Whatever the season, your toddler can acquire bites and stings. These can cause momentary pain and discomfort, making them a nuisance. But thankfully, you can minimize and keep your toddler safe from bites and stings. Here are some tips you should keep in mind.

Animal Bites

It has been reported that almost half of the 800,000 people who received medical attention for animal bites every year are children. Your toddler can get rabies infection if the animal that has bitten him is unvaccinated. He can get it from common house pets such as cats, dogs, guinea pigs and hamsters as well as from wild animals such as bats, coyotes and raccoons.

Prevention

• Never leave your toddler unsupervised.
• Make sure your house pet has been vaccinated.
• Enroll your pet in a basic obedience training class.
• Teach him not to touch animals, come near them (especially when they are eating and sleeping), feed them and not to make impulsive actions (putting face close to an unknown animal, hugging, kissing, pushing, squeezing ears or pinching) that may startle the animals without your permission.
• Tell your toddler not to run if a strange animal comes near him. Teach him to stand still, avoid eye contact and to slowly back off once the animal stops paying attention to him.

Bee and Wasp Stings

Bees and wasps have a stinger that releases venom that can cause an allergic reaction which can be deadly. When stung by a bee or wasp, the stinger should be removed as soon as possible. The stinged area will look red, swollen and itchy and this can last for a few days.

Prevention

• Dress your toddler in pastel-colored, solid clothing. Dark, brightly colored clothes or printed clothes attract bees.
• Make sure he wears shoes when playing outside.
• Do not use scented soaps, lotion and other body products on your little one since scent is a magnet for bees.
• Refrain from giving your toddler a drink when outside. If you must, see to it that the drink is closed. A bee could get inside and sting him when he takes a drink.
• Always keep your toddler close to you when outside, especially near flowers, orchards and trees.

Insect Bites

Children are very prone to insect bites. Insects (mosquitoes, spiders and ticks) are everywhere, whether your toddler is at home, at the park or at the beach. Usually, the reaction is a mild one. But, in some cases, it can lead to an allergic reaction especially if your toddler keeps on scratching his bites or if he is very sensitive to insects.

Prevention

• Dress your toddler appropriately (long sleeves, pants, socks and closed shoes).
• Apply insect repellent to your toddler’s clothes and the exposed skin area (except for his hands and face).
• Get rid of any stagnant water or avoid going near woodpiles, canals, water holes and garbage areas as they are a breeding ground for insects.
• Fix torn screens and windows in your home.
• Clean your home regularly. Use a vacuum cleaner to suck up webs, spiders, ticks and their egg sacs.
• Teach your toddler to shake out his clothes, shoes and beddings before using them.
• Use a natural bug killer (safe for children) to eliminate unwanted pests in and around your home.
• Check your pet for fleas.

Yes, you can never completely safeguard your toddler from bites and stings. But, it would be very helpful if you follow preventive measures and teach your toddler what to do. Remember,  “Prevention is better than cure.”.