The winter is here… Do you enjoy or hate the winter season?

I used to love the winter before the arrival of the kids, the cold mornings, early evenings, chilly nights…. That was eons ago 🙁

Now with the kids, winter is very scary with having to protect the kids against flu, cold, dry skin, stuffy nose, Oh!! the list goes on and on.

Don’t let these spoil your holiday fun, follow this 50 Winter Health Tips for children for a healthy and safe winter.

50 Winter Health Tips for Children

Brace yourself for a long list of winter health tips and advice, protecting children from the harsh winter is not very hard provided that you follow some simple steps from basic hygiene to maintaining health of children.

How to maintain basic hygiene in winter?

1. Washing Hands

Many of us use water very sparingly for our kids during winter since it is cold and untouchable. Try washing your little ones hands in warm water or hand santiser before they eat as it is the main route of infection for the communicable diseases like cold, flu, pneumonia.

2. Wash your Winter Wear Regularly

We seldom wash our sweater, jerkins as it takes a long time to dry. We think that in winter there is less sweating so it will not become soiled soon. But woolens have the tendency to attract dust and it may lead to dust allergy and asthma. Wash your wollens regularly.

3. Aerate the rooms

I can hear you thinking ,”Aerating the room in the winter!! Are you kidding? ”

Do you know that a closed warm room may attract more microbes than a room that has air flow in it? I am not asking you to open all the windows and doors. just leave the windows and doors open for a few minutes when the sun is shining bright so that clean air can flow through the room, also UV rays of the sunlight are a natural disinfectant.

How to choose the suitable winter wear for children?

Each child has a different body type with some tend to be naturally warm body and some normal. So before bundling up your little one in winter wear, please understand his body type and proceed.

4. General Thumb Rule for Winter wear for children

There is a general thumb rule for dressing up the kids which is

” Parents put one more layer on the child then they themselves need to keep warm”

But this depends on the parent, kid and on the weather that particular day.

5. Lay on Light Layers

Wear a cotton underlayer over which a sweater or jacket or a full suit  can be added. Make sure the outer jacket has a zipper so that it is easy for removal. Always wear a comfortable socks to go with the winter wear and mittens can be used for protecting the hands if it is too cold.

6. Head gear

A close fitting hat is preferred over the hood of the jacket as it protects the head and ears from the cold due to its snug fit.

7. Dressing  for a cozy sleep

Keep the room warm rather than bundling with more layers of clothing while putting your little one to sleep. A warm flannel is the right choice with a cotton underlayer and light sweater on the top.

Hair care for children during winter

8. Bathe the Hair Regularly

Even I hesitate to wash the children’s hair frequently in winter. It is advisable to wash  the hair atleast once a week. Apply oil regularly to prevent a dry and frizzy hair.

 Winter Skin Care Tips for children

9. Don’t forget the sunscreen

Even though it is winter, don’t forget to apply sunscreen generously when the kids go out to play.

10. Moisturize Moisturize!!

Moisturizing is the key for maintaining perfect skin health of children in winter. If not adequately moisturized (atleast twice a day) it may lead to dry skin and eczema. After bath, dry the body properly and apply the moisturizer cream evenly throughout the skin and massage lightly.

Check out our Homemade Moisturizer Recipe

{Do follow us to know the List of Homemade Moisturizers & Review of Commercial brands of moisturizers in the future articles}

 11. Choose your massage oil wisely

During winter, care should be taken while choosing the massage oil.

• Mustard oil is good for winter.
• Olive oil and Almond oil also work good in winter.
• Coconut oil is mostly preferred only in the summer season.

12. Breathable Winter Wear

Dress your children in breathable lightweight winter wear and not in bulky and heavy wear.

13. Say NO to Chapped lips and cheeks

Lips and cheeks are the most affected areas during winter as they are exposed to dry winter wind. Apply moisturizer for the cheeks and use a kids friendly lip balm for the lips.

{More on DIY Homemade Lip Balm for children}

Winter Ear Care tips for Children

14. Cover the ears

Protect the ears from the cold daft with a snug fitting hat.

15. Correct the position

Never give bottle of milk while the child is in lying position, as there is greater chance for the milk to flow to Eustachian tube. It may collect in the Eustachian tube and become a breeding zone for microbes and thereby resulting in middle ear infection.

Nasal Care Tips for Children in Winter

16. Effective Nose Blowing

For older children, teach them their nose fully to prevent stuffy nose and middle ear infection.

For babies and younger kids Nasal Aspirator with Ear Syringe  can be used.

More on Homemade Remedies for Cold

17. Clean the nose regularly

The mucus may harden to thick crusts inside the nose more during winter. So it is necessary to clean the nose regularly. Wet a cotton swab in warm water and gently wipe the area.

18. Humidifier

Sometimes using a humidifier in the child’s room may help prevent stuffy nose by adding moisture to  the inhaled air.

Vaccination for children in winter

19. Vaccination against Flu

Although there are mixed opinions on vaccinating the children against flu, if your child is highly perceptible to cough and cold, I would advice you to vaccinate against flu just before the start of the flu season.

Download the India Academy  of Pediatrics Immunization Schedule Here

Develop the Immunity of children

20. Immunity boosting food for children

Children have the tendency to attract every virus and bacteria that floats around. Always Prevention is better than cure, so develop your child’s immunity by food to ward off the infections.

15 Immune Boosting Food for Children

How to give Fluids to Children in Winter?

21. Maintain adequate hydration 

Even adults don’t feel to drink water in the winter. Hydrate your child with adequate water intake. Warm water seasoned with jeera is a good choice for winter months.

22. Warm up the Fluids

 

If your child doesn’t drink water, substitute water with warm soups and beverages. If you are breastfeeding then increase the number of feeds per day.

What Food to give to kids during winter?

It is of utmost importance that you feed your child properly during the winter to maintain his health.

23. Whole Grains

Whole grains like Rice, wheat, jowar, bajra, oats as they have a warming up effect.

24. Lentils

Lentils are rich in proteins and help to retain the warmth of the body.

25. Root Vegetables

Root vegetables like carrot, beet, potato and radish build the immunity naturally.

26. Fruits

Fruits like apple, pomengranates and orange are most preferred fruits in winter.

27. Dry Fruits

Dry fruits can be made as powder and mixed in rotis, porridges and can be given in milk too.

28. Green Leafy  Vegetables

Include more of greens in the meals, they are rich in Vitamin A , C and K.

29. Garlic

Try to include more garlic in the child’s diet, as garlic contains a compound called allicin which has antiviral and antibacterial properties.

30. Non-Vegetarian

Although chicken and mutton are good for winter, they digest very slowly. In the winter, digestion is slower than usual and for children it may take even longer for digestion. So prevent frequent use of non veg in the child’s diet.

 Activities for children during winter

31. Outdoor activities

When the weather is not very cold, children can be allowed to play outside provided they are warmly dressed.

32. Indoor activities

In extreme weather, it is better to retain the kids inside the house.

Fun Filled Indoor Activities for toddlers

33. Get the sunlight

If it is sunny then take your kids outside in the sun. Sun is the best source for Vit D and in winter season due to decreased exposure to sun, some children even develop Vit D Deficiency. Don’t forget the sunscreen!!

When should you keep your child home from school during winter?

34. Raised Temperature

A increase temperature may be due to a viral infection. If your child’s temperature is 100 F or more, then keep the child at home.

35. Cough/runny nose

If there is no temperature and very mild runny nose and cough and if the child feels comfortable, he can be sent to school.

But if the cough is severe with sputum, then definitely keep the child at home and visit a doctor.

36. Rash

Children with rash should definitely be kept at home and shown to a doctor ASAP as rash may precede an infectious disease.

37. Sore Throat

A mild sore throat is OK, but if severe and unable to swallow it may be a strep throat and better to keep the child at home and consult a doctor.

How to prevent from your child contracting infection from others?

Children catch infection easily from other infected persons. So it is important to prevent your child from contracting infection from others.

38. Safe Child Handlers/Nannies

Make sure your child handler or nanny washes her hands every time she handles your baby. If she has any flu like symptoms, better relieve her from services till she recovers.

39. Toys

When children play together, there is always chance of infection spreading through the toys, after they play wash the toys in warm soapy water and allow them to dry completely before using again.

40. Avoid Crowds

In winter it is better to avoid crowded places , as there might be increased chance of infection due to suspended aerosols in the air.

41. Day Care or Creche

If you are sending your child to creche or day care, then ask the management to discourage sick children from attending the school.

Medications

42. No! Self Medication Plzz

Many moms enquire me, “The paediatrician gave this medicine last time during fever, Can I use the same now?” Well, this is is ok for the paracetamol and medicines to clear the nasal congestion.

It is not ok  to give antibiotics prescribed earlier, because the infecting agent may be different and your child may require a different antibiotic. So please consult a doctor before starting your child on any medication.

Warning signs that need urgent medical attention.

Flu occurs mainly during the winter months, although many instances it may be mild and the child may recover completely from the episode, there may be complications. Here are some warning signs which every parent should be aware of

43. Fast breathing or working hard to breathe.

44. Bluish skin color.

45. Not waking up or interacting.

46. Flu like symptoms that improve  but return with fever and severe cough.

47. Fever with rash.

48. Being unable to eat or drink.

49. Having no tears when crying.

50. Enjoy the Winter with the Kids 🙂

Although there are so many reasons to worry over our children during winter…

“Keep Calm and Enjoy the winter with the kids”

This brings us to the rather long list of health tips, do ping me for any doubts or queries at [email protected]

Hope this article was useful.

If you have any other useful Winter health tips, do share with us by commenting below..

This is one of the article in our ” Winter Health Care for Children” Series, do drop in to other posts too..

• Mixed Vegetable soup for kids
• Winter Dessert Recipe for babies & toddlers

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