Diwali is over, but moms are still worried: Parents share concerns for babies, health experts share tips to protect little lungs

New Delhi [India], November 9 (ANI): From keeping babies indoors and investing in air purifiers to rethinking festive traditions, mothers share their post-Diwali pollution worries, while paediatricians explain how to safeguard infants and toddlers amid hazardous AQI levels.
The diyas have been put away, festive clothes have made their way back into wardrobes, and the Diwali celebrations have come to an end. But for many mothers, particularly those with infants and toddlers, the celebrations have left behind a lingering concern: the quality of the air their little ones are breathing.
With air pollution levels remaining a major concern across Delhi-NCR following widespread firecracker bursting, parents are increasingly worried about the impact of toxic air on their children's developing lungs.
For some, Diwali meant celebrating within the confines of their homes, avoiding outdoor gatherings and keeping air purifiers running around the clock. For others, it meant striking a balance between allowing children to experience the festival and limiting their exposure to cracker smoke.
While authorities continue to announce and implement measures to tackle deteriorating air quality, mothers are sharing how pollution has changed the way they celebrate Diwali, the precautions they took for their little ones and their concerns about what the future holds for the next generation.
For Sakshi Gupta, a mother of two daughters, one six years old and the other recently turned 10 months, Diwali was all about family time rather than firecrackers.
"We don't burst crackers. I have told my elder kid, who can now actually understand, how crackers affect animals and our health as well. Diwali for us is family time, get-togethers, decorating the home, wearing festive clothes and exchanging gifts with our loved ones," she shared with ANI.
The family celebrated at home, performing puja together, dressing up and capturing plenty of festive photographs. However, the deteriorating air quality has also prompted Sakshi to rethink their post-Diwali plans.
Talking about the precautions she is taking for her daughters, she said, "Keeping the kids more indoors, avoiding unnecessary outdoor activities for them, using purifiers and a humidifier for my infant especially, and keeping a check on her breathing and overall health."
The family is even considering a short getaway after Diwali to a destination where the AQI is relatively better than Delhi's. "We are even planning to go for two to three days post-Diwali to a place where the AQI is at least better than here," she added.
For another mother, Anuja, who has a three-month-old daughter, the worsening pollution has brought back memories of a very different childhood, making her wonder whether today's children will ever experience Diwali the way previous generations did.
Recounting how she celebrated the festival as a child, Anuja said, "I think mujhe abhi bhi yaad hai main apne dad ke saath jaati thi with my siblings to buy crackers. We were very excited to buy sweets and new clothes. We used to do puja together, but that time I don't think so itna pollution hota tha."
However, the difference between those memories and the present-day situation has been difficult to ignore. She recalled stepping out with her husband, without taking their baby along, to distribute Diwali gifts to friends.
"It was zero visibility. When I compare it with the times when I was a kid, I don't think so aise zero visibility hoti thi Diwali pe. Itni garmi nahi hoti thi Diwali pe. I still remember when I used to go and watch Ram Leela. Nahi hoti thi itni garmi. Bohot thand hoti thi. We used to wear sweaters," she recalled.
Anuja believes changing weather patterns and environmental conditions have transformed the festive experience, leaving parents increasingly anxious about the environment in which their children are growing up.
The pollution was so concerning that she could not even visit her mother's house to light a diya, a ritual she usually follows every Diwali.
"I checked AQI live. It was too bad and very disheartening to see so much pollution. People were still burning crackers. I don't think anybody cares about nature anymore, especially in Delhi. It's all about food and pollution. I think Delhi is not the same as before. And for my baby, I am very worried," she shared.
With a three-month-old at home, her room has increasingly begun to resemble a space dedicated to air-quality management.
"Air purifier, humidifier, steriliser, etc. My room is occupied with all these devices. When I was a kid, or my brother was a kid, my younger brother, or other babies who were born 10 years ago, my nephew, my niece, they were never brought up with all these devices," she said.
Her concern goes beyond the immediate aftermath of Diwali. She wonders whether the next generation will be able to experience the festival with the same excitement and freedom that she remembers from her childhood.
For Tamanna, a mother to an eight-month-old, protecting her baby meant giving up some of the little festive outings she had always looked forward to.
She kept her baby indoors, with an air purifier and humidifier running, and avoided taking her out to see the lights, decorations or firecrackers.
"We kept her with the air purifier and humidifier all day for the last two to four days. We did not go out to see lights, patakha or anything. I used to go to my mom's house every year. This time, I did not even go as we wanted to keep my baby inside. We just did puja and had dinner together," she shared.
While she also kept indoor plants and followed a traditional home practice recommended by her mother-in-law, placing an ajwain and garlic potli near the baby at night, Tamanna admits that the restrictions were emotionally difficult.
"It's saddening that I couldn't even take her to markets to see Diwali decorations. But it is what it is. The essence of Diwali we had and saw growing up, I don't think our kids will, due to this pollution," she said.
However, not every mother believes that keeping children completely away from the outdoors is the answer. Ashu Dwivedi, a Bengaluru resident and mother of a daughter who is about to turn two, shares a somewhat different perspective, shaped by her experiences of celebrating Diwali in two different cities.
Her daughter's first Diwali was celebrated in Delhi when she was still under a year old. This year, the family celebrated in Bengaluru, where, according to Ashu, pollution levels were relatively better, although they did rise during the festival.
"My daughter's second Diwali. This Diwali, I didn't keep my baby locked indoors or shut all the doors and windows just because of the pollution. I believe protecting our children is important, but at the same time, they also have to learn to live in the environment they're growing up in. If I keep her away from every little exposure today, how will she adjust to the world tomorrow?" she said.
Ashu allowed her daughter to enjoy bursting crackers while taking basic precautions and ensuring she was not exposed to excessive smoke.
For her, the idea is to strike a balance between protecting children and allowing them to experience childhood.
"Yes, I avoided unnecessary exposure to heavy smoke and made sure she wasn't around too much cracker smoke. For me, it's about finding a balance between being cautious and not making children grow up in a bubble. After all, we want them to enjoy their childhood too!," she said.
Recalling her daughter's first Diwali in Delhi, Ashu said the experience was quite different. Her daughter was younger, a little scared of crackers, and the family naturally preferred keeping her indoors for most of the celebrations.
Her experience highlights how a child's surroundings and the severity of pollution can influence parental decisions. While some families choose to celebrate indoors, others adapt their celebrations according to local air quality and their children's comfort.
But regardless of how families celebrate, one concern remains common among mothers: how much does polluted air affect little lungs, and what can parents actually do to protect their children?
According to paediatricians, infants and toddlers are particularly susceptible to air pollution because their lungs and immune systems are still developing.
Their smaller airways and developing respiratory systems make exposure to fine particulate matter a significant concern.
Speaking to ANI, Dr Rajat Grover, Senior Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Patparganj, New Delhi, says that the effects of pollution can persist even after the festival has ended.
"Because everyone is suffering the aftermath of pollution throughout the period after Diwali, the AQI levels are hazardous for kids even indoors. So the most important thing is that you stay indoors as much as possible. Keep your air purifiers on," he advises.
He emphasises that parents should choose an air purifier according to the size of the room and keep it running, particularly in spaces where the baby spends most of the time.
He also recommends saline nasal drops when appropriate to help keep an infant's nasal passages clear.
However, more importantly, parents must remain vigilant about respiratory distress.
"The most important warning signs that you have to notice are fast breathing. You have to look for wheezing sounds. You have to look for any kind of whistling sound that the baby might have. You also need to look at depression between your collarbones or depression below your chest to understand that the baby is having pneumonia or chest congestion," Dr Grover explains.
He further advises parents to watch out for poor feeding, persistent crying, fever, a continuously running nose and coughing episodes followed by vomiting.
According to him, maintaining adequate feeding and hydration is also important, while anyone at home experiencing a cough or cold should wear a mask and avoid close contact with the baby, particularly during the season when respiratory viruses such as RSV are circulating.
Dr Nikhil Rajvanshi, Consultant Paediatric Pulmonologist, Allergy and Sleep Specialist at Rainbow Children's Hospital, Delhi, also stresses that protecting children during hazardous AQI conditions begins with minimising their exposure to polluted air.
"Infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because their lungs and immune systems are still developing. During hazardous AQI levels, parents should minimise outdoor exposure and keep children in cleaner indoor spaces," he says.
He recommends keeping windows closed when outdoor pollution is high and avoiding indoor sources of smoke, including cigarettes, incense sticks and mosquito coils.
A HEPA air purifier in the child's bedroom can help reduce particulate matter, while regular damp dusting and mopping can minimise dust accumulation.
Dr Rajvanshi also emphasises continuing breastfeeding and providing age-appropriate nutrition to support children's overall health.
When it comes to identifying respiratory distress, he advises parents not to overlook even subtle changes in their child's breathing or behaviour.
"Watch for rapid breathing, persistent coughing, wheezing, nostril flaring or the chest sinking in with each breath. Difficulty feeding, unusual irritability, excessive sleepiness or lethargy may also indicate that the child is unwell," he explains.
Bluish lips or face, severe breathing difficulty, pauses in breathing or reduced responsiveness are emergency warning signs that require immediate medical attention.
He also cautions parents against relying on home remedies or waiting for symptoms to subside when a child is showing signs of respiratory distress.
Adding to the discussion, Dr Vikas Mittal, Director, Pulmonology at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, says that the aim during periods of severe pollution should be to reduce children's exposure for as long as air quality remains poor.
He recommends using a well-maintained HEPA air purifier in the child's primary living and sleeping spaces, keeping windows and doors closed during periods of high pollution and avoiding outdoor activities, particularly near traffic-heavy roads.
However, he points out that homes should still be ventilated when outdoor air quality improves.
On the use of masks, Dr Mittal cautions that they are not a reliable protective measure for infants and very young children. Parents should therefore prioritise reducing exposure rather than depending on masks to protect babies outdoors.
While pollution can trigger respiratory irritation and aggravate existing conditions, doctors also caution against attributing every cough or cold to poor air quality.
Dr Yatish Singh, Consultant- Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, Indirapuram, explains that several factors contribute to Delhi-NCR's deteriorating air quality during this season, including vehicle emissions, dust, agricultural burning, fireworks and changing weather conditions.
"Children are particularly vulnerable because their lungs are still developing and their airways are more sensitive to pollutants. Exposure to fine particles, particularly PM2.5, can cause coughing, congestion, throat irritation, watery eyes and sometimes wheezing or breathing difficulties. Children with asthma or respiratory allergies may experience worse symptoms," he says.
In newborns and young infants, nasal congestion can also interfere with feeding and sleep.
However, he reminds parents that viral respiratory infections are common during this season too, and not every cough or cold is necessarily pollution-related.
Dr Singh advises parents to consult a paediatrician if a child develops a persistent or worsening cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, reduced feeding, unusual lethargy or high-grade fever.
He particularly stresses that babies younger than three months who develop a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above require urgent medical assessment.
Chest retractions, severe breathing difficulty, bluish lips or difficulty waking a child are emergency warning signs.
While there is no way to eliminate exposure completely when outdoor air quality is severely compromised, experts recommend a few practical measures to reduce children's exposure.
Limit outdoor exposure: Avoid unnecessary walks, outdoor playtime and outings with infants and toddlers when AQI levels are hazardous. Check local AQI updates before planning activities.
Choose the right air purifier: A HEPA-based purifier, appropriately sized for the room, can help reduce indoor particulate matter. Ensure that filters are cleaned and replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Keep indoor air clean: Avoid smoking, incense sticks, mosquito coils and other sources of indoor smoke. Damp-dust and mop regularly to minimise dust accumulation.
Ventilate strategically: Keep windows closed when outdoor pollution is high. Allow fresh air inside when outdoor air quality improves.
Maintain feeding and hydration: Continue breastfeeding and offer age-appropriate fluids and nutrition to support the child's overall health.
Use saline drops when needed: Normal saline nasal drops may help relieve nasal congestion in infants, but should be used appropriately.
Follow respiratory hygiene: Maintain hand hygiene and avoid close contact between babies and family members experiencing cough, cold or other respiratory symptoms.
Do not depend on masks for infants: Masks are not a reliable protective measure for infants and very young children. For older children, any mask should be age-appropriate and properly fitted.
Know when to seek help: Rapid or laboured breathing, wheezing, chest retractions, poor feeding, unusual lethargy and bluish lips require prompt medical assessment. Severe breathing difficulty or reduced responsiveness warrants emergency care.
Dr Singh also cautions parents against self-medicating children with antibiotics, cough syrups or nebulisation without proper clinical assessment. (ANI)