It’s an age-old remedy for skin ailments like bug bites and poison ivy, and an oatmeal bath is also an excellent solution for dry skin, says Winnipeg dermatologist Victoria Taraska. “Oats contain phenols and antioxidants that will reduce skin inflammation and quell itchiness,” she says.
1. Pour a ½ cup of whole oats into the tub as you fill it with warm water (hot water can irritate sensitized skin). For a milkier soak that may be more effective for severely dry skin, blend oats to a fine dust in a food processor so they dissolve completely in the water.
2. After you add the oats, run your hand along the bottom of the tub to break up any clumps that may form.
3. Carefully lower your little one into the bath – the oats may make the tub more slippery than usual.
4. Allow him to soak for about 15 minutes, then gently pat him dry with a soft towel. (Any rubbing can exacerbate problem spots.)
Tips:
Add a drizzle of bath oil (you could even use olive oil) to the water for an ultra-moisturizing alternative.
Having trouble convincing your little guy that pouring oatmeal into the tub is a great (not gross) idea? Turn it into a game. Say, “Imagine the tub is a big bowl of porridge. What kind of topping do you want to be?” Trust us, he’ll be making like a raisin in no time.
12 health hacks for the whole family
Updated Jul 16, 2024
Photo: iStockphoto
Quick Fixes for Health
Remove bandage residue
Why is it long after the bandage comes off, there’s still that sticky, dirty reminder of the time they fell off their scooter? The residue seems to stay on all summer long. To get rid of it, once and for all, gently massage a small amount of baby oil onto the skin. The residue should wipe right off.
A trick to get your baby to take medication
Need a way to help the medicine go down? Cut off the tip of an open-ended soother (like a Philips Avent pacifier) with a pair of scissors to create a small opening. Stick the medication dropper through the soother channel to administer medicine.
Four tips for applying sunscreen
“We play ‘freeze!’ to see who can stay still the longest. Or I let them cover my face with sunscreen while I do theirs to keep them preoccupied.” —Linda McCool Limini, Waterloo, Ont.
“I put lotion dots all over one of his arms or legs and let him rub it in.” —Sherry Van Der Hayden, Windsor, NS
“I apply the sunscreen while my son is strapped into his high chair.” —Christi Dunn Wyers, Victoria, BC
“I squeeze some sunscreen into a bowl and get a cute paintbrush and paint it on their faces. It tickles them.” —Rebecca Howat, Frankford, Ont.
Stop a nosebleed
1. Contrary to popular belief, don’t tilt his head back. Have him lead forward from a sitting or standing position. Don’t let him lie down–his head should be above his heart. 2. Apply pressure with your thumb and finger, pinching the soft part of the nose just below the bridge for a few minutes, until bleeding stops. (If it continues after 20 minutes, call your doctor.) 3. Apply petroleum jelly under his nose to keep it moist. Since dry air can cause nosebleeds, consider using a humidifier in your kid’s room.
Treat a blister
1. If a blister is large or painful you can drain it with a straight pin that has been sterilized with rubbing alcohol. Once you’ve pierced it, gently press down on the blister so the liquid drains out of the puncture. 2. Once the blister is drained, wash the affected area gently with soap and water. Don’t remove the skin flap on the blister, as the skin helps healing and prevents infection. 3. Apply a layer of antiseptic ointment and cover with a clean bandage. Change the bandage once a day or when it gets dirty.
Help soothe your baby during a shot
Physical contact is key. Soothe her by breastfeeding before, during and after the needle, if possible. Or you can give your babe some sugar water, which releases natural pain-reducing chemicals in the brain, just before the shot. To make your own sugar water, boil water for two minutes and then mix two teaspoons of the water with one teaspoon of sugar. Let cool before offering to your baby.
Ease an earache
1. Pour a cup of coarse salt into a clean white cotton sports sock. (As table salt can easily seep out of the sock, it doesn’t work as well.) 2. Tie a knot at the end of the sock and place it in a clean skillet over medium-low heat for about five minutes, shaking the sock and flipping it over at the halfway point. 3. After testing the temperature on your inner arm, apply the sock to the affected ear and hold in place for up to 10 minutes.
Relieve dry skin
How to give your kid eye drops
1. Have him lie down with his neck propped up and his chin lifted so the drops won’t run down his face. 2. Give him two tissues (one in each hand), and tell him that his job is to hold the tissues beside his eyes (roughly at the temple). 3. Tell him to gently close his eyes. Squeeze drops into the inner corner of each eyelid, and then ask him to slowly open his eyes. The drops will run in all by themselves.
How to get through a wait at the doctor’s office
At their next checkup, keep kids distracted with this simple trick: Pack a small bag with coloured pencils, crayons and stickers—but don’t bother with a colouring book. The paper that covers the exam table is the perfect canvas for little artists. If your child is less interested in solo colouring, try playing hangman or tic-tac-toe.
How to teach your child to blow her nose
Some kids can find nose-blowing difficult. How can you help your little one master the skill?
1. Familiarize her with the idea of blowing air out of her nose by getting her to move a cotton ball with only nose air (keeping her mouth closed). 2. Now she’s ready to try with a tissue. Have her gently press one nostril closed while she blows out with the other, then switch sides. 3. Have her dispose of her tissue once she’s done and wash her hands to prevent the spread of germs.
A non-chemical way to treat lice
Want to try a non-chemical treatment for lice? Put 10 drops of tea tree oil in conditioner and rub into clean, wet hair to create a thick coat. Wait about 20 minutes; then, using a lice comb, remove the smothered lice and nits. Rinse hair.
This article was originally published on Mar 05, 2018
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