Monsoon for Kids - 9 Problem & Safety Precautions During Rainy Season

When the hot days have really got you down, when you can see the dark clouds as they start to stream "hopefully towards you", when you get that lovely "a-ha" smell of the rains somewhere in the distance, you long to step out and get wet! But as an adult, you are wary of the season too for the number of problems and even illnesses that it brings.

As a parent, you are worried for your children as they are more susceptible to the monsoon maladies. Because you know that the first few showers that fall, bring down with them all the pollution from the atmosphere (almost like acid rain). Because you know that despite the claims of storm water drains having been created, there is dirty water swirling on the roads and in the potholes. Because if they get wet and do not get dried up in time, they are likely to be sick and need to miss school.

But don't let the worries about the rains dampen your child's spirit or yours. We discuss here the 9 most common problems faced during this season and how, as parents, you can take care of your children.

Monsoon for Kids Here are the Safety Tips & Health Precautions During Rainy Season 

1. During the rainy season, children (and adults too) are prone to slipping, injury or fungal infections due to increased humidity.

As a general practice, add a few drops of Parama Naturals' Turmeric Essential Oil in a mug of water as a final rinse post shower or bath. It acts as a natural disinfectant and an antiseptic which will protect their body. It can also be applied undiluted immediately on scratches or minor injuries too. KEEP IT HANDY!

2. It is not always predictable whether one will get wet in the rain - inadvertently or because your child wanted to play in the "irresistible" rain. Rain water can be harmful for the skin since it brings with it harmful pollutants too which can cause skin allergies and rashes. So, PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED. After their morning shower or bath, and definitely before they leave home, give them a protective coat of oil. This goes for adults too. While it may be exciting for the child to play in the rain, try to restrict the duration and do not let it be for too long or too often. 

It is advisable to apply, on the face and body, the mood-uplifting Parama Naturals' Lavender-Turmeric Moisturizing Face & Body Oil as a standard practice during the monsoons because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. 

3. Yes, we know it's hard to resist the temptation, especially for children. You may take all precautions and provide them with umbrellas, boots and raincoats, but they can still get caught unawares (or not!) and get wet in the rain. Contact with contaminated water on water-logged streets can also cause serious viral diseases like leptospirosis. 

Make sure that they wash their hands, legs and other exposed parts of the body immediately once they are back home. A quick warm water shower with a good antibacterial and anti-fungal soap like Parama Naturals' Neem-Turmeric soap will help clean away the contaminants.

4. Wearing footwear like shoes and socks for school or play or having damp feet for long periods of time results in smelly feet and can lead to fungal infections between the toes. 

Apply an anti-fungal cream like the Parama Naturals' Solid Deo Butter in the webbing between the toes to keep the feet feeling fresh. It also prevents and soothes sensitive skin.

5. During this season, the skin is prone to itching or rashes. It can happen if the skin remains moist for too long, and the skin becomes sensitive. On the other hand, despite the air being humid, children may experience dry skin due to the high relative humidity and heat, internal metabolic changes or frequent washing hands with harsh soaps (and/or sanitizers!).

In the event that the kids experience itching after getting wet in the rains or due to some infection, apply the Parama Naturals' Clarifying Face & Body Butter. The antifungal properties of turmeric and neem will help soothe their skin.

6. Frequent urination is common in the monsoon season, especially for babies and younger kids. If you are parents to babies or toddlers, diapers need to be changed frequently to avoid wetness and fungal infections.

Use Parama Naturals' Turmeric Moisturizing Face and Body Oil to prevent and soothe diaper rashes.

7. Sweat and dampness lead to an itchy scalp and tangled hair during monsoons. It is the perfect environment for not only fungal infections but also for lice to breed. Therefore, it is important to keep the scalp clean and healthy.

Use a few drops of the Parama Naturals' Nourishing Hair Oil to massage the scalp of your children post a wash. Nourishing the scalp with time-tested potent ingredients and protecting it with neem and turmeric, the oil will also keep the hair detangled and frizz-free. 

8. Monsoons are also a time for all types of creepy-crawlies and bugs. Keep your surroundings clean to prevent mosquito breeding. Make children wear light clothing that covers the body. Apply a child-safe mosquito repellant to the exposed surface.

Turmeric and lavender essential oils have insect-repelling properties. This is an added advantage in this season where bugs and mosquitoes are rampant. Using Parama Naturals' Turmeric Essential Oil in the bath water or applying the Parama Naturals' Lavender-Turmeric Moisturizing Face & Body Oil give a protective coat to the body, acting as mild insect repellents. Even if bitten, turmeric and lavender will soothe the skin surface and prevent excessive itching. For extra protection from mosquito bites, add a few drops of citronella essential oil to the moisturizing oil as a natural insect repellant. 

9. Since there is much variation in the temperature during the day--hot and humid during the day and cold and damp in the evening, coughs, colds and flu are common occurrence in this season. Spending too much time playing in the rain can only aggravate the condition and lead to congestion. 

Always make the children use lukewarm water for washing face or for their bath. NEVER wash face with hot water which can damage their soft skin. Cold water, on the other hand, can cause cough and cold in the damp weather.

Provide your children with immunity-building, warm and nutritious meals and lots of hot fluids like soups or herbal tea throughout. 

In case the kids feel a sniffle coming up, or at the onset of a congestion, massage their chest, stomach and backs with the Parama Naturals' Zingiber Body Oil . You can also take a few drops of it on your little finger or a Q-tip and apply inside your child's nostrils. Ginger has anti-bacterial and antiviral properties and is useful in decongesting and drying out mucous or phlegm build-up in the sinuses, nasal passage and chest, thus providing relief and preventing infection.

To unblock nasal passages and give instant relief, young children can be administered steam by adding Parama Naturals' Turmeric Essential Oil  in hot water through a steamer (TAKE DUE PRECAUTIONS).

Avoid harmful chemical-based skin care and health care product at all costs and use chemical-free and kid-safe ones instead. Chemical-based products strip off the natural oils present in the skin exposing the skin further to infections. They can also cause long-term damage to not just skin but their overall health. Using 100% natural oils and butters instead of chemical-laden moisturizers and creams is always safe and best for kids and adults as well. 

Read our blog 'The Importance of Reading and Understanding Labels' for learning how chemical-based skincare products can harm us.

To conclude, come rain, hail or sunshine, give your precious little ones the nurturing touch of nature with a protective coat of turmeric and natural cold-pressed oils. Turmeric, with its antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory properties, the uplifting properties of lavender, the balancing and therapeutic properties of ginger, the antimicrobial properties of neem and other potent, natural ingredients will keep your little ones safe and healthy in the rainy season and forever.

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