Tips to keep your kids safe from smog and air pollution

Children are more sensitive to the effects of smog and air pollution than adults. Here are some practical tips for you to follow to protect your kids from the potential health effects. Rajesh Vohra, CEO of a popular baby care brand, lists them down:

Stay indoors: The most obvious solution to keep your little ones protected from smog and air pollution is to keep them indoors and limit their exposure to outdoor activities during morning and evening times when smog levels are high.

Eat nutritious food & drink plenty of fluids: Good amounts of fluid intake is advised for kids as it helps to flush out toxins from the body. Also, we need to ensure that our kid's immune system is well nourished, hence we need to introduce fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin A, C and omega fatty acids in their diet such as oranges, carrots (in form of halwa), nuts etc. as these are rich source of anti-oxidants.

Use of humidifiers at home: Dry and polluted air is the major cause of many health problems in young ones – from nasal infection to sore throat and allergies, etc. Having a humidifier at home, helps to create the best conditions for your child’s health and well-being by restoring optimal humidity levels in the room, keeping cold and dry air at bay. A humidifier adds much-needed moisture to the air and creates favourable conditions for your child’s breathing, relieving symptoms of nasal congestion and cough thereby allowing your little one to breathe and sleep comfortably.

Use face masks specially designed for kids: When stepping outdoors, ensure that the kids wear a facemask that has been specially designed for them having a good filtration efficiency preferably >95% and keeps them protected against dust and pollutants. Look out for kids face mask that is made of breathable fabric (poly-satin/cotton) and should be comfortable to wear with adjustable ear loops covering the child’s face properly.

Practice good hygiene and don't smoke indoors: Make sure everyone washes their hands and faces as soon as they step indoors. Make sure you keep your baby and yourself well away from smokers.