When taking care of your kids during the Spring Festival, you must avoid these "pitfalls"! Parents, please take a look

The Spring Festival is here, and the lights and decorations are so lively! In this festive season, it is a happy thing to take your children to visit relatives and friends and enjoy the holiday.

However, the pace of life changes greatly during the Spring Festival. If you are not careful, you may fall into a pitfall that affects your child's health. Don't worry, the Xiangdong Hospital affiliated to Hunan Normal University has this guide to bringing your child to a healthy holiday to help you avoid pitfalls!

Dietary pitfalls: Avoid overeating, balanced nutrition is the way to go

1. Control snack intake: Snacks are plentiful during the Spring Festival, but the amount of snacks children eat should be strictly controlled. Eating too many high-sugar and high-fat snacks can easily lead to a variety of health problems. For example, candy can affect blood sugar and dental health, and fried foods can easily cause indigestion and obesity.

The energy intake of snacks should be controlled within 10% of the total energy intake for the whole day. High-calorie snacks such as chocolate and cream cake should not be consumed more than 3 times a week.

2. Choose healthy snacks: Give priority to choosing healthy snacks for your children. Fresh fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber. You can give your children 1-2 oranges a day to supplement vitamin C. Sugar-free yogurt contains probiotics, which is good for intestinal health and can be used as a daily snack.

Original nuts are rich in high-quality protein and unsaturated fatty acids, which are beneficial to children's brain development, but only a small handful (about 10 almonds or 7 cashews) a day is required to avoid excessive intake.

3. Ensure balanced nutrition for meals: Meals should be diverse and balanced. Cereals and potatoes provide energy for children, such as corn for breakfast, rice for lunch, and sweet potatoes for dinner. Meat and eggs are rich in protein and are an important source of nutrition for children's growth and development. One egg and a moderate amount of fish or chicken are essential every day. Vegetables and fruits can provide rich vitamins and dietary fiber and promote digestion. The daily intake of vegetables is about 150-300 grams, and the daily intake of fruits is 100-200 grams.

Work and rest "pitfall": Don't forget to keep a regular work and rest schedule, and get enough sleep to help growth

During the Spring Festival, there are many gatherings and activities, and children's daily routines are easily disrupted. Staying up late will not only make children lack energy and irritable the next day, but will also affect the secretion of growth hormone in the long run, hindering the growth and development of children.

Growth hormone is secreted vigorously during deep sleep at night, especially from 10 pm to 2 am. If you miss this time period, the secretion of growth hormone will be significantly reduced. Parents should try to keep their children's usual routine.

Make sure your child gets enough sleep every day. Children aged 3-5 need 10-13 hours, and children aged 6-12 need 9-12 hours. In the evening, you can let your child finish washing before 9 o'clock, lie in bed and listen to some gentle bedtime stories to help your child relax and fall asleep.

Travel pitfalls: Take good precautions to ensure safety and enjoy your trip without risks

Visiting relatives and friends and going out for fun are essential during the Spring Festival. However, in winter, the temperature is low, there are many places where people gather, and children's resistance is relatively weak, making them more susceptible to diseases.

In public places, droplet transmission is the main route of transmission of viruses and bacteria. Viruses like influenza can survive in the air for a long time, and children may be infected once they inhale droplets containing the virus.

Before going out, dress your child in warm clothes according to the weather, and put on a hat, scarf, and gloves to prevent cold. When going to crowded places such as shopping malls and cinemas, be sure to let your child wear a child-specific mask, and it is recommended to change it every 4 hours.

After returning home, let your child wash his hands with running water and soap in time for at least 20 seconds. Follow the seven-step hand washing method, carefully cleaning the palms, backs of hands, between fingers, between nails and other parts.

If you are traveling with your child, you must use a suitable child safety seat for your child. Choose the appropriate type of safety seat according to the child's age and weight. For example, infants aged 0-12 months should use a rear-facing safety seat; children aged 1-4 years old and weighing 9-18 kg can use a forward-facing safety seat; children aged 4-12 years old and weighing 15-36 kg are suitable for a booster cushion combined with a seat belt.

Playing "pitfalls": Playing moderately can prevent accidents and make your holiday more peaceful

During the Spring Festival, children have more activities to play with, but if they are not careful, accidents can easily happen. When playing with fireworks, you may be injured by the explosion if you are not careful. According to statistics, there are cases of children being injured by fireworks every Spring Festival, and the injuries are mostly concentrated in the hands, face and eyes.

Parents should teach their children to use toys and entertainment facilities correctly. If they play with fireworks, they must choose an open area away from flammable materials and be accompanied by an adult throughout the process.

Children under the age of 5 should try not to play with fireworks and firecrackers. Older children should also strictly follow the instructions when playing with them. Small firecrackers such as throwing and smashing firecrackers, which seem "safe", also have certain dangers. Don't let children play with them in crowded places.

Dangerous items such as electrical appliances and thermoses at home should be placed out of the reach of children. For example, electric heaters have a very high surface temperature and children may get burned if they accidentally touch them. They should be placed out of the range of children's activities and equipped with protective fences.

The Spring Festival is a good time to spend time with your children and share joy. Parents should avoid these "pitfalls" and let their children spend the festival happily and healthily. I hope every child will be healthy and have a good appetite in the new year!

Hunan Medical Chat Special Author: Zhou Aihua, Pediatric Outpatient and Emergency Department, Xiangdong Hospital Affiliated to Hunan Normal University

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(Edited by ZS)