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In the sun with baby: precautions to take
In terms of vaccines: an update is needed
Whatever the destination, your doctor should make sure that your child is up to date with their vaccines. Depending on the country of destination, the age of your child, the season, the conditions of the stay, he may need to be protected from yellow fever, viral hepatitis, meningococcal infections. The prevention of malaria, for example, is essential in regions where this disease is frequent, it consists on the one hand in protecting oneself from insects, and on the other hand in following a preventive treatment.
Plan, before your departure, a consultation in a specialized center for advice to travelers and international vaccinations or an infectious and tropical disease service (in all CHUs), is recommended for the choice of vaccines and preventive treatment for malaria, the most suitable according to the age and weight of the child, but also to the destination.
National recommendations are updated and published each year on the website of the health watch institute
We protect it from insect bites
First of all, the mosquito net is essential on his stroller, inside and out. Soak it in a repellant after making sure it is safe for toddlers’ bodies. At night, make sure she is always tense enough not to slip into her bed: he could curl up in it and suffocate. As one is never too careful, you can also use repellents. Most lotions and creams to be applied to the skin, which are too concentrated in chemical agents, are not suitable for infants. It is therefore better to seek the advice of your pharmacist. Never use bug spray. Prefer wall outlets, they are safe (as long as it does not work!). And think, in the evening, to make him wear light but covering clothing. He must not walk around with bare arms and legs.
Maxi-hygiene to prepare meals
Wash your hands well : it is a very simple measure and yet essential to limit the risks of gastroenteritis and turista. Just like giving him exclusively bottled water, peeled fruits and vegetables and forgetting, for older children, ice cream and sorbets. Always to avoid any infection, sterilize his bottles. Even if in France you had lost this habit, the hygiene of your bottles must be irreproachable in these distant lands where bacteria develop at high speed V. The simplest is to immerse them a few minutes in boiling water after having them. washed well with a swab. Finally a valid advice whatever the destination: do not prepare anything in advance. With the heat, bottles of milk quickly turn into culture broth. That is why, its bottle must always be consumed within an hour of preparation, or even within half an hour if it has been reheated. The same goes for the small jars: it is better to give them to him at room temperature than to walk them lukewarm all day in an insulated bag.
The composition of the first aid kit
Indispensable, rehydration fluids to use in case of diarrhea and an anti-diarrhea, but also paracetamol, and an anti-vomiting medication prescribed by your doctor, a thermometer, Biafine, for sunburn, as well as a non-colored, non-alcoholic antiseptic solution to disinfect small wounds. But beware, these are only first aid products. If symptoms, such as diarrhea or fever do not improve within hours, it is essential to consult. If your child is taking long-term treatment, consider bringing a refill prescription. Your pediatrician will have taken care to specify the names of INNs, essential information during stays abroad to find equivalent drugs.