Five Ways to Protect Your Children from Corona/Covid virus

Keep your child safe from Corona

As the corona virus pandemic continues (while I write this, we are in our eighth month of the pandemic, with no solution in sight), we are learning more about this Covid – 19 and are becoming better at protecting ourselves from it. We have learnt a lot about how this virus transmits, how it affects us and how we can raise our body’s immunity to fight this virus.

The top three ways to protect ourselves from this pandemic are:

• Washing our hands regularly
• Wearing a mask whenever we go out or meet someone
• Social distancing

These three ways may be easy for adults to follow, but what about our kids? Babies, toddlers and infants have no idea what’s happening – overnight their world turned upside down and suddenly they cannot meet their friends anymore or go out to play anymore! Parents are continuously worried on how to protect their babies from this virus. The relatively good news is that the symptoms of COVID-19 are often much milder in babies and children.

However, it is important that parents take all precautions to keep their children healthy during this pandemic and to protect them from this virus as much as they can.

WHAT ARE THE CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN?

COVID-19 symptoms in babies and children are much milder than adults and some children may not show any symptoms at all. However, if they do, then they may show some of the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Chills
• Body pain
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Extremely cranky
• Sore throat
• Diarrhea
• Nasal blockage
• Runny nose
• Difficulty breathing

SO, HOW DO WE PROTECT OUR CHILDREN?

1. Wash hands regularly – wash your hands regularly and encourage your children to wash hands regularly as well. For smaller babies, parents can help them wash their hands under running tap water. Teach your kids to wash their hands before and after every meal, after they sneeze or blow their nose, or come back from outside in order to nullify the corona virus.
2. Use hand sanitizer – Children above the age of 5 years can use hand sanitizers as well, however, parents should supervise the use of it. As a parent, make sure the sanitizers are out of reach of your children and only you give them the hand sanitizer when required. Teach them to wait till it dries out before they start using their hands.
3. Wear a mask – children above the age of two years should wear a mask when going out of the house. Children below two years should not wear a mask, since their airways are still very narrow and they cannot breathe easily through a mask. However, face shields that are suitable for children below two years of age are now available online and they are definitely very helpful. (This is where I purchased the face shield for my eight month old baby)
4. Practice social distancing – children may not understand why they can no longer go out for walks or to their friend’s house as before, but as parents we need to ensure, however difficult it may be, to limit the number of people our children come in contact with. Teach them to maintain distance (if they understand measurement, then 6 feet distance) from people who do not live with them. Ensure they do not come in contact with people who are unwell and hence more vulnerable to COVID-19.
5. Teach them basic hygiene – teach your children to cover their mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing and o immediately throw the tissue away. If they cannot access a tissue or handkerchief immediately, then teach them to use their arm or elbows to close their mouth – never their hands. Should they end up using their hands, wash their hands immediately with soap and water.

Apart from these ways, parents can also do the following to ensure their children, no matter how young, are protected from this virus:

• Give them steam inhalation as often as possible. You can begin giving steam to babies as young as three months old.
• Avoid taking your babies out, unless unavoidable. If you do wish to take them out for walks, then make sure you go out when there are fewer people around and the baby is in a pram or a carrier which is well covered.
• Once back home, clean your baby properly with warm water and a cotton cloth and make sure all the clothes worn out are kept for washing separately.
• If you need to take your child to the doctor’s, call their pediatrician in advance and fix an appointment at a time when the clinic/hospital will not be crowded. Check with the doctor on the steps they are taking to protect their patients.
• Clean your child’s toys and belongings regularly.
• Remain calm, especially if you have older kids who can pick up on your fear. If you stay calm, then they will also learn to stay calm and positive.
• Try to limit your child’s interaction with people who may be more vulnerable to COVID-19.
• Avoid places with high traffic such as the malls

HERE’S WHAT SOME MOMS ARE DOING TO PROTECT THEIR CHILDREN FROM CORONAVIRUS

“I keep my son indoors as much as possible and make sure he gargles with warm water every morning and evening.” – Poonam Minz

“We stay indoors mostly and if we do go out, I make sure my son has a shower and changes his clothes immediately.” – Olivia Vishal

“I give my one year old son a lot of immunity-boosting food and make sure he learns about practicing basic hygiene.” – Priya Basu

“I ensure he washes his hands regularly and am very particular about keeping the home sanitized always.” – Doel Duttagupta

“I avoid taking my daughter out and if we need to, then make sure she takes necessary precautions such as wearing her mask, covering her head with a scarf, wearing gloves, using a hand sanitizer regularly and wear clothes that cover her arms and legs as well.” – Pallavi Chauhan

“I make sure my kids wash their hands regularly, and use a sanitizer regularly, as well.” –  Melinda

If you have any tips and suggestions for protecting against Corona then please feel free to add them below in the comments section below.