.
The young child then went to his father’s study and asked him if the house had ghosts in it. The father asked, “Who has been telling you all this?” The child replied “Our maid.” The father immediately asked him to pack their bags. When the son asked why, the father replied, “We do not have a maid, son!”
How to Tell: Slow your pace when you near the end and pause in dramatic fashion just before the father tells the boy that they do not have a maid.
3. Mr Sullivan
Age Recommendation: 10 years and above
One day, a man named John Sullivan was walking down the road. He did not remember what place this was and how he got there. He saw a woman and he walked up to her to ask about the place. One look at him and the woman screamed and ran away. Even the taxi driver whom he wanted to hire, did not wait for him. Tired of this, the man went to a public phone and called up his wife. A man picked up his wife’s phone and said, “Mrs Sullivan is at her husband’s funeral who passed away last night in a car accident”. Shocked, John looked at his reflection in the glass before him, saw a blood-stained face and he screamed.
How to Tell: Keep the narration engaging with expressions, right up to the time when you scream out loudly.
4. Who Is in the Bedroom?
One night when Susan returned home and went to the bedroom she shared with her sister. Without switching on the light, Susan asked her sister if she was awake. Her sister replied, “Stop the noise and go to bed.” Susan wanted to take a bath so waited outside the bathroom which was occupied. Susan thought it was her father who was inside but her mom said he was asleep. Suddenly, her sister walked out of the bathroom. Shocked, Susan rushed back to her room, switched on the light and found her sister’s bed empty. Who had answered her then?
How to Tell: Add a bit of drama to the proceedings when u ask your kids, “Who had answered her then?”
Best Halloween Stories for Children
Caution: Kids may associate their own toys with the characters in these stories and fear could build up, so be careful and try to neutralise it where necessary.
1. Halloween Night
Age Recommendation: 8 years and above
One Halloween night, four girls were walking towards their home, when they saw a man dressed as a clown, standing near an old church. He waved out to them and asked them if they would help him in looking for his lost dog. As the girls entered the church, the clown shut the door and locked them in. He tortured them till they died one by one and severed their heads off. When the priest opened the door the next day, he saw the dead girls lying in a pool of blood. The church is still said to be haunted by the spirits of those girls and one can hear those screams till date.
How to Tell: Make the killing grisly and give a sinister look while describing the clown. Scream like the girls would have to add to the effect.
2. Lost Phone
One late evening, a woman reached home and after settling down, began rummaging through her bag. She realised that she did not have her mobile phone with her and did not remember when she had last used it. Thinking that she had misplaced it, she picked up her home phone and dialled her own number. Someone picked up the phone but she couldn’t hear anyone on the other side, except for heavy breathing. The woman asked, “Can you hear me?” A voice at the other end said, “I hear you.” She kept trying but to no avail. The woman then decided to go to sleep. When she entered her bedroom, she saw her mobile phone on the nightstand. When she checked it, it was on “silent” mode.
How to Tell: Build up the drama of the phone not being picked up and create shock and fear when the voice says “I hear you”.
Scary/Spooky Campfire Stories for Kids
Caution: Make sure the kids are carefully tucked in after a story-telling session at a campfire as they may need assurance, especially if your stories have found their mark.
1. Closet Friend
Age Recommendation: 8 years and above
There was a little girl who lived in a town with her parents. She always told her parents about her imaginary friend named Kelly and that she lived in her closet. She also said that Kelly sat in her chair and watched her while she was asleep. One night, while the family was watching a horror movie on television, the girl remarked, “That looks like Kelly.” When her parents asked her about Kelly, she replied, “You know Kelly, the dead girl who lives inside my closet.”
How to Tell: Keep a straight face throughout the story and make an impact when you repeat the last line when the girl describes Kelly.
2. Cemetery Garlands
Age Recommendation: 6 years and above
A young boy was challenged by his brother and his friends to visit the town cemetery on Halloween night and place garlands on each of the gravestones there. Not wanting to be picked on by his friends for being a coward, the boy walked into the graveyard at the stroke of midnight and began placing the garlands, shaking with fear. He finished all and said to himself, ”There, I’m done.” Suddenly a cold, bony hand tapped him and said, ”How about one for me?”
How to Tell: Build the drama around the boy walking into the graveyard and describe the night and whisper slowly in the end “How about one for me?”
Important Tips for Narrating Short Scary Stories for Children
It may be one thing to source haunted house stories for children and choose one to narrate, but narrating them to children is a different ball game altogether. The story-telling should be conversational and should not be a one-way monologue that will bore the kids. Here are a few tips you could implement when you have sacksful of scary stories to tell in the dark.
It is important to read and rehearse the story before you present it to the kids, especially if this is your first time.
You should use a conversational tone instead of simply reciting it. Emphasise high points where necessary and create drama with your voice.
Always sit in front of your audience, never sit beside them as the impact is reduced.
If you are around a campfire, make sure it is low and flickering, as a blazing fire will be a distraction.
Gauge the average age of your listeners and select an appropriate story accordingly.
Keep a low volume to keep the audience focused and attentive to your narration.
You may also dress up and enact a story with your spouse. Funny scary stories are the best to enact for kids who are not accustomed to scary stories.
Things to Remember While Telling Scary Stories to Kids
Each kid responds differently to scary stories. Understand the audience and increase or decrease the eeriness in your story.
Make sure the kids visit the loo before the story begins. Also, remember to ask them if they'd want you to accompany them to the restroom after the story.
At times, choose stories that the kids can differentiate from reality.
Understand what really spooks your kids out, and either avoid the story or modify it to ease the stress.
Always try to keep their innocence intact and don't scare them completely.
Kids love to hear scary stories at bedtime and while they are out camping in the wild. If you select the right stories for the right audience and keep them engaged (and scared), you are assured of an audience that will be clamouring for more.
Also Read: Exciting Bedtime Stories for kids Read more
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Taking Epsom Salt Bath during Pregnancy
Epsom salt is known for relaxing muscles, improving digestion and soothing the skin. It can help pregnant women in multiple ways. Let us see a few ways in which Epsom salt can help you sail through your pregnancy with ease.
What is Epsom Salt?
Epsom salt is a mineral inorganic salt called magnesium sulfate, which despite being called a 'salt', does not contain any sodium chloride. Being discovered in the town of Epsom in England led to it being called Epsom salt. It can help cure any magnesium deficiency in pregnant women and can also reduce stress, help treat preeclampsia and haemorrhoids during pregnancy.
How to Use Epsom Salt While Pregnant?
Many of you may be asking, ‘Can I bathe in Epsom salt while pregnant?’ The answer is yes, you can. If you are pregnant, you might find it extremely beneficial to soak in water containing Epsom salt. Since it dissolves instantly, using it in baths is the best way as it relaxes sore muscles. The correct way to use it is to add 2 cups of Epsom salt to the water in your bathtub, get in and soak for around 15 minutes. Make sure the water is lukewarm, as soaking in hot water may be dangerous for the baby in your belly.
Benefits of Taking Epsom Salt Baths in Pregnancy
Bathing in Epsom salt can help you flush out any and all toxins from your body. There are many benefits associated with taking a bath with Epsom salts. Let's look at a few below.
1. To Reduce Swelling
Epsom salt is anti-inflammatory, and the magnesium sulfate it contains helps increase your blood circulation and reduce any build-up of fluid in your body, such as any pregnancy swelling. During pregnancy, swelling happens usually in the feet so an Epsom salt foot soak can help reduce it.
2. To Soothe Your Muscles
When you soak in a tub which has Epsom salt, it can pass through your skin and help soothe your muscles and reduce joint or back pain, which many pregnant women usually experience. It will be a much-needed relief for you.
3. Improves Skin
During pregnancy, your skin can get stretched to accommodate the growing baby in your belly. Bathing with Epsom salt can restore and exfoliate your skin greatly, soothing the stretches and improving the appearance. Stretching also causes itching around your tummy and joints, which Epsom salt can relieve.
4. Treats Hemorrhoids
Epsom salt has great anti-inflammatory properties. An Epsom salt bath for haemorrhoids during pregnancy has a detoxifying effect as it helps to relax the anal area and remove toxins from the sphincter, leading to overall relief. Pregnant women with haemorrhoids will feel better after taking a bath with Epsom salt.
5. Helps Improve Digestion and Constipation
Epsom salt increases water in the intestine and helps clean any faecal matter present. It reduces bloating which is a common occurrence in pregnant women and replenishes magnesium in your body. Do not ingest it as it may not be safe, but you can bathe in an Epsom salt bath as it can readily pass through the skin.
6. Ease Constipation
Soaking in Epsom salt for constipation during pregnancy can also relieve the condition as it acts as a laxative. This means that it helps to regulate bowel movement in pregnant women.
7. Helps Treat Preeclampsia
If you are pregnant and suffering from preeclampsia, then studies have shown that exposure to Epsom salt can help reduce the risks associated with this condition by about 15%. It is worth a try as preeclampsia, though rare, is a life-threatening condition.
8. Cures Morning Sickness
Epsom salt contains a large proportion of magnesium which is known to reduce any nausea experienced during pregnancy.
9. Uplifts Mood
When you are pregnant, your hormonal levels are constantly changing as your body accommodates to supply nutrition to the baby inside of you. This can cause you to experience mood swings which are not good for you or your baby. Bathing with Epsom salt can improve your mood and make you feel lighter.
10. Reduces Stress
When you are pregnant, you need to be of a cool and peaceful mind. Soak in a hot tub containing Epsom salt, and your stress will melt away as it increases the level of serotonin in your blood, which allows you to sleep better and be happier.
11. Prevents Early Labour
The magnesium sulfate in Epsom salt can help prevent any early contractions which would otherwise send you into preterm labour, by reducing levels of calcium in the uterus muscles.
How to Prepare an Epsom Salt Bath?
This depends on what you want to fix in your body, whether it is your mood or muscles or something else, but you can either add Epsom salt to your bathwater in the tub or soak your feet in it.
Fill your bathtub with lukewarm or warm water (make sure it is not very hot) and add 2 cups of Epsom salt.
Once it dissolves, soak your body in the tub for around 12-15 minutes.
You can add baking soda or apple cider vinegar if you want relief from a vaginal yeast infection or hives.
Precautions While Taking an Epsom Salt Bath When Pregnant
Though it sounds like a remarkably simple process, there are a few precautions that have to be observed before taking an Epsom salt water bath.
First, make absolutely sure that the temperature of the water in your tub is not beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit and very hot water can be dangerous both for you and the baby in your tummy.
Do not add any aromatic oils like eucalyptus or lavender to your Epsom salt bath as it is generally not recommended due to safety reasons.
Consult a doctor just to be sure before using Epsom salt a liberal number of times. In rare cases, it may have a negative effect on pregnant women who have heart or kidney problems.
Never drink it or inject it into your body by force. In rare cases, magnesium poisoning can happen.
Are There Any Risks of Using Epsom Salt for Pregnant Women?
Many people may use Epsom salt for all the above purposes as it is easily available and not very expensive. But always consult a doctor first before you start using it before getting pregnant or when you are pregnant. Especially if you plan to use Epsom salt in your bath more than once or twice. In rare cases, it may have a negative effect on pregnant women who have heart or kidney problems. Epsom salts take away fluid from the intestines and shift them to other body parts. While this regulates bowel movement, it can also cause cramping in the intestines and contractions which can lead to pregnancy complications. More so in the case, if you have a miscarriage history.
Can You Consume Epsom Salt During Pregnancy?
Drinking Epsom salt while pregnant is dangerous. Never drink it or inject it into your body by force. In rare cases, magnesium poisoning can happen. Use it only to mix in your baths.
Conclusion: Epsom salt baths can provide much-needed relief for pregnant women by easing their joint pains, itches and other irritating pregnancy symptoms. So if you are pregnant, go ahead and take a nice long Epsom salt soak!
Epsom salt baths can provide much-needed relief for pregnant women by easing their joint pains, itches and other irritating pregnancy symptoms. So if you are pregnant, go ahead and take a nice long Epsom salt soak!
Also Read: Epsom Salt Bath for Infants and Children Read more
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Cleaning during Pregnancy - Do's and Don'ts
When you prefer doing major cleaning work by yourself, the news of pregnancy might make you rethink and replan your activities. Sure, you might get a maid for cleaning floor during pregnancy, or might even wonder if you could do that yourself. Pregnancy definitely requires you to stay away from strenuous activities, but it is also essential to maintain a clean and hygienic environment around you during this time period. Apart from the physical stress, there is a degree of danger involved in using certain cleaning solutions and chemicals which may not always be safe for a pregnant woman and the baby inside her.
Is Cleaning When Pregnant Safe?
Many doctors or even caretakers would not find the need to discuss the effects of cleaning on pregnancy. It is fine to indulge in cleaning activities around the house during pregnancy, as long as the basic precautions are adhered to, safe chemicals are used, and over-exertion is strictly avoided.
Do's and Don'ts of Cleaning in Pregnancy
Certain activities undertaken while looking after the hygiene of your home might end up in scenarios of inhaling cleaning products while pregnant or having them come in contact with your skin. While it might be confusing to know whether this is safe or not, there are a bunch of do’s and don’ts you can stick to and err on the side of caution.
Do's
Here are a few tips you ought to bear in mind every time you are about to start cleaning your home in any way possible.
1. Let Your Pregnancy Be the Priority
Pregnancy in itself is quite a hectic endeavour and the delivery of the baby will inevitably be followed with a time period that would have you completely involved with him. While that might still be many months away, the onset of pregnancy will surely get your energy levels lowered and leave you tired. Delegate the activity if you truly can.
2. Ensure You Wear Gloves All the Time
Your skin is also affected by the altered biochemistry of your body, leading it to be a lot more sensitive than it usually is. This could cause reactions and rashes to arise by coming in the slightest contact of chemicals, which you might not have been allergic to earlier. Keep your hands and arms safe by wearing long-sleeved clothes and proper gloves to protect your skin.
3. Keep Some Ventilation Present While Cleaning
Whether the cleaning solution has a flowery fragrance or has been created with organic ingredients, it is necessary to keep a free-flow of air throughout the room while you are cleaning, and even after you are done. Any kind of gases or substances that might arise as a result of the cleaning will find their way outside easily.
4. Opt for Homemade Cleaning Products
It is definitely easier to go to the supermarket and grab a bunch of cleaning supplies. However, using homemade cleaning products can not only be cheaper on your wallet but would also be safer for you, with an added benefit of customizing its recipe to suit your home.
5. Read the Cleaning Product Descriptions Carefully
While you may continue to use the cleaning products procured from the market, it is necessary to know what constituents are used in them before you open the bottle. Most solutions do declare that they are toxic or poisonous on the label itself. Your immune system is already in a vulnerable state when you are pregnant, and the inhalation of any toxic substances could spell complications for you.
Dont's
Cleaning around the house is a collection of various activities. Make sure you avoid making yourself a part of the following scenarios.
1. Don’t Move Furniture By Yourself
You might have been a superwoman who could shift the entire sofa with a simple push and quickly clean up the floor below it. While pregnancy may not exactly be kryptonite, indulging in such antics while you clean your home is not exactly safe for the baby inside you.
2. Don’t Use Shoes Inside Your Home
There are many homes that prefer wearing the same footwear everywhere they go. This is easily an open invitation to a lot of dust, dirt, bacteria, and numerous impurities and toxins to enter your home and wreak havoc on your pregnancy. Keep a shoe rack outside your door and let everyone clean their feet when they enter inside.
3. Stay Away from Cleaning Any Mouldy Surfaces
When you start cleaning moulds, their reaction with cleaning substances can emit certain vapours or chemicals that can be harmful to the pregnant woman and even end up causing defects in the unborn child. It is best to involve a professional cleaner and staying away when the cleaning is in progress.
4. Don’t Make it a Marathon
It is important to take breaks when you clean your home as well as indulge in cleaning only one section at a time when you are pregnant. Your body will not be at the same level of fitness that it was earlier, and going ahead with cleaning all the rooms on the same day can leave you utterly exhausted and even nauseous.
5. Avoid Using Air Fresheners
The name might be ‘air fresheners’ but they don’t freshen up the air in reality. These aerosols emit artificial aromas and substances in the air making it smell better and fresher. These chemicals may or may not be safe for your baby once you inhale them, and it is best not to put yourself to the test for it. Ventilating your house naturally is a much better choice.
Safe and Unsafe Cleaning Products
You might be beginning to wonder which cleaning products are safe during pregnancy for you and which ones are not. In that regard, we have put down a simple list for your quick reference.
Safe Cleaning Products for Pregnant Women
Certain products that are manufactured in a specific manner or carry specific descriptions are generally safe for pregnant women, as described below.
1. Products With a Good Environment Rating
Many products come with a rating or an accreditation from a renowned organization that described how harmful it is on the environment around us. The safer a product is in the surroundings, the safer it would be to be used by a pregnant woman.
2. Organic Cleaners
Cleaning products that contain organic constituents are a much safer choice for a pregnant woman. These might be pricey but are worth that cost for a safe pregnancy.
3. Natural Cleaning Products
While organic products are great, making use of natural substances to clean the surfaces can not only be easy to clean, but also bring benefits to the skin of the pregnant woman.
4. Homemade Products
There’s nothing major that some baking soda, vinegar, and soap solutions cannot clean around your home. These are available easily and are substantially safer than any artificial chemicals.
5. The Good Old Soap and Water
Most cleaning solutions are strong just to help reduce the effort of scrubbing the surface. Instead, opt for your usual soap and water, and use different tools to clean the surface effectively.
Unsafe Cleaning Products for Pregnant Women
The products which contain the following chemicals are usually unsafe to be used around a pregnant woman.
1. Triclosan
Cleaning products that contain anti-bacterial properties usually contain this chemical, which can even be present in soaps and household products, too. Triclosan is a well-known endocrine disruptor and can directly impact the physical growth of the baby.
2. Phthalates
Numerous cleaning detergents and sprays contain phthalates which are primarily used to make them smell better. These chemicals interact with the hormones in the body and can cause extreme birth defects in an unborn child, specifically affecting the genitalia.
3. Parabens
These are found in nearly all cleaning products but usually, are termed to be low-risk chemicals. Their presence in the body can cause them to mimic an estrogen-like behaviour, which is why it is best to keep their usage to a minimum.
4. Glycol Ethers
Most glass cleaning solutions and oven cleaners contain glycol ether, due to its immense strength. Accidental intake of these substances can not only affect fertility in humans but also reduces the cognitive development of the child while in the womb.
5. Aerosols
Aerosol-based cleaning products leave a lot more chemicals in the air than on the actual cleaning surface. These can float around the home and reach you even if you are present in a different room, causing harm by their presence.
Alternative Home-Made Cleaning Solution
Knowing the various cleaning products to avoid during pregnancy, if you are left clueless in figuring out what you can safely use, you can opt for an alternative that is homemade and is quite an effective cleaning solution by itself.
White vinegar and water can clean most surfaces. Harder areas can use a tinge of baking soda as well. Rubbing a little olive oil on furniture can give them a polished look. And to make your homes smell better, using borax is quite a safe alternative in that regard.
Indulging in cleaning while pregnant in the first trimester should generally be refrained from, especially if the activities are too strenuous. Pregnancy is a time to get as much help and support as you can, so don’t fret about asking your friends and family to help you out with these activities, too.
Also Read: Household Work During Pregnancy Read more
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Kashmiri Pulao
This is a fragrant, delish and slightly sweet pulao and is replete with lots of fruits and nuts. Kashmiri saffron used here gives this dish its characteristic yellow color and nuts, fruits give it the rich flavour it is famous for. This recipe is perfect for Sunday lunches or dinners, when you are not in a mood for any elaborate cooking. Serve it with a helping of raita or curd and a large bowl of salad for a satisfying and yummy meal.
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
4 People
10 - 15 Minutes
15 - 20 Minutes
Ingredients
2 cups basmati rice, cooked
¼ cup green peas, cooked
1 small onion, halved and sliced
1 red chilli
2-3 cloves
2-3 cardamom pods
1 piece of mace
4-5 peppercorns
1 bay leaf
1” cinnamon stick
¼ cup apple, chopped
2-3 tbsp grapes, cut in halves
2-3 tbsp pineapple pieces
2-3 tbsp pomegranate pearls
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp sugar
Salt to taste
3 tbsp chopped cashews
3 tbsp raisins
2 tbsp sliced almonds
8-9 saffron strands soaked in 1 tsp milk
Method
Step 1
Soak saffron in a little milk for 15 minutes. Rub the soaked saffron in a small pestle and mortar. Set aside.
Step 2
In a pan, heat oil. When the oil is heated, add cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves, mace, crushed cardamom pods, bay leaves and red chili. Sauté for a few seconds.
Step 3
Add the onion and cook them for a minute. Then, add the chopped cashews and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the peas, salt and sugar and stir properly.
Step 4
Now, add the cooked rice and stir gently. Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Next, add the raisins, sliced almonds and all the fruits. Cover and heat it for another 2 minutes.
Step 5
Take it off gas and transfer in a serving bowl. Serve hot with raita and salad.
Nutritional Information
Calories
523 K cal
Proteins
9.2 g
Fats
12.0 g
Carbohydrates
93.9 g
Cholesterol
3 mg
Sodium
299 mg
Potassium
301 mg
Tip: The cooked rice used for making pulao should be around 80% cooked for best results. Fully cooked rice grains can become too soft to hold its shape. Read more
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The myth of right, wrong and perfectly parenting a newborn
As a new parent, I received tonnes of advice, and was judged innumerable times and it has continued to this day. Perhaps it is too easy to judge a new parent/parents, but too difficult to be the kind of support that new parents require.
Since the day my little one was born, someone or the other would always point out to me, “You are doing it all wrong!”; “Why is your baby crying? You should give her the pacifier”; “Hold her carefully, you will hurt her for sure”; “Why can’t you buy some interesting clothes for her?”; “Are you still breastfeeding her? It is time you wean her off”; “Make the cereal for the baby and don’t feed the store bought cereals”; “Massage her neck to avoid giving her a double-chin like yours”. These are only a few things I heard. I am not someone who takes criticism at heart, however, comments and judgements like these left me confused and worsened my post-partum blues.The insensitive comments and judgement continued until one day I realised that the scrutiny that people subject you to is never going to stop, defending oneself is therefore a futile exercise. So I stopped doing two things instntly – stopped feeling guilty unnecessarily by listening to what everyone had to say and also defending myself against the criticism and judgement. I started ignoring critics and judges and did things my way. Eventually, I felt better, confident and happier. Above everything else, I realised I know the best for my child, so the only other person whose words I should take seriously were that of the pediatrician’s.Every parent at some point of time does have doubts as to whether one is doing it the right way. New parents are as new to being parents as a newborn baby is new to the world. Each day brings in a new lesson, developing in them a fresh learning experience. The concepts of perfect parenting, right and wrong parenting are mere myths when it comes to a new baby.Each baby is different and has needs that can be perfectly met by the parent/ parents. The health of the baby can be monitored by doctors/ healthcare professionals. The baby and the parent/ parents in due course of time learn it all themselves.
What new parents need is not commentary, judgement, criticism or advice on ‘how to do it all perfectly’ but support, concern, and being asked, ‘Can I help you in any way?’ The old saying goes it takes a village to raise a child. This implies not a group of individuals pointing out flaws in the parenting style of a new parent, but a strong support system for raising a child, a happy and healthy environment that favours the mental and physical growth and development of the child.
If you are a new parent reading this, trust yourselves and your doctor above everyone else. Enjoy each day as it comes, for little humans are both messy and magical! Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 4 months
6 hours ago
Q. When baby movement starts??
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
6 hours ago
A. 5-6 months ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
6 hours ago
Q. hello dr..I am 39 weeks 3 days pregnant, AFI level 8 is this normal?and normal delivery possible for me? Is the fluid enough for up to 1 week?Do I need a drip? please suggest me.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
6 hours ago
A. the levels are on the lower side. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Sarika gupta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
4 hours ago
Q. Hi.. Priyanka kalra doctor..I am 39 weeks 3 days pregnant, AFI level 8 is this normal?and normal delivery possible for me? Is the fluid enough for up to 1 week?Do I need a drip? please suggest me.
Sarika gupta
Mom of 2 children
4 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much and it is quite difficult to say anything about it without personally examination and proper reports evaluation. So better to consult with your treating gynaecologist in person as she knew the exact health condition of your pregnancy and can guide you better.
Take care
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
2 hours ago
Q. Hi, for May 1st they will check AFI fluid... should I need to be on empty bladder for that scan... which is around 37 weeks
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
2 hours ago
A. It’s completely normal this kind of an ultrasound is different it is not necessary that your stomach should be full or you should go empty stomach you can have your basic breakfast and all whatever you would want to eat before you go ahead with getting a scan and there is no need to go empty stomach for the scan
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. hi everyone..the position of my baby is still in breech position from first trimester till now as I entered in my third trimester position is still breech is it normal..
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. Absolutely hundred percent normal if the child changes the position then it’s just a matter of time otherwise I would just say that sometimes kids do not change the position throughout their pregnancy so now you should just be mentally sorted to have a C-section
parminder kaur has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. Mera Mera 7th month end pe hai ab scan Karate doctor please tell me
parminder kaur
Mom of a 1 yr 1 m old boy
2 hours ago
A. yess
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