Tips On Taking Care of Your Toddler This Winter Season

The onset of winters brings the worry for moms. Taking care of our little ones when they are adamant on not wearing the socks or winter caps is not easy. Due to apartment culture, our busy lifestyle or n number of other reasons it often becomes a task to take them out for a play in the sunlight during daytime. I see a lot of moms struggling to keep the kids away from a cough and cold once they start school.

Here are a few tips that I have tried and worked for my toddler and I really hope these work for you too:

1. Food Habits & Taste Buds

If your toddler is also a picky eater like mine then we have to try many food items which get their taste buds tingling. Soups are a wonderful option to start with. Chicken soup or tomato soup with a hint of garlic and black pepper is really good for this weather. We all know the importance of seasonal fruits especially citrus ones and green leafy vegetables. It should always be incorporated into their meals daily. Here are my grand mom’s nushkhas that helped my little one in getting rid of cold and cough:

• Grate ginger and squeeze in a spoon. Make sure it only two drops because it has a very strong taste. Add half a spoon honey and warm it up little. Give this twice a day.

• 100 gm Almonds, 50gm of sugar ( desi khaand/Mishri), 20gm of black pepper. Grind it all together and keep it in a jar. Give this twice and day.

I have been using these for my toddler and it has worked well. Please use your judgment before giving these to your kids as you know their allergies or likings better than anyone else.

2. Vitamin D & Sunlight

I know it is easier said than done given our lifestyles today to spend a few hours in sunlight. The fact is we all need some sun exposure. When skin is exposed to the sun, our bodies make vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium for stronger, healthier bones. How much vitamin D is produced from sunlight depends on the time of day, where you live in the world and the color of your skin.

However, Vitamin D deficiency in kid and adults are quite common nowadays. After much of time management and leaving a bit of laziness aside this is what I have included in my daily schedule:

• My daughter comes back from playschool at around 12:00 from the school. Instead of taking her home directly I take her to park for an hour or two. I keep the snack box/lunch box ready for her. She is enjoying this routine a lot and made quite a lot of friends.
• Another plus point of taking her outside is that when she is outdoors she is less likely to be sedentary. Outside there are many ways to get moving, including walking, playing games, or climbing at the playground.

3. Layered Clothing & Comfort

My toddler hates caps and socks. I have bought all the possible colors and fabrics but she likes nothing. I tried to bribe her (works for half an hour) scare her of lizard (works for an hour) and even wore socks of matching color. Then I gave up until one day when she walks up to me and says she wants to wear socks. Turns out my words meant nothing but her new found love “Her Class teachers” meant a lot. I am not complaining whatever gets my toddler wear winter clothing.

Layering clothing keeps your toddler comfortable too. No matter the weather, toddlers have the energy to burn. While that’s a great thing for nap time, it also means you need to take extra care to protect her against the elements.

• The layers under your toddler’s outerwear trap in warmth.
• Look for all-cotton shirts, which will feel best against your child’s still-sensitive skin.
• Don’t go for bulky sweaters, which will make kids too hot and prevent them from moving around easily.
• Make sure socks aren’t so thick that your toddler’s footwear doesn’t fit comfortably over them.

4. Essential Oil

Eucalyptus oil and steam are two options that also help a lot if your kid catches a cold. Eucalyptus oil is an expectorant and helps decongest sinuses. Adding a few drops of oil in a diffuser or diluting it in hot water to make steam helps in treating the cold. Alternatively, rub a little oil on the pillow to ensure a good night’s sleep if you are troubled with congestion and wet cough.

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