A power cut is a rude reminder to all of us how accustomed we have become to electricity and the various benefits it has in our daily life. Caring for a baby during power cuts is a challenge. Power cuts do not just make it difficult to care for your baby, it makes it difficult to take care of your house, cook, attend to the rest of the family and even look after yourself.
This is because, with power cuts, we lose fans, air conditioners (God bless you if it is summer!), refrigerators, water heaters, mixer grinders, washing machines everything! How are you expected to deal with this kind of apocalyptic environment? The first step is to ensure that the star in the family (your baby, of course) is well taken care of.
Tips To Care For Your Baby During Power Cuts
Ironically, it is in summer when we need our fans, ACs, and refrigerators most, that power cuts are most common. While we cannot really control the weather, here are some tips for caring for a baby during power cuts during hot summer days.
1. Fight The Heat
Make sure the baby’s room is well-ventilated and there is a lot of air circulation. The windows and doors should be kept open during the day if there is no loo, else move to the coolest part of the house and bunk out there. Also,
- Keep the floor bare and remove any carpets or rugs on the floor – a bare floor is much cooler and more comfortable than the ones covered in thick rugs
- Make sure the baby wears loose-fitting cotton garments that will help the baby’s skin breathe – or just strip to a nappy if it is really hot. Here are some tips on dressing your baby in the summer.
- Ensure your baby remains hydrated all the time. Dehydration can be a major problem during summers – however, make sure that you do not give water to a baby who is less than 6 months of age- if you have to offer water- seek your pediatrician’s advice first
- Give your baby a bath at least twice a day to ensure that sweat does not get collected in the folds of the skin which might result in rashes. Summers and rashes can be very uncomfortable and painful for baby
- Buy mechanical or battery-operated hand fans (easily available in major supermarkets). This can be a relief for your child, especially, when he is trying to sleep
- If you pump breast milk, you will need to rethink storing the breast milk. Any milk that has been kept in the refrigerator for more than 24 hours with interrupted or no power supply should be discarded
- If you have toddlers, go back to the basic ways to entertain them – get some good board games and puzzles like in the good old days and make them learn as they play!
2. Save The Baby From Winter Cold
Winters are slightly better to manage than summers in the sense that you can regulate body temperature by layering up. Here are some tips for caring for a baby during power cuts during wintertime.
- Take your baby out often during the day to get sun time- though you should save your baby from direct sunlight. Carry an umbrella or make your baby wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- You should always layer one more on your baby than on yourself. For instance, if you are comfortable with 3 layers of clothing, then put 4 on the baby.
- Do not use heavy blankets on small babies as there is a chance of suffocation at the night. It is better to keep them warm with clothes than blankets
2. Keep The Mosquitoes Away
Keeping the baby away from mosquitoes is an important part of caring for a baby during power cuts. Since most of us use mosquito repellents that are electrically operated, power cuts could be equated to opening your front doors for the mosquitoes to forage in your house. Here are some tips to keep them away:
- Close all windows and doors by late evening. This is the time when mosquitoes usually enter the house.
- Use herbal mosquito repellent sprays and other natural remedies to ward off these pesky creatures.
- If using coil, be very careful as it can result in accidents (with kids around) and is a fire hazard in itself. You could however burn a coil outside your door or balcony to avoid mosquitoes from stalking your windows and doors.
- You could also try using mosquito repelling stickers or creams, but ensure they are safe for your baby first.
3. Switch To Disposable Diapers
Washing cloth nappies is not an overhead you want when you have no access to your washing machine. Water might also be scarce as motors cannot be used to pump water without electricity. So switch to diapers briefly if you normally use cloth nappies
4. Be Smart About Storing Breast Milk
If you were storing/refrigerating breast milk, you need to decide what to do with it. For instance, you might want to think about throwing the breast milk that was in the refrigerator (as opposed to the freezer). You can give your baby breast milk from the freezer after it thaws.
5. Cook Right Quantity
If your baby is on solids, please make sure you cook only enough food to last a day. You will not be able to refrigerate the leftovers, so cooking smartly would mean less waste. You can also keep some ready-to-eat food jars ready for emergencies.
6. Be Careful When Boiling Water For Bath
You might have to boil water on the stove to bathe your baby. Be very careful when you bring this hot water from the kitchen to the washroom.
Many of us might just want to forget all these guidelines and just pack a bag and go to the nearest hotel during power cuts. We do not blame you! However, with some careful planning and patient execution, we can ensure that the power cuts do not irate the baby much. Good luck!
