Winter is, in most parts of the country, the coldest season. To many people, it is a favorite time of year because they enjoy colder temperatures. For many parents and caregivers, however, winter has had some rather bad sides because it tends to exacerbate risk factors associated with respiratory diseases. In this light, do you know what are the main precautions for children during winter? So, read the text below and check out special tips to protect little ones on colder days!
Why do children seem to get sicker in the winter?
As soon as winter begins, concerns about the health of children also increase, right? This is because, in fact, there are many sick children at this time of year. But do you know why children tend to get sick in winter ?
There are many factors that make certain diseases in winter even more frequent, above all of viral origin. Cold brings one to shut his dwelling windows, so to closed and crowded environments, with a very poor movement of air. However, these attitudes facilitate the spreading of respiratory diseases .
Furthermore, in low temperatures and dry climatic conditions, the human body reduces its production of nasal mucus, also referred to as phlegm. This excretion, produced in the respiratory tract, serves the purpose of defending the body against particles such as dust, pollen, and microorganisms .
Whether through coughing or sneezing, mucus helps to expel invading organisms . A lack of mucus, then, contributes to viruses lodging more easily in the airways. Therefore, it is common for both adults and children to be more susceptible to certain diseases during the winter or even fall periods.
Furthermore, in the case of young children, it is important to remember that their immune systems are still in the process of maturing. Therefore, throughout early childhood, children tend to present respiratory infections more frequently.
But remember: you can never be too careful when it comes to preventing and treating any disease ! Therefore, consult your pediatrician and be very careful so that the condition does not evolve and become something even more serious, okay?
With all this in mind, let’s look at some tips that can help your family take care of their little ones during the winter . Follow along!
7 tips to take care of your children in winter
This is because winter season risks respiratory diseases highly. However, through some simple measures, your family can minimize their chances of infection in respiratory diseases. Find out more:
1. Always keep the environment ventilated
Most viruses that cause flu, colds, and COVID-19 are spread from person to person through contact or airborne particles that live for some time in the environment. In general, always open the windows even on the coldest days, to ventilate the room.
In ventilated environments, or especially outdoors, those very same particles are easier to be dispersed, preventing new infections from occurring. So whether it is summer or winter, open some windows and let the air circulate. Especially indoors!
2. Keep the environment clean
In many regions, winter is also synonymous with dry weather. And since the combination of dry airways and dust can further aggravate respiratory problems, the best option is to wet clean.
So, if possible, wipe down furniture with damp cloths, clean the floor regularly and avoid using dusters and brooms, which can cause dust to rise, causing coughing and sneezing. This tip is essential, especially for families with children with allergies.
3. Wear clean, seasonally appropriate clothing
One of the main ones to be done with children in winter would be keeping them properly dressed so that they do not go chilly. This is especially so concerning their extremities like hands and legs. And most importantly of all, their winter clothes must be clean and free from dust!
In Pak, which is among the countries with short periods of winter, most people store heavier clothes since they will be left idle during this period, and when you bring your coats out, they may come out covered in dust or mites. One should wash their clothes before putting them on to avoid allergies.
4. Encourage the child to wash their hands
Apart from air, hands can also be a vehicle in the transmission of viruses as they touch the ground, then other people and later on attempt to reach the respiratory tract. As such, kids need to be shown and encouraged, even at this earliest stage, to maintain hygiene by washing their hands regularly.
It’s worth singing a song, washing your hands with your children and reinforcing the importance of hygiene for health . Especially before eating, after coming in from the street, after going to the bathroom and whenever else you feel it’s necessary!
5. Increase hydration and nutrition
When the child catches flu, cold or allergy, the airways can become even drier. The body also becomes dehydrated quickly due to fever, vomiting or diarrhea. So offering water, juices and coconut water is important for children.
Further, during the period of infection, diet also has attention. And, therefore, it should be one of the main precautions taken in dealing with children during winter! Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, especially good eating habits, are very important to strengthen the immune system and promote well-being and quality sleep as an example.
6. Avoid crowds
We know that crowds can be even more dangerous in winter, especially for children. After all, in closed spaces such as bars, restaurants and parties, people can transmit respiratory diseases to many people, even if they are only a few meters away.
In this sense, always give preference to open spaces, such as parks, squares and street walks. Dress your child warmly and take them out to have fun! After all, getting in touch with nature is also fun and essential for the health of little ones.
7. Keep an eye on the vaccination schedule
To this day, vaccines are manufactured for all variants of viruses; however, it is essential that the immunization record of your child is current for her age.
So, keep a watch on the vaccination campaigns in your city and see the date for the next round of vaccinations for your child and not miss those dates. Remember: Vaccines can save lives! Much of it prevents some serious diseases that can be even fatal for humans, thanks to science.