Winter is here, which means the season of sickness too is here. While viruses and sickness run throughout, winter is when the chilly weather further makes it worse for those prone to sickness. Especially, if they are kids, as their immunity is not fully developed.

Does that mean it is inevitable for kids to be sick?

Anytime a child is exposed to another child, they will fall sick. This is because germs are transferred in the air or by touch, and children, being curious, always touch things, including their own faces, mouths and easily pick up germs and spread them. While prevention is impossible, there are steps that can be taken to reduce this.

Experts and medical professionals recommend to follow the vaccine schedule by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Vaccines have be proven to protect people, children, and infants from serious and deadly infections.

While sicknesses like a common cold do not have a vaccine, good hygiene can help prevent the spread of germs. Teaching your kids to wash hands after touching toys, or any other surface and other people is a great way to start it.

Exposure to germs at an early age strengthens child's immune system

Is there really any truth in the statement? When we encounter infections, our immune system creates antibodies that either prevent future infections or help the body fight them off more effectively, often leading to milder illness. The "hygiene hypothesis" proposes that living in an overly clean environment might hinder the immune system's development, potentially increasing the risk of allergic conditions like asthma.

ALSO READ: Why Forward-Facing Car Seat Could Be Lethal For Your Baby?

Although research has explored this idea, many immunologists (experts in the immune system) have raised concerns and expressed disagreement with the hypothesis.

In reality, most children don’t grow up in sterile environments. They are naturally exposed to a variety of germs, providing ample opportunities for their immune systems to strengthen and adapt.

Sanitizing Child's Toys

It is a good practice to regularly disinfect your children's toys and anything they share with others or take to school.

It is important to know the difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. While cleaning removes visible dirt, sanitizing decreases the number of germs on the surface, whereas disinfecting kills germs.

Also make sure to read the labels correctly and prevent any toxic toys to make its way to your kids, so it cannot be inhaled or ingested.

How to disinfect toys?

You can start by cleaning all the toys that has come in contact with your child's hands and mouth with soap and water. Then, use a sanitizer to clean everyday items, things that remain in your child's environment. Then use disinfectant, especially if your child is sick or if someone sick has touched your child's toys.

If you are wondering which sanitizers to go for, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website has come up with a list of approved sanitizers and disinfectants that are effective.

Shoko Kawata, Japan’s first mayor to take maternity leave, has been named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential rising stars.

The 35-year-old mayor of Yawata City in Kyoto Prefecture sparked a national debate, earlier this year, after announcing she would take maternity leave following the birth of her first child. Her decision came as Japan struggles with declining birth rates and efforts to support women in work and public life.

“I was so surprised because the reaction was so big,” Kawata told the BBC.

Kawata gave birth to a baby girl on September 15. Her decision drew both support and criticism, with some praising her for making it easier for women to enter politics, while critics questioned whether elected officials should step away from public duties after childbirth.

Kawata Took Maternity Leave To Shape Policies

Also read: GLP-1 Drugs Ozempic, Zepbound Use Rises 24-Fold Among American Women After Childbirth

Kawata defended her decision, saying women should not have to choose between public office and starting a family.

“If we were to criticise politicians taking maternity leave, it means we are effectively excluding all women in their 20s through 40s - women who are capable of becoming pregnant - from public office,” she told the BBC.

Japan provides maternity leave for municipal employees, but there is no specific legal framework for local elected officials. Kawata therefore worked with her office to arrange a 16-week transfer of authority to Deputy Mayor Shigeto Nose, while planning to work remotely when possible.

After giving birth, Kawata said her experience as a new mother would also shape the policies she pursues.

“I want to confront the many challenges facing parents and children today from that same perspective, as someone living through them myself,” she wrote on X.

Why Postpartum Recovery Matters For Working Women

Kawata’s experience also highlights the physical and emotional demands women face after childbirth.

While attention often shifts to the newborn, mothers also need adequate rest, nutrition, medical care and emotional support. For working women, pressure to return to work can add to the challenges of postpartum recovery.

The World Health Organization says the first six weeks after childbirth are a critical period for both mothers and babies, with a large proportion of maternal and infant deaths occurring during the postnatal period.

What Happens To The Body After Childbirth?

Read More: Lessons From The Lindsay Clancy Case: Can Families Spot Early Signs Of Postpartum Psychosis?

After delivery, the uterus gradually contracts back towards its pre-pregnancy size, which can cause cramping. Women can also experience postpartum bleeding and discharge, known as lochia, for several weeks.

Hormonal changes, particularly the rapid drop in estrogen and progesterone, can affect mood. Breast engorgement, nipple sensitivity and pelvic-floor changes can also occur, sometimes causing urinary leakage or discomfort.

Postpartum Mental Health Also Matters

New mothers are also adjusting to sleep disruption, feeding and the demands of caring for a baby.

Many women experience the “baby blues,” a temporary period of mood changes after childbirth. This is different from postpartum depression, which is more severe and can last longer.

Adequate rest, practical support, medical follow-up and mental-health care can all play an important role in postpartum recovery.

Unsafe sleep factors, including soft bedding, sharing a sleep surface with another person or animal, and sleeping on a surface other than a crib or bassinet, were identified in 73% of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) cases in the US, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

SUID includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed, and deaths from unknown causes. In 2024, SUID claimed the lives of about 3,400 babies in the US.

Even after decades of public health efforts to promote safer sleep practices, sleep-related deaths remain a major cause of infant mortality.

What Did The CDC Report Find?

Also read: Baby Dies At 14 Months From Ultra-Rare Disorder Affecting Just 50 People Worldwide: What Is TBCD Leukodystrophy?

The report analyzed 4,861 SUID cases recorded between 2020 and 2024 across 31 US jurisdictions.

The CDC found that 73% of the deaths involved at least one unsafe sleep factor. These included:

• 78% involved soft bedding.
• 75% occurred on a sleep surface other than a crib or bassinet.
• 59% involved sharing a sleep surface with another person or animal.
• 46% of infants were found sleeping on their stomach or side rather than on their back.
• 28% had documented full airway obstruction involving the nose and mouth, neck, or chest.

These categories could overlap, meaning an infant could have had more than one unsafe sleep factor.

Most SUIDs Occurred In Young Infants

The CDC found that most deaths occurred among infants who were:

• 0–3 months old: 66%
• Male: 57%
• Black or African American: 38%
• White: 37%
• Born at 37 weeks or later: 74%
• Insured by Medicaid: 69%

What Is A Safe Sleep Environment?

Read More: Rare Pregnancy Infections Linked To 3-Fold Higher Autism Risk: What Is TORCH?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a safe sleep environment to reduce the risk of sleep-related infant deaths.

The AAP recommends placing babies on their backs to sleep, using a firm, non-inclined sleep surface, room-sharing without bed-sharing, and avoiding soft bedding and overheating.

It also recommends human milk feeding, avoiding exposure to nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and illicit drugs, routine immunization, and pacifier use as measures associated with lower SIDS risk.

“Babies should always be placed on their backs to sleep. Tummy time is important for developing strength and motor skills, but it should take place only when the baby is awake and being actively supervised,” Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University, was quoted as saying by CNN.

Once babies can roll from their backs to their stomachs and back again on their own, parents do not need to keep repositioning them during sleep. However, they should still place babies on their backs at the start of every sleep.

What Should Be In A Baby’s Crib?

Wen recommends that the crib should be empty or nearly empty. Parents should use a firm mattress covered with a fitted sheet and avoid pillows, blankets, quilts, bumper pads, and other soft objects.

If parents are concerned about the baby getting cold, they can use a wearable blanket or well-fitting sleep clothing instead of a loose blanket.

Room-Sharing Is Recommended, Not Bed-Sharing

The AAP recommends room-sharing without bed-sharing, ideally for at least the first six months.

This means keeping the baby’s crib or bassinet close to the parents’ bed for easier feeding and comforting, while ensuring the baby sleeps on a separate surface.

Feeding a newborn is one of the first and most important decisions parents make after birth. There is often debate around breastfeeding versus formula feeding. It is necessary to know the difference between exclusive breastfeeding and formula feeding to help families make informed choices based on the baby’s needs and even the mother’s health. Here, an expert explains both breastfeeding and formula feeding.

Are you new parents?

Know that caring for a newborn usually involves many questions about feeding. Some mothers tend to exclusively breastfeed, while others use formula due to various issues such as low milk supply or other circumstances.

But remember that every family’s situation is different, and parents should make feeding decisions only after consulting the doctor. The priority should be to give the baby safe, adequate nutrition for prompt growth and development.

Also read: Don’t Miss a Beat: Why Every Newborn Deserves a Heart Check

All you need to know about exclusive breastfeeding

Exclusive breastfeeding means feeding a baby only breast milk for the first six months of life. So, the baby will not be given water, formula, juice, or solid foods unless the doctor recommends. So, breast milk consists of nutrients, antibodies, and healthy fats, which are important for the baby’s growth and brain development. Breast milk is important for the baby and can help prevent infections, diarrhoea, and respiratory illnesses, and boosts the baby’s immunity.

Talking about formula feeding, this means giving a baby specially prepared infant formula to provide the nutrients needed for growth. So, formula milk is given when breast milk cannot be given to the baby. Now, modern infant formulas are carefully developed to support healthy growth. However, it doesn’t contain the natural antibodies and immune-protective factors that are present in breast milk. Formula milk should always be prepared safely as per the doctor’s instructions to reduce the baby’s chances of infections or any nutritional problems.

This is what parents should note

Breastfeeding is crucial for the baby as it tends to provide complete nutrition and health benefits for both mother and baby. It also helps enhance the mother and the baby’s bond and reduces the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancers. However, some women will be unable to breastfeed their babies due to certain medical conditions, medications, insufficient milk supply, or other challenges.

So, in such a situation, infant formula is a safe and nutritious alternative when used correctly under medical guidance. Even those babies who are formula-fed can also grow and develop well when they receive appropriate nutrition, are vaccinated, and are taken for regular health check-ups. Instead of comparing feeding methods, ensure to feed the baby well.