10 Tips to Take Care of Your Little One This Monsoon Season

As much as the monsoon season is a welcome break from the burning summer sun, it has its own unique challenges that parents need to contend with especially when they are caring for a baby. The humidity in the room, the tendency to rain, or even the fluctuations in temperature may be bad for the health of your baby. Here are ten useful and extensive tips for parents to keep their child protected and healthy during the rainy season.

1. Maintain Baby Hygiene

You need to maintain high levels of cleanliness during the monsoon to prevent your baby from contracting diseases. Regular washing of your baby with warm water is important in removing germs from his or her skin. Wash their skin with a mild, antibacterial baby soap to avoid irritating their skin. Make sure that you pat their skin dry, especially in the areas that may be prone to getting infected by fungi such as the neck, underarms, and groin. Also, ensure the baby’s environment is clean by washing his or her clothes, beddings, toys, and any clothing that is used by the baby often with a mild disinfectant.

2. Dress Your Baby Appropriately

When dressing up your baby during the monsoon, it is crucial to select the appropriate clothes to ensure your baby’s comfort and protection. Choose clothes made from easily breathable fabrics such as cotton so that there is proper air circulation around the baby to prevent sweating. Do not use synthetic materials because they retain heat and moisture, which causes skin rash. Cover your baby with multiple layers of clothes in case the temperature changes. It is advisable to always have a piece of clothing that will keep the body dry and warm in case it rains. Shoes should be waterproof and easy to wash so that their feet do not get wet resulting in fungal infections.

3. Focus on Baby Skincare

Skincare for a monsoon baby becomes very important since the climate is humid and prone to skin infections. Massages should be done using a mild, fragrance-free lotion to avoid causing irritation to the skin of your baby. Diaper rash is usually prevalent during the wet season so ensure that you change the diapers from time to time and apply a barrier cream on the baby’s sensitive skin. For babies with a tendency to develop eczema (dry, itchy skin condition), continue bathing and moisturising your baby and contact your doctor if the rash appears.

4. Ensure a Monsoon-Friendly Diet

It is important that your baby consumes healthy foods during the monsoon season in order to stay healthy. Dietary changes involve ensuring that you take a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Breastfeeding is greatly encouraged since it helps build your baby’s immune system. For older babies, introduce foods with Vitamin A, C and E like carrots, spinach and oranges to help build up the baby’s immunity. Do not offer your baby raw fruits and vegetables as they are likely to carry bacteria; it is advisable to steam or boil them before feeding the baby.

5. Protect Against Mosquitoes

Monsoon is a season when the cases of mosquito-borne diseases hike a lot every year. We may keep our houses very clean and neat, but the surroundings we live in might not be the same way. So, to avoid mosquitoes altogether is not possible, but we can learn to protect them and ourselves better. Preventing your baby from mosquito bites is very important. Put a mosquito net over your baby’s crib and stroller. Use anti-mosquito solutions that are safe for babies on areas of the skin and clothing that are bare. Avoid opening windows and doors in the evening and use screens to discourage the mosquitoes from penetrating the room. No stagnant water should be in and around your house (like in the water coolers or underneath the sinks or the plants) since this is the perfect breeding place for mosquitoes. 

6. Maintain Indoor Air Quality

There is a likelihood of poor indoor air quality especially due to the damp and humid weather and this is likely to cause your baby have breathing difficulties. Get a dehumidifier to eliminate moisture in your home so as to avoid formation of mold and mildew. Provide proper ventilation by sometimes opening the windows to provide fresh air during dry periods. Some of the ways that one can reduce exposure to allergens include cleaning the house and dusting it frequently. Air purifiers also play a significant role in enhancing the quality of air inside homes by removing airborne pollutants and irritants.

7. Preventing Colds and Infections

Due to changes in temperature and humidity levels during the monsoon season, babies are often prone to catching colds and other infections. To avoid contracting colds, ensure you dry your baby adequately especially after a bath or if the baby has been out in the rain. Make sure that they are properly dressed for the weather condition. To prevent stuffiness, try using saline drops and, if your baby has cold or infection symptoms, see your paediatrician. Wash the hands of each member of the household frequently to prevent the spread of germs.

8. Stay Prepared with Monsoon Essentials

It would be helpful to have the right set of monsoon items so as not to compromise the baby’s safety and comfort. Be sure to pack in waterproof diaper bags, a rain cover for the stroller, as well as extra clothes. When you have to travel with your baby during monsoon, ensure that you have all the basic medicines, an antiseptic, and bandages readily available at home in a first aid kit. Baby wipes help when there is no water around to wash the little one as well as for spot cleaning. It is critical that you have enough supply of clean drinking water as well as baby friendly cleaning materials to keep the baby clean.

9. Encourage Indoor Activities

There is usually restricted outdoor play during the monsoon and therefore, one should have good indoor activities that they can engage the baby in. Prepare an activity area that is clean and safe, complete with toys and books appropriate for the child’s age. You can engage your baby in friendly games, tell them stories, and even create basic art projects that will help them to have fun. To prevent them from being still, encourage them to move around, crawl to music, do jumping jacks, or dance to music. Reduce the kids’ time in front of TV or tablets and engage them in learning activities that challenge their thinking and body.

10. Regular Health Check-Ups

One must ensure the child has frequent check-ups for their general health as they are more prone to illnesses during the monsoon season. Take your child to a paediatrician for checkup to determine that the baby is in good health and has been administered with the appropriate shots. You can ask or share anything that worries you about their health, food consumption, or their beauty routines. Any illness that the baby may develop must be diagnosed and treated early so that your baby does not develop complications.

Special precautions should be taken when feeding and dressing a child during the monsoon season since this is the time water or wind can easily harm the little one. By taking some of these ten broad highlighted tips, you can surely keep your little one protected, warm, and comfortable during the rainy season. Top tips for proper care and dressing include keeping your baby hygienic and always ready for the rainy season, feeding the child on a proper diet and among other tips include constant checking on the clothing and general physique of the child, and also ensuring that you have all your rainy essentials ready. Practising these stated measures and tips, you can be able to enjoy the monsoon rain without fear for your baby’s health.