The happiness of every mother depends to a great extent on the health of her child. The lowered immunity of the baby puts in jeopardy this wonderful feeling of wingedness, especially during periods of increased risk of the incidence of colds and viral infections. How to save the most dear to the heart of a man from the disease? Of course, after consulting with a pediatrician, you can always pick up a drug that strengthens immunity, but every doctor will tell you that a natural method is always preferable.
Providing the child a daily diet containing the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals, you, of course, enhance his immunity, but there is also a more effective method - hardening.Hardening is a complex of procedures that strengthens the general immunity and ensures the resistance of the organism to low temperatures and environmental influences.
Tempering of children requires a special, responsible attitude of the parents. We will try to help you strengthen the immunity of the baby correctly. Before you begin to temper the child, you need to take into account the two main principles of hardening: systematic and consistent. If you are willing to give your child daily time for water-air procedures and are able to comply with the rules associated with the gradual adaptation of the body to low temperatures, then, perhaps, let's get acquainted with the actual procedure of hardening.
The first question that moms ask is at what age the baby's body is already ready for hardening. One month old baby is already able to lead a "healthy lifestyle". Before each evening bathing lay out the naked baby on the changing table for taking air baths and for 10-15 minutes make him an easy stroking massage on the back, belly and feet - this is also a way of hardening. The temperature of the air in the room should not exceed + 20-22 degrees. Further dip the baby in the water, the temperature of which is at around + 36-37 degrees. Every 7-10 days, the temperature in the bath should be reduced by 1-1.5 degrees. After bathing, pour the baby with water 10 degrees below the one in which he bathed. Pour the child should be from head to heel, but for infants pediatricians recommend pouring prepared water with a thin trickle first on the heels, the spine and only then on the head. Do not forget to maintain the necessary humidity level in the room in the range of 50-52%, this will help to avoid coughing. Lowering the temperature in the bath should be stopped when reaching a value of 16-18 degrees Celsius.
If you decide to begin to temper the child after reaching the age of three, then doctors recommend starting the procedure in late spring, when the body is cheered.
The hardening should take place in three stages:
- physical warm-up for at least 5 minutes. Warm-up is necessary for warming up the body, in addition, the child needs physical development. For a healthy spirit you need a healthy body.
- rubbing with a cold towel or spongy mittens. The procedure takes one or two minutes and should take place in a room with a comfortable temperature level of + 20-22 degrees Celsius. After rubbing the child should be wiped dry with a towel.
- After 2 months, you can add pouring water to a 20-degree temperature, which should also be lowered every 7-10 days.
If the baby has a chronic illness or you do not risk taking a final decision about the advisability of tempering your child on your own - consult your pediatrician.