No matter what’s the season, taking care of a newborn requires immense grit. Especially when the season is winter. This season comes with its own set of hassles. A drop in temperature, cool breeze, slippery sidewalks, germy strangers and whipping wind is enough to compel parents of a newborn to keep their kids in hibernation.
Being susceptible to cold and infections due to weak immune system in the early days, mothers are bound to get worried and do everything in reach to ensure their baby’s wellness and health. Hence, in order to achieve that, some simple and preventive measures needed to be taken to keep the little ones warm and safe.
For a first-time mother, things are already difficult with advice pouring in from all sides. So, to make this process a bit easier, new moms can follow the given tips to take care of their little ones and protect them from the harmful effects of winter and cold weather.
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Dress up your baby in layers
Newborns and babies need several layers of clothing to keep them warm and snuggly. Start with a long sleeve cotton bodysuit, then add soft pants, socks, and a sweatshirt or sweater. Layers allow pockets of air between clothing layers to help trap heat and keep kids warm.
Keep germs at bay
The best prevention for newborns against the common cold is to keep them away from folks who are sick. While the common cold is often a mild illness for a bigger child, it can quickly cause serious problems, such as bronchiolitis, or pneumonia, in an infant. You can also follow these simple tips to prevent your kid from catching a cold.
- Breastfeed if possible – Breast milk can give your newborn a head start in preventing and fighting infections. Mother’s milk contains antibodies, proteins, fats, sugars, and even white blood cells that can fight infection.
- Wash hands – Do it often and insist visitors do too.
- Avoid crowds – While it’s fine to go out with your newborn, you want to avoid crowds where there may be coughing and sneezing.
- Vaccinate – Make sure the adults and children around your newborn are up-to-date on their pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, flu shots, and COVID-19 shots, if applicable.
Prevent dry skin
An infant’s skin barrier is thinner and weaker than an older child, making them more susceptible to dry skin that often goes hand-in-hand with winter’s cold temperatures, low humidity, and dry indoor heat. To help keep your newborn’s delicate skin protected, apply a fragrance-free moisturizer all over the body to lock moisture preferably after bath.
Avoid heavy blankets
Light blanket can be enough to keep your baby warm. Avoid using a heavy blanket to cover your baby during winter because your baby would not be able to move his arms and legs while sleeping. In this process, your baby may pull it up on its face and this can lead to respiratory distress. Thus, use a light blanket and keep the room temperature optimum.
Know warning signs
Balancing is necessary to make sure that your baby isn’t too cold or too hot with the layering of clothes. To check, touch your kid’s ears and neck. If their ears are red and hot and their neck is sweaty, your baby is too warm. Try taking off a layer of clothes; offer breastmilk or formula; and sponge your bub down in lukewarm or cooler water. If your baby feels cool to the touch, warm them up by adding another layer of clothing. But if you suspect that your too-cold baby has moved into the dangerous territory of frostbite, apply a warm washcloth to your baby’s chilly ears, nose, or lips for a few minutes.
(Disclaimer: The article is based on general information and is not a substitute for a medical expert’s advice. Zee News does not confirm this.)
