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Parents, Keep These Winter Essentials Handy Before It Gets Cold
No matter how much adults enjoy the cold season, winter is no cakewalk for newborns. When it comes to newborns and toddlers, the stakes get high. Since they are vulnerable to seasonal changes, it becomes important for parents to go the extra mile to keep their babies protected from harsh winter.
Babies are easily susceptible to several winter ailments like cough and cold. But, worry not. We can assure you that keeping these basic winters essentials handy will help your little one tackle mild winter ailments and make your visits to the doctor less frequent.
9 Important Winter Must-Haves for Babies and Toddlers
Low temperatures, dry air, and cold breeze are common in winter. As a parent, you can stay prepared with these nine winter essentials to protect your baby from winter ailments. Without any further ado, let’s dive in!
1. Thermometers
Infrequent temperature can quickly trigger viral infections, runny noses, and fevers in babies. If you have a baby below the age of 5, we recommend keeping a good-quality thermometer in your medicine cabinet. Rectal or oral thermometers are commonly used thermometers that often provide accurate readings. A thermometer will not only give you temperature readings right away but will also help in detecting symptoms earlier and treating them before they could get any worse.
2. Nasal Aspirators
Mucus often finds an easy way into a baby’s nose during winters and can lead to sleepless nights. A nasal aspirator is a recommended item for your medicine pantry if your baby suffers from congestion. It will help in removing the blockage and allow easy breathing. If you have any doubt, do consult your baby’s paediatrician before using this product.
3. Cold Relief Balms
Nights get colder than days in winters, which can cause an untimely blocked nose and cough in your baby. Keeping cold relief balms like doctor-prescribed menthol balms helps whenever the temperature drops. You can rub some balm on your child’s chest and back right before you tuck him in the bed. It will provide him relief from the congestion and contribute to sound sleep.
There are several cold relief balms available but make sure your buy one that is suitable for babies or prescribed by a doctor.
4. Medicine Droppers
Giving medicine to little babies can be an extremely difficult task. Since they can’t swallow tablets and usually mess up taking liquid medicine by spilling it all over them, a medicine dropper aids in saving time and effort. The simple design of a medicine dropper helps parents to measure the required dose for their babies accurately and creates no mess or waste. Hence, it is a must-have item in your medicine cabinet.
5. Anti-Colic Tummy Roll-on
Babies cry a lot whenever they suffer from indigestion, gastric problems, constipation, or colic. If you plan to travel with your baby or if he suffers from frequent gas pains, you may want to consider keeping an anti-colic tummy roll-on with you. It soothes stomach pain and provides relief from bloating. The tummy roll-ons are very travel-friendly and can be easily carried in bags or purses.
6. Cotton Buds and Pads
A baby’s skin is still in the development phase and very delicate. With the arrival of the winter season, the soft skin of babies starts to get dry and chapped. Now because it is the cold season, you would not want to clean up your baby with water every time, as he might catch a cold. Thus, cotton buds or pads that are made with 100% cotton can be used to clean in between your tiny tot’s fingers, toes, the outer ear, and other delicate creases. You can look for cotton buds made of paper sticks instead of plastic and those that have 100% cotton tips.
7. Vaporisers
Cold temperatures, recirculated dry air, and lack of humidity in the atmosphere can cause many winter ailments, like cough, congestion, and sore throat in your baby. In this case, a vaporiser is a great item for increasing the humidity of the air. It works by turning the water into steam, humidifying the air, and helping in alleviating the cold. The moist air created by a vaporiser can help the mucus to loosen up and open up your child’s blocked nose and help him breathe easily.
8. Nebulisers
A nebuliser is another great must-have for this winter. It is often recommended by a doctor if a child has swollen airways, lung infection, or respiratory diseases, like asthma and cystic fibrosis. It works by infusing medicine into the water and offering pressurised air into the lungs of the baby through the liquid. You can get in touch with your baby’s paediatrician to know more about this and if it is necessary for your kid.
9. Pulse Oximeters
The drop in the temperature during the winter season can decrease the oxygen level in babies suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Hence, it is important to keep pulse oximeters handy and check for your baby’s pulse whenever he suffers from fever or cold. It effectively monitors the oxygen saturation level in the blood and helps in detecting the immediate risk like sleeping accidents and SIDS. A consultation with your baby’s paediatrician before purchasing the pulse oximeter will be beneficial.
All these above-mentioned items are certain to make you and your baby’s winter season go smoothly. It is also important to buy products that are renowned for their high-quality standards and maintain proper hygiene before and while using these items. Now that you know more about what to stock up for your baby’s wellbeing, we are sure you will be ready to combat this chilly winter season.
Also Read:
Winter Care Essentials for your Lil Sunshine
Best Baby Sleeping Bags for Babies
Best Baby Blankets and Quilts for Newborns
Best Baby Soaps for Newborn Babies and Toddlers Read more
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Teaching Your Toddler to Use Scissors
As an introduction to cutting, get home toddler safety scissors. The dull edges of this scissor will minimize the risk of cuts to your little user. Hand hold your child through the process till she starts working with scissors independently.
Cutting with a scissor requires certain finger separation skills, which children master only by the age of six. Of course, it's good to start early , as it helps in building motor skills. Here’s our take on teaching children to hold and use scissors.
Tricks for Teaching a 3-Year-Old to Use Scissors
1. Finding The Right Scissors
Invest in beginner scissors, which are spring loaded.It's easy to manipulate the pair by using her whole hand and not just the fingers. It doesn’t matter at what age toddlers start using scissors, once they are comfortable with these adaptive scissors they can be introduced to other types of advanced scissors soon. Here, it's essential to consider whether your child is right handed or left handed. Make sure to get a pair specifically designed for their needs.
2. Hold it Right
It's important for a child cutting with scissors to get the right grip. Show your kids how you hold the scissors correctly and encourage them to copy you. They might not get it right the first few times. Explain how the thumb needs to be put into the smaller hole, and the index and middle finger into the bigger hole. Ask her to open and close the scissors. This is essential for building the necessary strength and coordination to work with this cutting instrument.
3. Cut Lines and Shapes
Draw thick lines on a paper and teach your child to cut along the line. This will teach her better scissor control. Once you feel your child is comfortable cutting along the lines on paper, start introducing shapes. Draw circles, squares, triangles etc., and show how to cut them neatly. Remember to get thick paper for such beginner cutting activities. Continue to practice cutting with scissors for kids and watch your child master this skill soon.
4. Go Snip Snip!
Once your child has a fair understanding of how to operate a scissor, teach her how to make fringes. These are formed when you continuously snip, without cutting the paper into half. Fringe cutting helps in improved hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and bilateral coordination in children. Therein, lies the biggest benefits of scissor cutting skills in toddlers.
5. Safety Rules
While organising cutting activities for toddlers remember to teach them about the safety rules of working with a scissor. Tell her that she can use scissors only during craft hours for cutting paper and not at any other time. Encourage her to use scissors, only when there is an adult around. Don’t forget to tell her that she is not supposed to run or chase anyone with scissors in hand.
So, if you've been wondering how to teach a child to use scissors, there you go! Don’t worry, if she’s a messy cutter to begin with, just help her develop fine motor skills and keep broadening her creative horizon. Read more
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Spinach khichdi
Palak Khichdi is one of the quick, easy and, of course, a healthy Indian main course recipe made up of rice and moong lentils. Introduce the healthy greens in your baby's diet with this yummy, mashed spinach khichdi. You can even sneak in the spinach in your fussy toddler's or preschooler's diet through this recipe, just that you don't have to mash the khichdi like you do for your baby.
Serves
Preparation Time
Cooking Time
2 People
15 Minutes
15-20 Minutes
Ingredients
1 cup rice
1/3rd -1/2 cup moong dal, split and husked
1/4th grated or finely chopped spinach
2-3 cups water
1/4 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ghee
a pinch of salt
ajwain seeds to taste
Method
Step 1
Wash rice and dal together at least twice. Soak them for 30 minutes with 1 cup water in a pressure cooker.
Step 2
Before cooking, add freshly chopped spinach to the soaked rice and dal.
Step 3
Pressure cook for two whistles on medium heat.
Step 4
Put off the flame. Once the pressure goes off, mash it with a spoon or a ladle.
Step 5
Add ghee, salt, turmeric and spice powders if you desire.
Step 6
Mix everything well and bring it to the consistency you want by adding warm water.
Step 7
Serve warm. If serving a baby, you can mash it well with a spoon and serve.
Nutritional Information
Serving Size 120.3 g
Calories
143
Calories from Fat
5%
Total Fat
0.5 g 1%
Saturated Fat
0.1 g 1%
Trans Fat
0.0 g
Sodium
138 mg 6%
Potassium
117 mg 3%
Total Carbohydrates
28.7 g 10%
Dietary Fiber
3.1 g 12%
Sugars
0.9 g
Protein
4.4 g
Vitamin A
1%
Vitamin C
2%
Calcium
1%
Iron
9%
*Based on a 2000 calorie diet
Nutritional details are an estimate and should only be used as a guide for approximation.
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Toys That Are Useful for Babies
I am a mother of a one-year-old boy. For playing with him, I searched for many toys and books and got some special things that help brain development. I haven't brought so many toys for my son. He used to play with his cousin sister's toys. And I realised that this much plastic is a waste. So I thought of buying only useful toys so that we can reduce plastic waste.
These are the toys I brought for him.
The first one is a book It's a set of five books. Animals, vehicles, birds, general knowledge, and nursery rhymes. It's a board book. It will not tear easily. It includes pictures with names. When my baby gets bored, I will teach him each picture, and ask him to tell its name. You should ask your baby every day. Then they will be thorough with it. So it's a book to learn about our surroundings. I recommend everyone to buy this.
The second one is a gardening and beach playset. It's an outdoor play. It includes a sand playset and beach playset. My baby loves to play with that. He will sit calmly and play.
The third one is a colouring book. But it's a reusable water colouring book. A pen is given with it. Fill water in it and colour it in the book. When water sticks on the book, coloured images appear. After playing, dry in the air. Then the colour will disappear. It's useful while travelling. I use this book while my baby is eating anything.
The next one is a splash book with a squeaker. It's a bath toy. But can be used as a normal toy. It helps to keep your baby seated while bathing.
While selecting a toy, try to buy something which is both helpful for playing and developing intelligence. Just try any of these products and share your experience. I think these will be very helpful for moms. I love all these products.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
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Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
15 hours ago
Q. Hlw dr its my 6th month pregnency can i intimate with my partner
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
15 hours ago
A. Hello dear! If your pregnancy is going on fine without any high risk factors then it’s okay. Still, would advise you to check with your doctor once before going further. Maintain a good personal hygiene routine and a healthy lifestyle
Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
12 hours ago
Q. My breasts feel full and heavy, but there’s no milk when pumping and during feeding baby —what do I do?
Abhaya Rajput
Mom of a 14 yr 4 m old boy
6 hours ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much. But it is really very difficult to say anything without proper examination. It is advisable to get yourself evaluated by a doctor and follow doctors advise properly. You can also book online doctor’s appointment on FirstCry where the doctor can help you and guide you properly.
Thanks and take care
Dr Disha Patel has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
12 hours ago
Q. can I take medicine pcm n citrazene in pregnancy fir sore throats n fever
Dr Disha Patel
Ayurvedic Physician
7 hours ago
A. dear mom.
better to take tab pcm for time being n do take steam inhakation couple of tines a day, follpw good home renedies for cold, taje more rest .
Swati Kar Samanta has added a new answer
Mom of a 9 m old child
5 hours ago
Q. hi everyone good morning,
sorghum can I give to my 10 month baby is it safe or not please revert I waiting for your reply
Swati Kar Samanta
Mom of a 2 m old girl
4 hours ago
A. Yes but first give in very small quantity to judge the reaction of your baby.
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts is it okay that the baby is kicking less than usual?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
3 hours ago
A. Yes it is the what part is that your child is kicking if you feel that there is a movement of your child whether it is a cake or slight movement also you know that your child is doing fine so there is no problem in that if the movement is less it’s completely alright
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. #asktheexperts what to do if the baby’s nose is blovked
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
2 hours ago
A. Nasal blockage is very common, specially in small children because of the narrow nasal cavity. Any kind of saline drops like nasal clear will be helpful in dissolving the stuffy secretions, which can be taken out by vnasal aspirator gently also steam inhalation will be helpful also, try to avoid keeping the child directly under the fan.
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