OPEN AIR & INFANT

New born & Parent Responsibilities:

Although having a new born is full of excitement after long expectations, but some times it is a frustrating situation of the parent finding caught in the vagaries of the season and arrival of their new born to be taken care of. It is utmost importance that the parent receives all the professional information on health related issues of the infant and act upon on that information in the interest of health of infant protection and use of weather conditions is a very balanced act.

Benefits of Open Air:

To understand the benefits of open air it is necessary to learn basic information of respiration, blood circulation, Infections & Defense Mechanism, and Effects of Sunlight on the body:

Respiration is a process by which gaseous exchange takes place in the lungs whereby oxygen from fresh air is absorbed by hemoglobin of blood and carbon dioxide brought by it from various organs of body is released or excreted out as exhaled air. Hemoglobin is a complex Organic Iron compound circulating in blood which easily bonds with oxygen in rich oxygen environment and releases Oxygen in exchange for carbon dioxide produced by the cells of various organs of body to be released out in the lungs in exchange for oxygen. All this happens in a regular cycle through out life.

Risk of Infections:

Infections are caused by bacteria present in the open air laden on particles floating in the damp air. The bacteria when inhaled shall be attacked by the defense system present in the system of infant. If the immunity is weak the bacteria overgrow and produce disease effects like upper respiratory infections etc.

Defense against infections is provided by white Blood Cells or leucocytes present in blood circulation. They attack and destroy bacteria, but if the defense system is weak bacteria wins in the fight and diseases become apparent.

Role of Sunlight:

In the presence of Sun Light human body synthesizes Vitamin D, which plays a role in bones development in the child. So if the weather condition permits the infant should be exposed to open air with sunlight present for a brief period and muscular massage of the infant and few exercise movements shall be helpful to the infant.

Necessity of Open Air:

There is great dependence on pure and fresh air at all times and under all conditions for the infant. The infants living place should be large enough with good ventilation situated at a higher height of the premises in the house having access to free air and natural light.   Use of Thick curtains in the room can be damaging to health of infant, these provide help only to protect infant from the dryness of cold air. Thus right time for infant’s exposure to open air is guided by season and condition of weather.

Weather Safeguards:

A delicate infant who has born during late period of autumn shall not get benefit open air, due to present climate. Infant requires postponing its open air exposure till arrival of next spring season. During such circumstances if infant’s rooms is large with good ventilation and frequently changed from one such room to another confinement problem is taken care of. The infant shall remain protected from colds affliction and associated infections.

A strong and healthy child can withstand easily exposure to open air and should be brought in open air for a change and exposure of sunlight warmth till the weather is good.  This act is shall further give a boost for infant health producing a joyful living experience. If there is dampness in the weather, the infant should not be exposed to open air because such weather can be source of various cold related diseases which have a potential to get worse if not treated properly. The attending help also should be prevented to unnecessarily carry child and wander in the open causing cold exposures to the infant. If uncared of this, the risk to expose the infant to the evils, which are sure for the infant to beget by injudicious and unprotected exposure of the infant to cold weather.