children Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Sunburn Solutions: When Should I Take My Child to the Doctor for a Sunburn?

September 19, 2020 by Mandy

Sunburn is extremely painful, and it can have long-lasting effects on the body, especially if it’s left untreated.

If your child is a recent victim of sunburn, you may wonder when it’s time to pay the doctor a visit.

Read on to learn more about this skin affliction and when you should seek treatment for your child.

Kids and Sunburn: The Basics

When your child’s skin is exposed to UV radiation, those rays can cause damage to their skin. Too much exposure to the sun or multiple sunburns can cause a variety of issues later in life. You can read more now to find out about the lasting effects it has on children.

While most instances of sunburn cause visible redness, sometimes there are issues you can’t see right away. Children spend a lot of time outdoors on playgrounds, in the swimming pool, or at the beach.

Children with fair skin, moles, or freckles could develop skin cancer later in life. Those with a family history of skin cancer are also more vulnerable. Too much exposure to sunlight in children under 18 will cause the most damage.

UV rays are the most powerful in the summer when the sun is located directly overhead. The hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. tend to be the most dangerous, so it’s important to practice proper sun protection, even in the wintertime.

Common Symptoms

Visible redness or swelling of the skin are two of the most common symptoms of sunburn in children and adults. Painful skin, blistering, and even a mild fever can also be associated with sunburn.

In some cases, children may experience chills, fatigue, and general weakness. Most people experience dry, flaking, and peeling skin that tends to itch a few days after being sunburnt.

How to Get Rid of Sunburn

Preventative measures like wearing sunscreen and staying in the shade are the best way to stop sunburn before it starts. However, it’s important that parents know how to treat sunburn once it happens.

First, have your child take a cool bath, or you can apply a cool compress directly onto the affected area. You can give your child ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help relieve pain.

A topical moisturizer like aloe vera gel or hydrocortisone cream can also help. Do not break blisters on your child’s skin or else it may result in an infection.

Make sure your child stays out of the sun until their skin is fully healed. Continue to apply moisturizer, even after the pain subsides. This will help soothe irritated skin and speed up the healing process.

How Long Does Sunburn Last?

The amount of time sunburn lasts can depend on a few factors including the severity of the burn and your child’s ability to heal. For most kids, sunburn tends to last around three days if they only have a mild case.

Moderate sunburn typically lasts around five days. This sunburn will cause the skin to start peeling, which is normal and nothing to worry about.

Severe sunburn lasts longer, and usually causes problems for around a week or more. The pain usually lasts the first six to 48 hours, and then starts to subside.

The skin usually starts peeling around three to eight days after sun exposure. You can reduce the severity of the peeling by applying a moisturizer throughout the day as soon as you see redness or your child says they are in pain.

While most cases of sunburn don’t last much more than a week, it can cause serious long-term damage. Sunburn can alter the body’s DNA, damage the body’s skin cells, and cause premature wrinkling.

When to See a Doctor

Even if you know how to treat sunburn, some cases may be more severe than others. As a parent, how do you know when it’s time to take your child for medical treatment?

Some level of pain is normal, but if the pain persists or it seems to intensify, it may be time to see a doctor. If your child has a fever of 104 degrees or higher, or if they’re having trouble with their eyesight, these are other reasons to seek treatment.

Pay attention to your child’s skin and look for signs of infection. If the redness starts to spread more than 48 hours after the sunburn, there could be cause for concern.

Large blisters than are over 1/2 inch in size should also be examined. Small blisters at the burn site or blisters on the face may also indicate that your child needs medical care.

Persistent fever, swelling, or periods of ongoing extreme fatigue are also red flags that your child’s sunburn needs professional attention. If your child seems sick and you aren’t sure why then it could be due to the sunburn. An itchy rash or general feelings of malaise should also be a cause for concern if they don’t subside after a day or two.

Pay Attention to Sun-Related Dangers

While you may be able to prevent sunburn most of the time, it’s not always possible to avoid it completely. If you’re concerned about your child’s sunburn, watch their symptoms carefully to determine if you need to take them to the doctor.

With good skincare and some practical sunburn prevention, you can avoid the painful redness and irritation associated with sunburn for a happy summer.

For more great articles about travel, home, sports, recreation, and a lot more, be sure to visit our website today.

Fun and Educational Ways to Entertain Your Kids At Home

September 12, 2020 by Mandy

If this year has taught us anything it is the importance of learning ways in which to entertain ourselves at home and that is certainly true in the case of parents up and down the nation. After the first few weeks of being under lockdown conditions, finding creative ways to keep the kids entertained was certainly tough. As we approach a reopening of parks and public spaces, as well as the prospect of getting our kids back to school however, now is the time for fun and educational activities at home, and here are some ideas which you can try out.

Cooking Up Some Fun

Bringing up your child so that they understand how to cook is a wonderful thing to bestow upon them and it is something which will greatly help them in their future. Kids love getting involved with the preparation of meal or perhaps even some baking and with this activity you can begin to show your kids the basics of cooking, utensils and ingredients.

Opening The Mind

As any parent knows, it is often fascinating to be reminded of the fact that the things we take for granted are something that our kids aren’t even aware of yet and that is why helping to open their mind with regards to the world around them is a great idea. Pick a new country each week, learn a teach your kids a little about their culture and what it looks like, you could even teach them how to cook a dish from that country or culture.

Get Arty

Kids love to draw, paint and color in and this could be a lovely way to spend time with them and encourage them to flex their creative muscles. Instead of simply asking them to go off and paint you something however, make sure that this is something which you are all involved with, as the activity will be much more fun if you do.

Learn About Birds

If you hav birds coming into your garden then this could be wonderful little hobby for your kids, to learn more about them. Ornithology is the study of birds and you can pick up a little guide book in many places that will teach you a little more about these little creatures. A great activity idea would be to build orbit a bird table and keep the food stocked up and then watch the birds come in to eat, and identify them.

These are just a few ideas as to what you can be doing at home with your kids to provide them with some fun and education.

Going to a wedding: how to dress your little girl?

September 1, 2020 by Mandy

Weddings are one of the most cherished moments in any individual’s life. Consequently, it would be best if you made it memorable. This entails the mode of dressing from the bride to the flower girls. As most people set their wedding dates on different seasons, you need to dress accordingly to avoid any embarrassment.

Often as weddings are celebratory, each family member must attend hence the need to know how to decorate your young one. Here are some of the top girls dresses that you can choose from to dress that beautiful baby girl.

Fluffy Dresses

Weddings are crowned with glam, an elegant style that makes everyone look exquisite. Dressing a baby can be a challenging task as they are prone to play with their friends; therefore, they need to feel comfortable. Dressing your little girl in a fluffy dress is one of the major options you have.

The dress is very comfortable, allowing them to manoeuvre during the ceremony easily. You can style the dress with a pair of tights in case the wedding is during the cold season. This allows them to be warm and plushy at the same time.

Sundresses

These types of dresses have stolen the current trends in the fashion industry. As sundresses can be considered a contemporary design, it has made a significant comeback. For a young girl, a patterned sundress can be a perfect fit for a wedding during the summer. Patterns add tastes to different dresses as they are matched with bright hues, which brighten the look.

Nonetheless, the dresses are entirely stress-free, and you need not keep tying or adjusting it each time. For young girls, you can add more elegance by holding the hair to a ponytail or use headbands, which are quite trendy.

Princess dresses

Many young girls love dressing according to their favorite cartoons or dolls; hence many of them like the princess dresses. The attire gives a baby a prominent guise, as they flawlessly flow down to the knee-length or the ankle.

Princess dresses will make the child look quite sophisticated and matches the occasion. When you are selecting the princess dresses, ensure that the colours are bright as it will appear very classy. The dresses can be styled by a coloured sash to look more fashionable.

Pastel dresses

You can never go wrong by choosing a pastel dress. This is one of the trendiest outfits that is chic and comes in different hues. As weddings should be glamourous, the pastel will make your baby slay for the day.

When dressing your baby in a pastel dress, ensure you select neutral or bright colours that will make them pop during the wedding. You can style the dress with a cute pair of sandals as they are very comfortable and easy to walk on.

Dressing for an occasion shouldn’t be hectic, and for a baby girl, there are numerous girls dresses which you choose from. Therefore do not leave her behind, let her slay with you, and make memorable moments together. The above options are a few suitable options that you can utilize and enjoy a fun-filling day.

The 4 Benefits of Reading to Kids

August 27, 2020 by Mandy

As a parent, you want the absolute best for your little one. That means choosing the best foods for their growing bodies, the best schools for their growing development, and the best friends for their growing hearts.

But don’t forget to choose the best for their brains, as well!

As a parent, reading to kids is essential. Keep reading to find out about four key reasons why reading needs to become a staple in your household.

1. Your Children Will Have Larger Vocabularies

There’s a tremendous difference in the vocabularies of kids who are read to and kids who aren’t. How big?

According to some estimates, kids whose parents read five books to them per day hear about one million more words! And that’s just by the time they enter kindergarten.

Reading teaches kids new words, expanding their vocabularies, and strengthening their command of language.

2. Reading Aids Brain Development

Research shows that reading is a simple way to activate creativity and imagination within your children. One study showed that picture books activate three core aspects of a child’s brain:

Visual perception
Imagery
Language

Reading to toddlers and kids often can strengthen the neural pathways between these sections of the brain. As a result, you’re setting your child up for a lifelong love of learning.

3. Reading Can Establish Empathy

Your kids will learn much more than book smarts, however. Reading to your little ones can raise their emotional intelligence, too.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of teaching kids to read is seeing how immersed they get in the story. And make no mistake, that immersion is valuable.

Stories can be a great way to teach kids about the lives and experiences of others. But the lessons learned by rooting for their favorite characters together extend beyond storytime.

By learning empathy from an early age, kids are kinder and more willing to put themselves in the shoes of their peers.

4. It’s a Great Way to Bond With Your Child

There’s no greater joy in the world than feeling your child snuggle up against you. And if nothing else, reading time is a great opportunity to spend quality time with one another.

You’re doing so much more than reading — you’re making memories that will fundamentally shape who your children become.

That alone is a great reason to pick up more books, whether you’re looking for books for 4 years old or books for older kids. The more you read together, the better your bond.

The Importance of Reading to Kids Can’t Be Overstated

Make reading to kids a staple of your day. Together, you’ll foster a love of literature, expand their vocabularies and confidence, make lifelong memories, and so much more.

So don’t wait, grab a book today and start reading with your little ones today. You’ll be glad you did.

And don’t forget, we have tons of great content aimed at helping you be the best parent possible! Make sure to check back with our blog for a constant stream of fresh, new content!

Baby sleep science: A complete guide for new parents

August 16, 2020 by Mandy

The science of baby sleep is a little bit complex to understand, but those who take the time to learn it can really apply it to help improve sleep quality for their little ones. It is an essential factor for a baby’s mind to mature and increase learning capacity and memory. It also helps the baby’s brain to preserve the present memories while making new memories at the same time.

It’s common for babies to have sleep problems, and babies often wake up at night, which eventually disturbs the parents’ sleep. We have listed some tips provided by a sleep consultant which should help new parents understand new ways to improve their baby’s sleeping habits:

Baby sleep patterns

When your baby is three months old, they will start sleeping for a more extended period at night, which should allow you to get more sleep. Baby sleep patterns start developing at the age of six weeks. Babies develop more regular sleep-wake cycles over time as they age, especially between the ages of 3 to 6 months old.

Teach your babies to sleep by themselves

You don’t have to get your baby addicted to their bedtime story to sleep effectively. If your cant learn to fall asleep by themselves, it will undoubtedly disturb your sleeping hours as well. Put your baby in their cot/bassinet when they start displaying their sleepy signs, but before they are fully asleep. This will drastically help them develop their own capacity to fall asleep while giving you a better chance of success with the process.

Sleeping hours

At 3 months of age babies can sleep from 13 to 15 hours a day. That said, every baby is not the same in terms of sleeping hours. Some babies need less sleep while others require more. Some might even say its genetic and to look to the parents sleep habits as a reason for the sleep behaviours in their babies – particularly how did the parents sleep when they were babies themselves.

Baby Naps

At 3 months of age your baby needs a nap 2 to 4 times a day. If you try to cut back on their naps, there is no guarantee that they won’t wake up in the middle of the night. The reason is that your baby can become overtired if they dont get their sufficient naps during the day which leads to a more frequent waking and sleep disturbance.

Changes in Sleep Patterns

Once your baby starts developing physically, it may eventually change your baby’s sleep patterns as well. For example, if a baby learns to roll over/to stand up, it can temporarily disturb their sleep pattern. This is also referred to as a “leap” where your baby’s brain has had a significant advancement in development. In other words, new parents should not get worried about these changing habits. Just keep following the previous sleep routine of the baby, they will get back to routine soon enough.

Read your baby’s cues

Some parents are extra cautious while taking care of their babies. With that, they end up disrupting their baby’s sleep because they are so sensitive about their baby’s sleep. They should let their baby go back to sleep on their own (self settle) when they start waking up a bit. Don’t rush to pick them up and start soothing them, rather see if your baby can self soothe. Finally, try to make the baby’s surrounding environment calm. According to some research studies, babies react more to their mother’s voice than a regular alarm. So if they hear their mother talk, there are higher chances that they may wake up. So, just try to be a bit more careful while your baby is asleep!

Educate Yourself

Babies are a precious and delicate gift for any parent. Parents should be more understanding towards their babies rather than being sensitive towards them. Understanding that they have emotions and that is to be respected – even if they can’t express themselves or talk yet. Your baby will understand much more than you think. Baby sleep science is a subject which is being studied all over the world. It worth performing some more research to get to know more about your baby’s sleep. This knowledge will serve you well during this initial period and help explain some of the responses from your baby which can only be a good thing right?