Covid-19, winter flu strains, cholera and a worryingly rapid spread of measles, chicken pox and rubella have parents worried.
While the latter is easier to contain, flu and cholera are aggressively virulent – especially in homes and communities where there is inadequate access to clean drinking water, a stable electricity supply, and good-quality healthcare.
Parents of newborns and tots need to be even more worried, according to experts.
Research shows that diarrhoea is closely linked to socioeconomic status, and that children in South African living in poverty are approximately 10 times more likely to die from diarrhoea than their more privileged counterparts.
“Many under-privileged children in South Africa do not have adequate access to clean, drinkable water and quality early childcare and development,” says Momeena Omarjee of multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company Sanofi.
Read more | It’s the second leading cause of death among kids under 5. Here’s what to do when diarrhoea strikes
“They also experience limited access to health and nutrition services. KwaZulu-Natal, for example, is experiencing outbreaks of diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases due to the recent floods.”
Children who are less than half-a-year-old are particularly vulnerable.
“Babies younger than 6 months are most at risk of dehydration, because their bodies haven’t developed to the point where they can handle the significant loss of fluid caused by vomiting or a runny stomach,” explains Momeena, the pharmaceutical giant’s Consumer Healthcare Country Head: Scientific Affairs, SA.
While diarrhoea remains a leading killer of young children, despite the availability of a simple treatment solution”, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), cholera remains endemic in Sub-Saharan African countries, according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
Cholera causes diarrhoea and vomiting and can kill you within hours.
The bacterium that causes cholera (Vibrio cholerae) is generally transmitted through food and water.
Now, with the NICD warning about the current cholera outbreak, there are many fears in communities that lose power for days at a time that newborns and tiny tots can become susceptible to this illness as – aside from breastfeeding – a clean, safe water supply, appropriate hand-washing and good sanitation are needed to help prevent most cases of diarrhoea.
But power outages, inadequate access to safe water and erratic loadshedding schedules can really disrupt your little one's routine and comfort,” says Ronald Govender Dis-Chem Baby City FMCG Executive.
However, there are some practical steps parents can take to ensure their babies’ comfort during loadshedding, he says.
This is how you can make the impact of power outages a little easier for yourself and their little ones, suggests Ronald.
- MILK AND FOOD SAFETY
“The sterility of milk bottles and food containers cannot be overemphasised. As the stages of loadshedding increase when the grid is overloaded, it’s worth considering a quick easy sterilising machine, which steams and sterilises bottles in minutes and keeps them sterile for 24 hours with the lid on,” he recommends.
“Make use of flasks to store hot water for milk as well as food preparations. Insulated bottle warmers help keep water warm when there’s no hot water or kettle.”
Read more | Diphtheria cases on the rise, while cholera outbreak breaches new borders
- FEEDING AND BABY ESSENTIALS
“Stay organised and plan for power outages,” says Ronald. “Keep a supply of essential baby items such as diapers, formula, wipes, and medication."
- QUALITY SLEEPWEAR
“During this cold weather, when heating is a challenge because of power constraints, layer your baby’s clothing and dress them in rompers to ensure they are warm.
“Sleep bags also help little ones regulate their temperature when sleeping, so they are less likely to be disturbed by being too hot or too cold. Breathable, all-natural fibre fabrics are more comfortable. Ensure you also get warm blankets for additional warmth.
“For newborns, swaddling is great for keeping them warm and recreates the familiar deep pressure of the womb which helps to calm and relax the baby and prepare them for sleep.”
- SOOTHE AND COMFORT YOUR BABY
“Battery-operated nebulisers are a reliable solution during loadshedding,” according to Ronald.
“They provide uninterrupted respiratory treatment for babies who rely on nebuliser therapy. By using a battery-powered nebuliser, you can ensure continuous access to necessary medications and maintain respiratory health, even during electricity disruptions.
“Babies can sense your stress and anxiety, so it’s important to remain calm during power outages. Comfort your baby with gentle words, soothing touch, and familiar objects like their favourite blanket or toy. Your calm presence will help them feel secure.
“Parents can also use soothers that glow in the dark for easy location when baby is fussy at night.”
- EMERGENCY LIGHTING AND POWER
“By investing in battery-powered lights or rechargeable solar lights, you can turn load shedding from a major disruption to a temporary inconvenience, ensuring your baby doesn’t wake up to darkness during power outages,” Ronald explains.
“The ability to keep in touch in case of an emergency is important when you have a little one and power banks are important as back up for charging mobile phones. For parents who use baby monitors, battery-powered alternatives are available to help you keep an eye on your little one even when the power is out,” he adds.
Ronald from Baby City adds the following food and safety tips for Drum readers to try during load reduction.
- “Familiarise yourself with food safety guidelines and life span for different food items. This will help you determine the safety of perishable items during power outages.
- “Prepare and freeze individual portions of food in advance.
- “Use small food storage containers to freeze purees or soft foods like mashed fruits and vegetables. During load shedding, these frozen portions can be thawed as needed and consumed within the safe period.”
