Those ten tiny fingers and soft little soles are always actively exploring and get dirty soon. A baby’s presence in a house could be sensed easily by the booties, little mittens, and cute socks that are dried. They are definitely “little bundle of naughtiness” who keeps us occupied. We take utmost care of every detail of them.

Be it the child’s health, the cleanliness of the surroundings, the diet of the feeding mother, and follow-up checks for the baby including vaccinations. We research and choose the baby care products like soaps, shampoos, diapers/langots, and wipes with attention.

But many families fail to address how to take care of the little one’s hands and feet which are much tender. This guide is for parents on what to expect while caring for those tiny little hands and feet.

Keep them Clean

Sand play and muddy puddles are an irreplaceable fun part of every child’s life. But most of the kids are deprived of this fun because they get themselves untidy. They are also the reason for the worm infestation in many kids which causes iron deficiency, teeth grinding, and many other health issues.

But it is an essential activity at a young age to build immunity, motor skills, and tender muscles. Hygiene with fun makes it possible for the children to enjoy their childhood playing in the puddles. 

Wash your toddler’s hands and feet after the play so they are clean. Hands are always carriers of many germs in preschool age. A handkerchief pinned to school and educating the child about hand wash will keep them away from germs and infections. But too much washing may make their skin dry so make sure they wash as much as required.

Moisturize with the Right Lotions

A child’s skin is very gentle and can get dry very soon while they are busy playing. Keeping them moisturized is very important. When it comes to choosing the right lotion for your child, we must have some knowledge of moisturization and baby lotions. 

The first thing is, we need to keep the weather in mind. If it is sunny, it is essential to hydrate the tender skin. In case of cold days, moisture needs to be retained in the baby’s feet and hands not making it dry and itchy. 

The next pointer to consider is the skin tone. Different children may have different skin tones, so it is essential to do a patch test on the thighs or other small areas to find out if the skin is sensitive or normal, or dry to select the right product.

Even if the clothes cover them fully, it is good to apply the lotion over the skin. When it comes to products, natural products like coconut oil, almond oil and etc… based on the child’s skin tone are always best. Prefer chemical-free products with natural ingredients like almonds, coconut, honey, milk, and other pulses.

The natural ingredients will be gentle on the baby’s skin and might not cause any allergic reaction. Several eco-friendly products are now available which is good for your child and the earth.

Cover Me

A curious toddler’s day is about exploring and walking. When winter is around the corner, make sure to cover their feet with socks and hands with mittens to keep them warm. Babies in colder places find it difficult to get accustomed to the climate when they move from a hotter place to a colder place. Under such situations, it is a must to take care of the fragile skin without fail.

It is also important to choose the right size to make them feel comfortable. Too many tight ones may interrupt the blood flow and create an aversion to wearing them and too loose products may not fit well making it easy for the tiny tots to pull and throw them away. The material must be soft and the quality must be of first grade to avoid any allergic reactions and marks.

The toddler learning to walk is prone to fall now and then. Sometimes it is cute but it may cause bruising in the knees. So it is always right to choose clothes that cover their knees. Also, dress them up with clothes that don’t have embellishments that might hurt them while falling down.

Trim My Nails Momma and Papa!

Baby nails grow at a much faster pace than adults. In specific, the Nails on the hand finger grow much more rapidly than the toenails. It needs to be trimmed at regular intervals be it weekly once or twice. Since it is the breeding hub for the germs with the dirt stuck between the skin and nail.

They may also hurt themselves or others with the overgrown nails. Chances are that the child may hurt the eyeballs with the uncut fingernails; the damage caused by such risk cannot be reversed.

So it is better to trim them occasionally rather than treat the wound and infections caused by them. Another potent factor to keep a check on is your child’s ingrown nails. It may be severely painful that your kid suddenly avoids wearing socks or shoes.

If that is the case, take time to check your child’s toenails if it is swollen, reddish, or have any sharp ingrown nails. Try to soak your child’s feet in salted warm water and later trimming may help to a great extent to soothe the pain.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease

This is a viral infection caused generally in children under the age of 5 years. The infection causes rashes, blisters, fever, and ulcers in and around the mouth, foot, and hands. It generally spreads via the infected person's droplets of coughing, sneezing, and touching and also is an airborne infection. Since it is a viral infection, it has no cure and has only medications to help treat the symptoms.

It can be prevented by washing the hands after coming from outside places, and touching the face including eyes, nose, and mouth unnecessarily when outside. Also, the surfaces and other objects can be disinfected if persons around us are found infected by the same.

Most of the time the child gets infected when playing with other kids in the play school. So, please check if your child’s kindergarten management is aware of these symptoms and has steps to take care of when any child is infected.