“Monsoons in Mumbai are a total fiasco! My kiddo always used to fall sick during the rains. It’s the same for Dev. He loves to crawl on the floors, anything that is within a two-meter radius of him ends up in his mouth! I am being extra careful this time around, but he still caught a fever last week. Really don’t know what to do!” says Janardhan, a single parent to an eight-month-old and a five-year-old. Monsoons really are every parent’s worst nightmare! Despite the relief from the scorching hot weather, rain brings with it loads of other problems like dirty floors, clothes that are always damp, dripping pipes, leaky roofs, damp walls, and so much more! The air is thick with moisture leading to growths of fungus and bacteria inside the house. During this time around, kids are most likely to catch a cold or get fever. A few useful tips you can use to shield your little one from monsoon woes are:

• No skipping baths – Monsoon is no season to skip your baby’s bath, if anything your cleanliness-commando mode should be more vigorously active. If the weather is cold, use lukewarm water for your baby’s bath or sponging. Gently clean under the arms, neck, between fingers and other creases of the baby’s body. Use a clean, dry towel to pat them dry and use baby skincare products like a mild moisturizer later.
• Clothing – Thoroughly wash your baby’s clothes with mild, anti-bacterial detergents. Make sure that you are not putting any damp clothes on them, all clothes, if possible, must be sun-dried for a few hours. We do not want any nasty fungal infections wreaking havoc on your baby’s sensitive skin.
• Nappies – Germs spread fast in damp weather. Finding good Baby products online can be difficult. You will see an abundance of baby products online, not all of them so great for your little one. Use baby skincare products that are anti-bacterial, such as lotions, body washes, diaper rash creams, baby powder, etc. Opt for diapers that are anti-bacterial. The top layer of premium diapers such as those made by Snuggy are infused with anti-bacterial properties. These prevent rashes, spread of bacteria and any other nasties and also locks in bad odour from the diaper. Not just that but it has the added goodness of aloe extracts to keep your baby’s skin soft and supple during harsh weather conditions. For added protection, clean the diaper area with wet wipes that are mild and hypoallergenic.
• Surroundings – Always keep the baby’s surroundings clean and hygienic. Clean the floors of your house with disinfectants, disinfect objects that your baby plays with (not just their toys, we also mean the TV remote, your cellphones and also other random objects that end up in their mouths), try to keep everything free of wetness and moisture so that mosquitoes don’t breed in the corners of your home. It is advisable to get pest control done before the monsoon season begins.

We hope that these tips will help you in taking better care of your baby, and both you and your little munchkin can take a sigh of relief this rainy season!