Take care of your baby from mosquitoes in rainy season
After summer, the monsoon brings relief but also increases mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya fever. Children and young children are especially at risk because children play outside and children cannot protect themselves from insects.
It is important to create a routine for your baby to protect them from dengue, malaria and chikungunya fever. Preventative methods like coils and aerosol bug sprays can be effective at keeping mosquitoes at bay but can cause health complications for your little one.
1. Appropriate clothing
To keep mosquitoes at bay, it is important to dress your baby in loose cotton clothes that cover their arms and legs but still allow air to pass through the skin during humid monsoons.
2. Using mosquito repellants made with natural ingredients
Mosquito repellents work wonders to keep mosquitoes away. However, you should be careful and alert about the ingredients they contain. Using mosquito patches is also an effective method to protect young children from mosquitoes. Essential oils can be placed in clothes, cradles, beds and strollers to ensure that your child is always safe from mosquito bites.
3. Avoid standing water
Ensure indoor cleanliness and do not allow any water to accumulate in pots, pans, AC water trays and plant pots; Even buckets of water in the washroom. Also look out for leaking pipes and faucets. Stagnant water creates a breeding ground for mosquitoes and can create a pest infestation in your home.
4. Mosquito nets
Cover your baby's stroller, carrier or crib with mosquito netting to create a physical barrier between the baby and mosquitoes/insects but still allow air to pass through. Use netting both indoors and outdoors to significantly limit exposure to mosquitoes.
5. Watch for signs of fever
Keeping track of symptoms is important so that your child gets the right treatment in case of dengue. Fever, nausea and vomiting, headache, dry mouth, decreased urination, rash and swollen glands are some of the symptoms and should not be avoided. If your child starts showing these symptoms, you should consult your doctor immediately.
At this early stage of life, babies are most vulnerable to diseases and require proper care and attention to limit exposure to insects during monsoons. To protect babies below 2 months of age from mosquitoes and other insects, it is advisable to use only protective clothing and bed nets, and following the preventive measures described above can protect you and your family from dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases.