If you have had extreme temperatures during the summers, winters can be the much-needed reprieve from the constant sweating. But for new parents, winters can also be harder to tackle.
Babies naturally need more care during winters, especially if the temperatures run rather low. Moreover, since people share close quarters during winters, the chances of getting sick and passing viruses run higher.
Hence, it is can tricky to manage the baby’s first winters. There are ways that babies can be protected during the cold weather, but know that despite everything, they can still catch cold, meriting then the visit to a pediatrician in Karachi.
Tips for your baby’s first winter
Layer is your best friend
Some people think that the bulkier the clothes, the better protection they offer. While this might be true to some extent, but a more beneficial approach to stay warm is to layer up.
Not only can the bulky clothes impede mobility, but they might also be too warm for when in doors. Layering, on the other hand, is more comfortable. Since air, an insulator of heat, gets trapped between each layer, it also ensures that one stays warmer. Furthermore, layers can easily be removed when inside, or when feeling too warm.
So, make sure that you invest in good clothes that can be layered. For convenience, you can choose the first layer to be a snug thermal.
Invest in a humidifier
Winter air tends to be dry. Moreover, most places do have some form of heating, which further removes moisture from the air. Dry air cannot only then lead to the skin becoming dry and breaking, but it can also make a case of cold worse. It causes the air and the nasal pathways to become dry and can causing itching and problems as a result.
Therefore, invest in a humidifier. It introduces sufficient moisture in the air, so the baby remains comfortable. For yourself too, a humidifier is a good investment.
Try to keep the baby indoors
Even though you might be tempted to go around the block for a cup of coffee or see the lights during the holiday season, try to minimize your trips to keep the baby protected.
Dressing up the baby can be very bothersome. And it may happen that despite your efforts, baby still is cold. The converse is also true; it attempts to be cautious; you might dress up the baby too much, causing them to experience discomfort.
Furthermore, ice can be tricky to walk on, and may increase your chances of taking a fall with the baby.
Bathing the baby with caution
For when bathing the baby, you might need to take some extra precautions. First, make your room warm enough so the baby does not become cold. Try to run hot shower in the loo so there is sufficient steam to make the baby comfortable when bathing. If that is not possible, then move the baby tub into your room with the heating.
Before giving baby a bath, try to massage them with oil so that the hot water causes minimal moisture loss from the skin. Moreover, always check the temperature of the water in case it is too hot for the baby.
Note the signs of the baby being cold
It is important that you keep tabs on the baby in case they are too cold. Often, it leads to the face becoming red, the hands becoming pale and the nails becoming blue.
In such cases, try to make your baby warm. Take them to a room that has a higher temperature. Do not rub the skin, as winter skin is drier and thus more delicate. Also, make sure to always keep their hands and head covered, so to minimize the heat loss from the body.
Get them to the doctor timely
Since the chances of catching cold and flu run higher in winters, therefore, parents need to be extra cautious about visiting the best Child Specialist in Lahore when they suspect or observe signs of cold, etc.
