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COVID-19: CORONAVIRUS PREVENTION FOR BABIES, MOTHERS AND PREGNANT WOMEN

This article is discussing coronavirus prevention for babies, mothers and pregnant women.

Experts say that the best way to prevent covid-19 from spreading is to stop touching the face, nose and eyes too much. But we all know that this is not easy because of the compulsive nature of face touching, skin picking, hair pulling and nose.

It is never easy to stop face touching for an adult, and even more difficult for a child. To get a child to stop will depend on three factors

• Self awareness
• Reducing triggers
• Substituting behaviours

 

Statisticians at the Centre for disease control (CDC) and the world health organization (W.H.O) states that people touch their faces at an average of 23 times per hour. For some time now, doctors and therapists have studied such behaviours as skin pilling, hair and face touching and have developed effective therapies for curbing those behaviours.

These published therapies can help everyone, both young and old to reduce face touching. It may not be instant, so don’t beat up yourself as you learn these tips to stay alive and healthy. The CDC guidelines states we should adhere to the following:

1. BE AWARE OF THE FACT

Some of these behaviours are usually done unconsciously because when we feel itchy on any part of our body, we usually touch or scratch before we even have time to think about it.

It is definitely possible to increase our awareness of the movement of our hands before it gets to it’s destination that consciousness will help you build a good behaviour.

Begin to master the following tools;

• Use a timer and see how long you can stay without moving hands. The longer you can with that consciousness, the sooner you can master the act of not touching your face.
• Sticky notes and alarms can help remind you of where your hands are.
• Wear band aids or adhesive bandages over your fingers can help increase your awareness.
• Wear an awareness bracelet, to remind you of the movement of your hands when it begins to go up.
• Reduce itches and blemishes to minimize the temptation to touch your face. It is almost impossible to scratch when there’s an itch. Most itches are triggered by emotions such as anxiety and boredom.

The following tools can be of help in reducing the itches so you don’t touch your face.

• To soothe dry and itchy skin, use a moisturizer or burp cloth.
• Barricade against pimples by wearing acne dots
• Pack your hair behind to reduce ticklish strands.
• Hit the gym to reduce boredom and depression
• Calm anxiety with practicing deep breathing

 

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2. GET BUSY

You need to spend that energy when you are bored or crave sensory stimulation. You need to get fidget toys at every corner in the house so you get busy.

When your fingers are busy, you are less likely to touch your face. Some fidget toys to get include;

• Spinner rings
• Squishes
• Sensory brushes
• Variable pipe cleaners
• Fidget spinners

 

 

PREVENTING CHILDREN FROM TOUCHING THEIR FACES

Preventing children from touching their faces could pose a tough one. The best idea is to aim for reduction, not perfection.

In teaching them, do not feel frustrated, angry or panicky, because it’s so narmal to touch your body when you experience fear and uncertainty. The best way to train them is by redirecting them to meet their sensory needs in other way.

Always use a calm voice and child-friendly ways to describe the situation.

The best way to proceed is by,

• Keep their hands busy with anything interesting to the fingers. Like games
• Teach them other forms of touch like using a clean warm cloth to scratch itchy eyes
• Avoid or reduce any triggers that will make them touch their faces like keeping their hair pulled back.
• Be positive give proper rewards like resisting criticism and praising good performance.
• Never scare the child and never lose your calmness.

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