Baby’s Skin Care
May 2, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
A newborn’s skin is soft and delicate. Proper skin care and bathing can help maintain the health and texture of the baby’s skin. It is important to understand that to take care of Baby’s skin the most natural way is often best. Newborn baby may have some skin conditions that seem unusual to you. Most are fairly common such as Baby acne is a red, pimply rash on the face. Generally, it disappears over time. Cutis marmorata is a condition where the skin looks like pinkish-blue marble when exposed to cold temperatures. Erythema toxicum is a common, splotchy red rash that can affect newborns. Some have firm yellow or white bumps surrounded by a flare of red. The rash tends to come and go on different parts of the body. Vernix is a greasy white substance that coats and protects baby’s skin in the mother’s uterus. Some babies are born with lots of vernix still on their skin.
Milia are tiny whiteheads on your baby’s face. It is harmless and can be washed or wiped off. Crusty patches on scalp. Overactive glands in your baby’s scalp can cause cradle cap. If so, use a mild soap containing olive, coconut, or palm oil and possibly herbal extracts such as calendula. Contrary to popular thought, most babies may only need to be bathed two or three times a week or every other day. Baths can be given any time of day. Bathing before a feeding often works well. Sponge baths are required at first. Bathing in a tub of water should wait until the baby’s umbilical cord falls off, and a baby boy’s circumcision heals, to prevent infection. Contact dermatitis can develop after your baby’s skin comes into contact with something irritating or that she’s allergic to. Keep your child’s skin moist. After bathing, apply moisturizer within three minutes to retain the moisture in the skin. Avoid sudden temperature changes.
Avoid using soap if possible and do not scrub skin with washcloth. If soap is needed, use mild, moisturizing, unscented soap. Heat rash also problem baby skin and causes little bumps on the skin that can show up when your baby overheats. Keep your baby comfortably cool by dressing him in loose-fitting, light cotton clothing, especially in warm, humid weather. Massaging lotions and oils into your baby’s skin can relieve irritation. But anything you use should be free of petrochemicals , which are themselves irritants. Premature babies skin is even more delicate, so it is important to withhold all products until their approximate due date, as their skin takes longer to mature. If your baby is overdue, his/her skin may well be dry and cracked. Don’t be tempted to use any creams or lotions. If night-time itching is a problem, use a cold, damp washcloth to soothe the child’s skin.
Baby Skin Care Tips
1. Babies’ skin needs cleaning and cares for a healthy function during their growth.
2. Humidity causes macerations. Don’t use talc. It is abrasive and irritates the skin.
3. Protect baby skin from sunburn as well as associated problems such as freckles and premature wrinkles.
4. Avoid frequent baths for eczema.
5. Keep baby’s skin from becoming dry and itchy by adding non-allergenic oil to the bathwater.
6. If your baby has seborrheic dermatitis, a mild hydrocortisone cream (0.5%) is safe and usually effective.
7. Apply unscented petroleum jelly or a cream with zinc oxide to the skin of the diaper area to protect and lubricate for diaper rash.
8. Avoid using baby powder or talc.
Safe Baby Skin Care – Some Are Unsafe?
April 22, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Naturally Safe Baby Products – demands are on the increase. Many parents are turning to organic products to Naturally Care for Babies Skin. Is this a consumer trend or is this a decision based on something more important?
The commonsense approach is to minimize contact with potentially harmful chemicals. This is good commonsense. Health conscious parents are choosing to reduce unnecessary chemical exposure for their children where-ever possible.
The largest organ of the human body is actually the skin. It is no surprise that one of the biggest concerns many new parents experience is how to protect their babies’ very new, soft & delicate skin.
In fact babies’ skin should be well cared for as it can have an impact on their health. A baby has a great deal of growing to do. Their lungs, eyes & internal organs require time to strengthen & develop. Do you think they are prepared to cope with potentially toxic chemicals unnecessarily?
Non-Toxic Baby Care V’s Non-Natural
The benefit of knowledge is that it can prevent you falling victim to some brilliant marketing techniques. The word “Natural” is a great way to effect our emotions. Doesn’t that provide us with feelings of security & confidence?
The term Natural indicates that it contains a natural substance – the product normally will still contain non-natural ingredients. It is the word “Natural” that is designed to be the focal point.
“Certified Organic” Baby Skincare
This term provides absolute assurance that the agricultural, harvesting & processing method is totally without contact to any toxic chemical substances. No synthetic chemicals, artificial colors, fragrances & preservatives. The safety aspect of worldwide standards dictates that “Certified Organic” products are truly natural.
Green Baby Body Care or Potential Poison
The chemical Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a surfactant useful in the removal of oil. Various health reports have raised concerns regarding its safety.
It is commonly used as an engine degreaser & does a thorough job. Such degreasers have an extremely high concentration of this substance when compared to the amount contained in skin cleansers etc.
Although various ingredients may not be considered life threatening, it makes good sense to reduce the level of exposure when possible. Especially when considering that safe alternative products are readily attainable.
Propylene Glycol – You may have come across this product previously. It has a great many uses. Commonly used as an anti-freeze for boats, aircraft & vehicles.
It is a necessary ingredient in solvent acrylics, stains, dyes & brake fluid. Is it sounding like something you would choose to apply to a baby’s fragile & delicate skin!
Please draw comfort from the documented fact that it is considered to be “Generally Recognized as Safe” may be used as a food additive, cosmetics & skin care products.
That is “generally reassuring” in a rather “general” sort of way. So cast away any real or imagined fear because you can really feel “generally safe” while using it!
Material Safety Data Sheets are provided with the purchase of chemical products. These sheets provide safety instructions in case of emergency.
* It is a skin irritant & can affect the liver and kidneys.
* Avoid contact with the skin.
* Minor eye irritation.
Obviously that is referring to high concentrations of this chemical. But many thinking individuals have drawn the conclusion that naturally safe alternative ingredients are available, why add anything that has been considered as potentially hazardous.
Mineral Oil – it may even create the concept that it is healthy & natural. This ingredient is used in many baby skin care goods. But think again!
It is definitely a natural product. A by-product of Crude oil – that may be appropriate for use in our motor vehicles. Does it provide you the same confidence when considering lotions that are applied to a new baby’s skin?
Whether a product is absorbed through the skin depends on a variety of factors. The liver is responsible to break down chemicals for elimination.
Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for interference with the respiratory system, why risk it. You may be aware that hydrocarbons have been considered as carcinogenic (increasing the risk of certain cancers).
Natural Baby Care for Newborn – You Decide
Such controversial ingredients may appear to make good business sense when profit is the prime focus. Safety doesn’t appear to rank all that highly, these substances are relatively inexpensive & an available resource. It offers the potential to generate a high cash flow. The fact that profit is involved, does not exactly build much confidence in the safety aspect of the product.
Organic Baby Items or Conventional!
Knowledge of eco-friendly options for baby – provides us with a fighting chance to avoid being deceived. This information is more than that, far more than that.
It gives us the insight to make wise choices. The choices & decisions that we make will have an affect on the ones closest to our hearts. We hope this answers why more parents are seeking out naturally safe products for their children. It is really a very NATURAL decision to make.
Can Your Baby Talk To You?
June 27, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Most likely not, so seeing and understanding your baby’s skin will help you to understanding whats happening with your baby’s body. Many of us have heard it before, “Be sure to take your vitamins every day if you want to be healthy.” These days, vitamin intake has gone beyond just being healthy, it has become imperative. We are finally learning what years of eating processed, fast foods or ‘take out’ meals have done to our bodies – not to mention our environment – and the reports aren’t good. Processed foods that contain high amounts of salts and fats, have been found to cause increases in cholesterol, blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and even liver failure.
One of the most visible signs of poor nutrition can immediately been seen in the condition of our skin. So, the question is what DO the vitamins do? How can you tell if you need one or another. Obviously, every body is different and to make a truly informed choice, a visit to your family practitioner or your local nutritionist may be in order. If you just want to get some general information to start, and see where you might be lacking, the following is a list based on the Recommended Daily Amounts (RDA) from the EU guidance that is used for nutrition tables on food products. If you think you may be vitamin deficient in any area, these would be good points to bring up when you do go in for your next checkup.
The Significance of Touch for Infants and Babies
June 13, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Loving touch is so important for babies because it initially facilitates development of all other senses of the infant. That is why most experts, pediatricians and doctors would advise taking greater care of baby skin. Taking the time to learn how to properly handle and take care of baby skin is certainly worthwhile.
Touch is basically how newborn babies start to communicate. The warmth touch of the mom to baby skin is basically what the infant first encounters. Remember that after birth, it would take a few days before the eyes clears up, while the sense of taste is still not developed fully. Through touch, the baby is given an assurance of warmth, love, security and protection. And the baby somehow feels that. Thus, a mothers touch is a good pacifier to an uncomfortable and fussing baby.
Experts assert that aside from that, the touch of a mother is providing much more than just warmth and passion to baby skin. When a mom touches and holds her baby, she is unconsciously stimulating the secretion and production of the baby hormones for growth and more effective digestion. The mothers touch to the baby is just like how massage is good and health-conducive to average adult.
The sense of touch also complements and bolsters the development of all other senses of the baby. For instance, a mothers touch helps the baby initially discern verbal language and words used by the mom. For example, when a mom says the word, ‘my baby’, along with touching baby skin, the baby is learning how to associate the words with the warmth and pleasantness of the touch. After some time, the baby would learn how to listen to words although he or she would not be able to totally understand it yet. Eventually, the sense of touch would be separated from the verbal communication or comprehension.
Aside from that, the baby sense of touch very much tells about how the baby overall health is doing. When the baby is feeling bad, a mom could tell that something is wrong if the skin temperature is unusually high. Aside from that, a mom could sense a discomfort in the baby through the infants skin. Redness and swelling indicates that there is something troubling and annoying the baby.
That is why the sense of touch is practically deemed appropriate and useful to the baby. Because of that, there of course is a need to ensure that the baby skin is always well taken care of. Thus, as much as possible, it is imperative that baby skin care be always made conducive and very much in good status. Remember that taking care of the baby skin is far different from taking care of the skin of a child, a teenager and an adult. Baby skin is still very fragile and sensitive to handle it with extra care and make every touch as smooth and as loving as possible.
