Trips, spills,stumbles and falls are all a part of growing up. Whether you have a little onethat isn’t quite steady on her feet yet or an older child who’s part daredevil,you’re likely to spend a fair amount of your parenting time trying to easeowies and boo-boos. From the psychological to the physiological, here are thetop seven ways to ease the pain that comes with a minor injury.
- Bandages – Kids are fascinated with adhesive bandages, especially if they’re decorated with a favorite superhero, princess or cartoon character. Whipping out a box of festive, brightly colored bandages is a surefire way to dry those tears.
- Kisses – Anyone who’s ever been a kid knows that nothing soothes an owie like kisses. The feeling of being cared for and comforted when they’re injured can make kids forget about the sting of a skinned knee or bruised elbow. A kiss or two and a little bit of fussing will make boo-boos all better in no time.
- Anesthetic Spray – For slightly more serious owies that might be relatively painful, an anesthetic spray or antibacterial ointment with pain reliever is your best bet. Using this method in addition to the kisses and colorful bandages will have your child back up and at ‘em in the blink of an eye.
- Aloe Vera – For owies of the burn variety, the juice of this miracle plant is a lifesaver. It’s most effective straight from the plant, so parents with a green thumb might want to cultivate a specimen or two. Effective for sunburns and stove-burns alike, you’re sure to find plenty of uses for an Aloe plant.
- Ice Packs – Covering an ice-pack with a fabric sleeve featuring favorite characters or kid-friendly colors are great for distracting from injuries that could swell or bruise. Often, children are more panicked at the sight of an injury than suffering actual pain, so covering an owie from sight and applying ice to reduce swelling can help to keep anxiety at bay.
- A Sense of Humor – Laughter is infectious, and few are as susceptible to a fit of giggles as a small child. Making silly faces and joking as you patch your little one up can turn tears into chuckles, especially if you’re laughing along with them. Singing a favorite silly song is another good method of distraction; with a little luck and a bit of persistence, they’ll sing along with you as you treat and bandage their battle wounds.
- A Special Treat – An extra few minutes of playtime, a favorite snack that you don’t serve often or a day of watching videos are all good ways of dealing with injuries that are slightly more serious than your average bumps and bruises. Though most parents limit screen time, it’s probably okay to make an exception if your youngster had to visit the doctor or get stitched up as a result of their owie.
Every child isdifferent, so it may take some trial and error to find the method that worksbest for your family when dealing with owies, bumps, bruises and boo-boos.You’re sure to have plenty of practice; from the moment they start walkinguntil they leave for college, you’ll be treating one injury or another.
Roxanne Porter
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