Contributed By: Myra Raja
Looking forward to the winters is both a delight and stressful at the same time, if you’re a mother that is. The elation of finally turning off those air conditioners and welcoming the much-awaited cold is pure euphoria.
Kids also welcome the winters with open arms and as scantily as they can whereas the mother is running around after them, trying to make sure they have the appropriate check list down pat!
It starts from shoes, socks, vests, sweaters, hats, etc etc. The list is enough to make a grown man cry.
Well, we’re here to tell you that with just a few hacks you can ward off the winter chills and keep your sanity in place.
Checklist:
1. First off, you must adhere to what all grandmothers, mother in laws or various free-unnecessary-advice-givers say, keep their chest covered and warm. I do this generally by buying those woolen vests underneath their clothes, that way my kids don’t get colds and the madness stays at bay. This is my absolute first. I started making them wear it even when they sleep about a week ago, this way even when they throw the blankets off, I don’t sweat it or go checking to see if they have the blanket on or not. If your child is 2 years or less, you can also make them wear a light sweater rather than a full sleeve shirt for the night.
2. If your child does catch a cold, make sure especially during the winters he or she is getting enough immunity building food items. Food such as oats, greens, lentils, soup which is more yakhni based like we say, of either mutton or a desi chicken. These help the child develop a strong immunity in itself so that germs don’t attack with the usual hostility. Getting them to eat these is a challenge but I started off my little ones from day one. Every child is different, my son adapted to these much earlier and peacefully than my daughter, so I know the challenge but I’m here to tell you that it will pay off.
3. This is a medicine that I swear by when they do get the cold, it’s also for adults so all the more reason to keep it close.
Homemade Cough Remedy
(recipe adapted from Good Food Matters)
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (preferably Bragg’s, if available)
2 tablespoons honey (locally produced raw honey is best, if available)
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Mix all of these and keep them in a jar. If your child is 2 years and below, then one or half a teaspoon is enough. 2 years and above can switch to a tablespoon. Adults can take as needed. This is something I swear by and hopefully you will too once you give it a try.
Don’t forget to pinch their nose before making them drink this; apple cider vinegar’s smell is enough to make us nauseous without being pregnant.
