Winter weather and indoor heating can cause itchy, dry eczema to flare up. Give your child short, lukewarm baths or showers, and wash with a mild soap like Dove.
Frostbite often attacks toes, tip of the nose and ears. Signs include numb, grey-white or yellowish skin with a waxy feel, blisters. If frostbite is mild, give Advil or Tylenol. Then, gradually warm the area: microwave a wet cloth in a zip-top bag (it shouldn’t be hot to touch — affected skin burns easily). Hold the bag against the area. For more extreme cases, see your doctor.
Heating a band-aid a little with a hair dryer will soften the adhesive so the bandage comes off painlessly.
To prevent your baby from choking, cut her food into small bites. Don’t allow your baby to play with anything that may cover her face or is easy for her to swallow.
Tags: food, safety, baby
When testing for fever without a thermometer, use the lip test. Touch your lips to the forehead of the baby.
Know to call 1-800-222-1222 if someone takes poison. This number will connect you to emergency help in your area.
Make sure your child is standing or sitting up at least a 45-degree angle when taking any medicine. This reduces the risk of choking.
If your child falls and cuts his or her lip, use something cold, such as a Popsicle. Your child will be excited about a treat, and it will reduce swelling at the same time.
There are old wives tales about giving babies a shot of brandy to help them through teething, but this is dangerous, and poisonous to them.
When a child gags on a drink or a piece of food, she will often cough forcefully enough to clear her airway.
Don’t slap her back or reach into her mouth with your fingers while she’s coughing; it could push the object farther down her windpipe.
All toddlers fall as they learn to walk, run, climb, and jump. Most of the bumps are mild, and there is no need to worry. So when should you worry?
If there is any loss of consciousness, call your doctor immediately. If not, but the fall is big, watch for signs of head injury. Signs include: vomiting in the first six to eight hours after a bump is detected, disorientation, excessive sleepiness, pupils that don’t look equal or normally responsive, slurred speech, or dizziness.
Noticing any of these signs is reason to call your doctor immediately.
There are a number of ways that you can replace fluids in your sick toddler. Water, juice, popsicles, broth and jell-O are all good choices for replacing fluids and are usually well-tolerated by toddlers.
Tags: illness, toddler
Learn child first aid and CPR. Be prepared.
Know how to call for help, including poison control. The national toll-free line for poison control is 1-800-222-1222.
Also, learn child first aid and CPR. We hope you will never have to use these skills. But if you do, the life you save could be your child’s.
Tags: first aid, danger
Post the national Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222) and other emergency numbers next to every phone.
Tags: first aid, danger
If your toddler won’t take liquid medicine, try chewable pills or easy-to-swallow capsules, if available.
As a last resort, if your toddler just won’t open her mouth, talk to your doctor about suppositories and shots.
From 365 Toddler Tips.
Signs of frostbite are a whitening and waxy look to exposed skin.
Go indoors immediately, cover your child’s exposed skin with a warm blanket, and call your doctor immediately.
Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same.
For minor burns, run cold water over the affected area for a minimum of 10 minutes or until the pain eases.