When a grandchild hurts or gets hurt, we grandmas jump into action. Whereas a parent says tough it out and it will be okay, it is the grandma who scoops up the grand child and cuddles and hugs. This Grandma always wonders if she should ice or use heat.
The New York Times, November 10, 2015, answers the ice or heat question for us in “Ice, Ice, Maybe Heat,” by C. Claiborne Ray:
“Cold therapy, or cryotherapy, is usually recommended in the immediate aftermath of an acute injury, like a severe bruise or sprain, not mere soreness. The familiar RICE sequence — rest, ice, compression and elevation — helps reduce the pain and inflammation of such an injury. It loses efficacy after a day or so, however, and then gentle warming can help.”
“For lingering muscle pain that emerges some time after vigorous exercise, called delayed onset muscle soreness, heat and cold have been used with success in individual cases, but scientific studies comparing the efficacy of treatments have been sparse and inconclusive.”
“A new comparison, published this year in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, looked at muscle damage and pain in 100 people of comparable fitness. Half received either cold or heat treatment after 15 minutes of leg squats and half received no treatment. The researchers concluded that both heat or cold appeared to be effective in reducing muscle damage, but cold used immediately after exercise or 24 hours later was superior in reducing pain.”
We grandmas want to reduce pain. There are children’s ice packs we can have ready or to buy as visit presents. Ice packs soon become a favorite go to help for the active grandchild. Amazon has the in shapes of frogs, elephants and other animals, around $10:
For a child’s heating pad, there is on Amazon, a microwaveable monkey that serves as a hot/cold pad, described as
Hot and cold therapy helps soothe bumps, bruises, insect bites, fevers, sunburns, sprains or soreness. Adorable monkey cover provides your child with a welcome distraction. Two reusable, non-toxic gel packs are included for convenience if you keep one in the freezer, it’ll be ready as soon as you need it. The plush cover has a zipped pouch for the gel pack Max 30 second heat time in microwave.”
There is a bear, more expensive, that even seems to work for insect bites, and everything under the sun, described as
“Chilly Bear – The Feel Better Bear is an award winning plush, stuffed bear with a warm, friendly face and therapeutic, healing benefits. Chilly Bear can be used as a cold pack or as a warm heating pad. Using 100% safe all natural, non-toxic corn filler, Chilly Bear is pliable and flexible and conforms to any part of your child’s body providing therapeutic relief from head to toe. Over the past 15 years Chilly Bear – The Feel Better Bear has been used by children, parents, doctors, and healthcare organizations. As a cold pack or heating pad Chilly Bear – The Feel Better Bear is used to safely and effectively target areas on the body needing relief. Chilly Bear can be used for headaches, migraines, sore muscles, backaches, other aches & pains, bumps, bruises, cramps, sunburns, sinus issues, sports injuries, insect bites, fever, menstrual cramps, asthma, post radiation cooling, and more. Chilly Bear D The Feel Better Bear is approved as “Safe for Use by People of All Ages” by the nationally recognized safety laboratories of Intertek Labs. To use as a Heating Pad simply heat in the microwave. To use as a Cold Pack simply chill in a freezer. Chilly Bear – The Feel Better Bear comes in three colors (currently pink, blue, and brown). Made in the USA. Manufacturer’s 30-Day Guarantee “I saw this Bear about 10 years ago and bought one for my two granddaughters. It has been used for bumps, scrapes, fevers, sprained wrists and everything in between. Both girls run to the freezer to get Chilly when they have an injury, real or imagined. This is the BEST COMPANION that any family would ever have!! Thank you for Chilly!!” – Lynda Rogers (Oregon)”
Every grandchild scrape or bruise deserves a band aid, even if the redness is nearly indivisible. There are so many different children’s band aids. Remember, they also make a wonderful inexpensive visit present (always bring a little something when seeing a grandchild), as although the children’s band aids are relatively inexpensive, they are expensive for the parents of the grandchild and an unnecessary expenditure. You can find Sesame Street, Disney princesses, super heroes, anything you can imagine.
Think of these items also as a baby shower gift that the mothers-to-be might not put on their registry! Think of these items when out with the grandchild in Target.
We grandmas are always prepared with the hugs and “elevation” of the healing. It is little more to be prepared for the cold and heat in a child friendly fashion too with
Joy,
Mema
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