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Your Guide to Mother and Baby Winter Essentials
Is it just great when the winter is white and when kids have lots of fun playing outside, making snowmen? Rather than spending the weekend in front of the TV, join the kids outside and have fun together as a family! Even when temperatures go below zero, it is still beneficial even for the very small children and babies to go out for a short walk and have some fresh air. Just make sure you’ve got handy your winter essentials. Don’t underestimate that while winter may be hard for you, it’s even harder for your little ones. Below is a top list of what every parent needs to have handy to ensure that both mother and her little pumpkins have a safe and happy winter.
Mother and Child
Super food for strong immunity
Nutritious diet is what will help us survive the winter without too much colds and flu, and will make us be healthy during the cold months. If breastfeeding, proper diet is extremely important for both mother and baby. Have more food rich in Vitamin C (kiwi fruit, lemons oranges, peppers, potatoes, blueberries, mangoes), beta-carotene and Vitamin A (sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin and butternut squash), as well as foods rich in zinc (turkey, red meat, oily fish, such as salmon, lentils, peas, and grains). If you are weaning your baby, provide nutritional meals and snack like banana and avocado puree, pumpkin, carrot and potatoes mash, apple, or banana and mango milk shake (get some more recipe ideas here). Mothers will benefit from garlic raw or in cooking (to avoid strong flavour and aroma) at least 3 times a week. Garlic infusion left in the baby room for 15mins would also help killing bacteria. Read more about the top super foods for strong immunity.
Sunlight
Sunlight is what we miss most during the winter. And it’s not just about the mood and winter blues. Getting at least 15min sunlight a day is necessary for our bodies to form Vitamin D (not found naturally in any food). On a sunny winter day aim to spend as much time outside with your kids, as possible. If the winter is gloomy though, give your little one Vitamin D in a form of baby vitamin drops (they usually come as Vitamin A, C & D drops).
A jar of organic honey and a handful of bee pollen
Did you know the golden bee honey, especially when a handful of bee pollen has been dissolved in it, is a little miracle when it comes to straightening our immune system? A spoonful every morning will keep colds, fly and infections at bay; mixed with onion juice will sooth a coughing child and will give him a good-night sleep; used externally will help wounds because of its antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Note – never give honey internally to an infant, better wait till the child reaches two.
Mother
Gloves
Seems obvious, right? I definitely wouldn’t go out in a cold day without my gloves. Let’s face it – going outside on a higher humidity and cold weather after we’ve spend hours inside in a warm dried air may be damaging for the skin and nails. So gloves are here to help - they prevent hand skin from drying and cracking. And from bones pain, too.
Warm drinks throughout the day
Herbal tea or warm milk sprinkled with warming cinnamon and vanilla will make you feel much better in a winter day. My favourite tea is Ayurvedic herbs and spices infusion. Mm, I love it! I choose my Ayurvedic tea base on my dosha, or type. If you are wondering what that is, get some top-line information here. Or you may wish to take part in our Ayurvedic test to find out which dosha you are? – Then you can make your personal Ayurvedic tea, and see the difference! Some ready-made tea bags are already on the stores’ shelves – watch out for Pukka herbs or Yogi Tea!
Natural lip-balm
I never go outside in a cold day without my homemade lip-balm. It soothes dry or chapped lips, makes them soft and appealing. Check here for my recipe.
If you prefer a ready-made one, try the miracle lip balm from BalmBalm – it works wonders! Shea butter, sunflower, beeswax, jojoba & calendula, gently melted together to create a soft balm formulation to soothe, moisturise and nourish your lips or anywhere else that might need caring for.
This product is fragrance free so won't interfere with eating, drinking or kissing. It is so gentle that it can even be used on new born babies - not as a lip balm of course as babies have no need of lip balm, but as a multi purpose moisturiser it's the perfect answer to all your babies moisturising needs. Plus it’s small and comfy enough to fit in a bag.
Aromatherapy bath
Warm-up yourself with nice and relaxing aroma bath. Besides, it’s the perfect end of the day. I use warming, relaxing and seducing essential oils like jasmine, rose, cinnamon, vanilla and lavender. You can get creative and discover your own personal aroma bath mix. Be careful with essential oils though – follow our aromatherapy guide to be on a safe side.
Baby
Hats, mittens and shawl
Ear-infections in babies during the cold months are common. Best way to prevent them is to make sure your baby and small kid always wears a hat when going outside. Same with the sore-throat – a soft cotton shawl will keep it warm. The same way you prevent your hands from getting cold, use mittens for your little one.
Natural organic baby salve
I either make my home-made one with beeswax, calendula oil and a few lavender oil drops, or 
buy a natural organic Baby Salve from Organic Babies. It can be used all over the body, it’s soothing and prevents the skin from getting dry.
Organic Babies' Baby Salve is a natural product made without Parabens, Lanolin, phthalates, artificial perfumes, petrochemicals and colourants to bring you the purest rescue salve that nature can offer. It is also suitable for babies and kids prone to eczema or other skin irritations. I've tested it on my little one myself and it works wonders! It is water-resistant to protect against dampness, it's so smoothing onto baby’s hands, face, body and bottom, so is can also be used as a nappy cream, and it is 96% organic for sensitive and delicate baby skin. Scented with Fairly traded Lavender Oil, my daughter loves it!
Make sure you use it over your baby’s hands and face every time you go outside – apply sparingly to baby’s skin and gently rub in; I usually apply it 10 mins before going out and leave it to dry.
Propolis tincture
Another miracle bee product, propolis tincture is essential part of my winter natural first aid kit. It’s best given internally to kids and babies – one drop for each year, three times a day. It helps the immature immune system fight infections, winter viruses and bacteria. You may need to be consistent, though – don’t expect results in 3 days… you’ll rather need to give it for 3 months.
Snowsuit or heavy cotton-wool blanket
To make sure you’ll keep your little one warm even during coldest days, snowsuit should be essential part of your baby’s outfit. An extra blanket in the bag is always worth. Baby may fall asleep or just feels cold. Toddlers tend to get colds easily if stay in one place after being active, running and jumping. – You need to be prepared and cover him with a nice and warm cotton wool blanket. A footmuff for the buggy is also a great option.
Humidifier
Dry winter air can wreak havoc on baby's skin. An average-costing humidifier helps keep moisture in and can eliminate or reduce chapped skin, especially around your infant's nasal passages and mouth. Never place a humidifier next to your baby's crib though, and choose one that emits cold steam.
And finally, don’t forget all the cuddles and the mummy’s loving touch which will warm up your baby even during the coldest day!
Hope you liked my winter essential list. Pass it on – share it with friends, join the conversation and continue the list.
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