I loved the rain growing up. The smell of the earthy first showers meant paper boat competitions and getting soaked with friends. Things shifted when I became a parent — fear of flu, infections and allergies flaring up crept in. After being overprotective the first two years, I gave in when I saw my son’s joy as he danced in the drizzling rain. Children and rain are inseparable; sooner or later they discover the joy of jumping in puddles and dancing in the rain. All we can do as parents is be ready and attempt to keep them safe against the onslaught of germs and flus that are rampant. Check out this list of monsoon gear that is essential to protect your children against the bane of monsoon!
The trusty umbrella
The first thing that pops in your head when someone says monsoon is the faithful umbrella. Get fun prints , or your child’s favourite feature on the umbrella, so that they never forget it. FirstCry has an entire section dedicated to them where you can filter, sort and find whatever works for your little one.
You can buy them here
The protective raincoat
With heavy rainfall and winds, umbrellas might be too cumbersome and ineffective for little ones. A full-sized raincoat provides better coverage during heavy rainfall. Bright coloured raincoats with hoods which cover school bags are perfect.
Wildcraft raincoats for kids
Wildcraft has a wide collection of monsoon gear for older children while Babyhug covers the toddlers.
You can buy the Wildcraft ones here and the ones from Babyhug here.
The preventive mosquito patch
Mosquitos breed in stagnant water, making monsoon ideal for their growth. Camphor on a heated surface is the best repellent for your home. Citronella, tulsi and lemongrass are natural remedies that keep mosquitos at bay. When kids venture out, mosquito patches on their clothes are the easiest way to help repel most bugs. A gimmick that my son enjoys is the Ortis reusable mosquito repellent band which lasts for 15 days and looks adorable.
You can get it on Amazon
Waterproof shoes
Splashing through puddles and walking on slippery pavements can be managed with non-skid waterproof shoes. Gum boots are excellent, but crocs without socks do the trick too. The best thing that I have found to overcome the school canvas shoe mess is rain covers that slip off right before school drop-off. They ensure that canvas or leather shoes are not soaking wet through school time.
You can get them on Amazon
Wet bag
Most bags that children carry are waterproof. If not, ensure that you make them carry waterproof bags with a change of clothes (especially socks) inside. A sanitiser also helps keep germs at bay, given it’s the season for infections and I can’t imagine kids washing their hands after every surface they touch.
Protective gear helps, but do speak to your paediatrician regarding vaccine schedules and whether your kids are eligible for a flu shot, along with proper nutrition and hydration guidelines. Monsoons are truly magical, whether you want to pick your umbrellas and explore outside or create warm cosy memories inside.
The author is an economist and full-time millennial mother, struggling to cope with daily chores