Winter can be a dreaded time for parents. The chances of coming down with an infection rise in this season, especially for little children. However, taking the right preventive measures and not thinking twice before visiting a doctor, when required, can help keep your child healthy. Let’s find out what you can do to make sure winter remains a joyful season for your child.
Make your child’s diet wholesome
Include more fruits, vegetables and grains in your child’s diet, not just in winter, but throughout the year. Not only would this keep their immunity up, but such food is also easier to digest, as compared to processed foods. Don’t miss out on foods that contain Vitamin C, such as dark leafy greens, tomatoes, oranges and papaya.
You can consult a pediatrician for the diet best for your child. If you are covered under OPD health plans such as Day2Day Care, you may visit your child’s doctor unlimited times, without bearing the bill.
Don’t keep your child shut indoors
While you might feel like bundling your child up in tons of warm clothes and keeping them at home as much as you can, doing this might increase their chances of getting in touch with contaminated surfaces. Letting them play for a while outside will help activate their lymphatic system which is responsible for moving toxins out of the body.
Just make sure your child is warm when outside, and teach them the importance of washing their hands often, especially before eating food.
Medicines to keep handy
One must keep in mind that giving medications to children without consulting a health professional could mask their symptoms and prevent the real problem from being discovered. For medical problems that you can easily discern at home, you can stock up on medicines such as a pain and fever syrup, a cough syrup, an electrolyte solution for diarrhea and a saline nasal spray for a congested nose.
Visit the doctor if your child is uneasy
If your child has fever, cough, sore throat, a runny or congested nose, a headache or is just restless, it is best to consult a doctor. With young children, it’s wise to opt for health insurance plans that cover outpatient costs such as Day2Day Care. This plan covers you for unlimited doctor consultations at network centers as well as medicines, diagnostic tests and vaccinations.
Let your rooms breathe
When the sun is shining bright, open those doors and windows for a while to let some clean air in. The fresh air will prevent the room from becoming a welcoming habitat for germs and the UV rays will serve as a natural disinfectant.
Say yes to pre and pro-biotics
Prebiotics help provide nourishment to the good, germ-fighting bacteria in our gut. Some foods that contain prebiotics include garlic, onions, whole grains, honey, oats and bananas.
Probiotic foods will provide your kids the good bacteria they need to fight off infections. Some examples of such foods include yogurt, apples, soy milk, cheese and South Indian cuisines such as idli and dosa.
Winter can be a time of great joy for your child, especially with the much-awaited winter vacation just around the corner. Enjoy bonding with your child this season over hot chocolate, board games and story-telling. Taking a few measures to boost their immunity can keep both you and your kid healthy and happy this winter.
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