How to treat scalds and burns

Children can be unpredictable at the times and can touch hot surfaces in the kitchen unaware that the hob for example is still hot from cooking.

We have a gate on our kitchen doors, one on our door leading to the living room and the another on the door that leads to the hallway.

However accidents can still happen and so if a child burns themselves, the first thing we do is grab some ice. DON’T. Run the burn under cold water for 10 minutes.

Scalds are caused by wet heat and burns are usually caused by dry heat.

Remove any jewellery, any clothes that is not stuck to the burn and then cover the burn in clingfilm.

There are three types of burns:

• Superficial- Burns only the outer layer; often caused by hot water. It will look red, sore and swollen
• Partial thickness- It looks raw and blisters form
• full thickness- layers of skin are burned away to the subcutaneous fat layer or beyond. Burn may look pale, charred and waxy.

Never:

• Cool the burn using ice
• Burst blisters
• Touch the burn
• Apply creams, ointments or fats
• Apply adhesive dressings
• Remove clothing that has stuck to the burn

Always keep calm as possible not to cause alarm to the child, and they may be in shock too, so do take them to hospital or call 999/112. Here is a video of an example of how to treat burns.

I hope you found this helpful, lets keep our children as safe as possible.

Many thanks for reading,

 

Carrie X

First Aid

As a parent I do feel that it is important we know some first aid tips just in case. Never think accidents can’t happen, as being a trained football coach and coaching children in the passed, accidents can happen.

I recently updated my first aid training as I am starting a new job working in a nursery, so it is essential that I know some first aid, and wanted to share some of the training I have been shown.

 

Choking 

It can happens whilst your child is playing with a toy or on some food. If it is mild and depending on how old they are, ask them “Are you choking?”. They should be able to cough or cry, which can help.

If it is severe:

• Tries to cough but not working
• Unable to talk or cry. They may be able to nod to answer you
• Breathing sounds are wheezy or absent
• The skin may initially flush, but then goes pale with blue tinges
• Rapid reduction in consciousness as oxygen runs out.

 

1. Ask them to try and cough.
2. Call for help if they haven’t been able to clear the item blocked.
3. Lean the child forward, or if it is a baby lay them across your lap with their head facing downwards
4. Give to 5 sharp back blows, between the shoulder blades, with the heel of your hand
5. If that doesn’t help clear the obstruction, then try Abdominal Thrusts, by standing behind the child or baby turn them to the side and press with two fingers between the breast and press down 5 times. Older child once, behind them, place your arms around them
6. Make a fist with 1 hand and place it just above the belly button
7. Grasp the fist with the other hand, then pull sharply inwards and upwards/ Do this 5 times
8. Repeat these steps 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 until help arrives to try and clear the obstruction
9. Still take them to hospital even after you have cleared the blockage as there could be some internal injuries from choking

Here is a video to show you exactly what to do:

I hope you find this helpful, and remember to stay as calm as possible, if you panic so will your child.

Many thanks for reading,

 

Carrie

Only week away until school begins

It feels so strange that as of next week my son will be starting school, and going to be honest I am a little apprehensive about it, because I know the first day will be tough. So far getting him actually in the school premises has been tricky, so not looking forward to wrestling with him, into school.

I know these times will pass and he will eventually get used to it, but getting him into the routine is going to be a huge transformation.

So far we have got him toilet trained. I hope I haven’t just jinxed that, and now we are trying to get him to pull his trousers up and down.

I know there will be other parents going through the same, and I do feel comfort from that, but it will be a massive transition for both Henry and I. I have enjoyed our time together, spending endless days playing indoors, going up to London, going on days out to various places like Legoland Windsor and taking him to softplay.

As a lover of Youtube I did come across a really good video by Emily Norris who gives tips on how to prepare your child for school.

 

We have Henry’s uniform all ready, and so all that has to be done is to put his name labels on it, and we are trying to get Henry to recognise his name, which he is starting to do.

Is your child starting school too, how are you preparing them?

I would love to hear from you.

Many thanks for reading,

 

Carrie X

 

Toilet Training Success

I have been putting off of writing this blog, because every time I think we have succeeded with the toilet training Henry has an accident, but we are having less accidents now so we are succeeding. Last Friday he had no accidents at nursery, just when he was in the car, but the traffic near where we live is bedlam at the moment and took my husband 50 minutes from nursery to home so Henry had wet himself in the car.

However we are having super success and he is even doing number two’s in the toilet too. Sorry for the TMI.

We have just been putting him on the toilet every 2 to 3 hours or before or after he has eaten so he gets into a routine and has started to go to the toilet on his own. I think the accidents are caused, due to him occasionally forgetting or not realising he needs to go.

My mum has really helped with it, it is good to have someone to help who has been there and done it. Toilet training children isn’t easy and letting them see you go can help, so they get to understand that they need to use the toilet now for wee’s and pooh’s, and Henry now is no longer in nappies during the day and we have had days where there has been no accidents at all.

I am even going to stop putting a nappy on him when he has a nap during the day, but the naps during the day are becoming less and less too.

Henry didn’t like using public toilets so we have this portable seat which you put over a normal size toilet seat so they don’t fall down the hole.

These are great my mum bought us one for Henry and you can get them from Boots. One tip thought, put black stoppers underneath, helps to keep the portable seat still.

They come with a little bag you can put them in so easy to carry around and remember to wipe them over once used, I clean ours every time it is used. So carry some antibacterial wipes with you, when out to help keep the seat clean.

If you have any toilet training advice then all advice is welcomed. It has been a long process but pleased we are getting there and finally having some success.

Many thanks for reading,

 

Carrie X

 

Battle of Toilet Training

Henry is now 6 weeks away from starting school and we are still toilet training.

It is a long process, but we are now not doing any nappies during the day, apart from when we go out for a long time or he has a afternoon nap and only for night time. It does mean a lot of washing, but I know it is the only way.

He was telling us he needed the toilet but then suddenly stopped and seemed to just go as if he is not expecting it, himself.

Yesterday when we went out, we didn’t put a nappy on him when we took him to softplay and the park, he did go toilet in a public toilet which he wouldn’t do before.

First of all we have a feat to try and keep him on the toilet, as soon as we sit him down he wants to instantly get up again, so I try to encourage him by singing nursery rhymes, at nursery they do shapes.

He doesn’t wear nappy pants at nursery now either, and it did seem to be working, but we are still having accidents. When he goes on the toilet we do reward him with a bit of chocolate, or a balloon.

If I had known it would take this long I would have done the potty training sooner, but it seemed that he wasn’t ready. He seems to take one step forward and two steps back.

It is all about being persistent like everything else, I know, but it is getting a little frustrating, as we think he’s got it, and then has another accident.

I try not to punish him for the accidents, but just act a little disappointed, and say “Henry, why didn’t you say anything?” and then I will put him on the toilet to remind him that is where he needs to go.

Toilet training is a massive transition and I think we all at some point wet ourselves, but it’s getting the message that isn’t what you supposed to do which can  be the frustrating part about it.

Any advise I would give is buy a load of packets of pants to start of with, so you can just take them off, and put another pair on, or on some days I leave him bare, when we are staying indoors, so he can just go on the toilet and go, rather than have to pull pants up and down.

If you have any toilet training advise then all is welcome.

Many thanks for reading,

 

Carrie X