Baby Care

Archive for the ‘Baby Health Care’ Category

Your child’s feet will continue to develop right up until their mid to late teens. Newborn babies’ feet don’t even have the full complement of bones they will have in later life (26), and the arch of the foot won’t develop until around the age of 2. It is essential that you ensure that their feet get the right support and protection throughout childhood to enable them to grow and develop in a healthy way.

Choosing footwear

New babies: Until your baby starts to crawl and move around, experts recommend bare feet to ensure healthy development. Socks and booties are fine for protecting against the cold when you are outside, but make sure that they don’t restrict your baby’s feet. Even jumpsuits that are too short can result in claw, retracted or hammer toes, so you may decide to opt for ones without feet.

Crawling babies: Soft, slip-on “pre-walking” shoes help protect the feet of crawling babies, and you may want to invest in at least one pair with a rubber toe-protector. However, make sure you continue to give your baby the chance, where safe, to practice crawling and standing on bare feet.

Toddlers: Once your child is walking confidently, you will need to buy some proper shoes that support and protect their feet. Experts still recommend letting your child walk around without shoes as much as possible, where it is safe to do so, as this promotes healthy foot development.

When buying shoes, it’s always best to go to a good shoe shop where you can have your child’s feet measured by staff on a machine which will accurately measure the length and width of their feet. This will ensure that the shoes you buy will be a proper fit. Outdoor shoes need to be well made and sturdy, preferably made of leather and with a flexible, non-slip sole. The toes of your child’s shoes should be wide and allow the toes inside to spread out, and high enough so that the top of the shoe doesn’t press down on the toenails.

Toddlers generally need to have their feet re-measured every 6-8 weeks, and older children every 3-4 months.

Caring for your child’s feet

Keeping your baby’s feet clean and the nails short is essential to healthy foot development. Remember that babies’ feet tend to sweat more than adults’, and their toenails tend to grow faster too, so it is a good idea to use bath time as an opportunity to check feet on a regular basis. Look out for red patches and blisters, which may indicate that your child’s shoes are not fitting properly. Don’t burst blisters, however tempting this may be, as you run the risk of opening up the irritated patch to infection.

Children can be very sensitive about having their feet inspected or their toenails cut, so it is a good idea to try and do this while they are asleep if you can. For example, if you are taking a long car journey and you suspect your child may fall asleep in the car, remove their shoes and socks before setting off so that you can have a few undisturbed minutes to indulge in a bit of foot-care while they are blissfully unaware.

Some common minor problems

In-toeing and out-toeing: Some children when they start walking exhibit an “in-toed” or “out-toed” gait, meaning that one or both of their feet turn inwards or outwards. This usually corrects itself without any intervention, but if you are concerned, or if the problem persists past toddler hood, consult your doctor or health visitor.

In growing toenails: Red or swollen skin at the side of your child’s toenail may indicate an in growing toenail. To avoid these, cut your child’s toenails straight across and try to file off any sharp edges. If your child is experiencing persistent discomfort from in growing toenails, consult your doctor.

Hand, foot and mouth disease: Not related in any way to the foot and mouth disease that affects livestock, this is a common viral infection which causes blisters in the mouth, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It is contagious and most nurseries will insist that children stay home as long as they have blisters. Hand, foot and mouth may be accompanied by a light fever, but will generally clear up quickly and without treatment after a few days.

Baby’s nails surely grow fast. Although it is smoother and thinner than adult’s nails, but it is sharp enough to make a scratch on baby’s face or on yours while she is breastfeeding. Therefore, parents must trim baby’s nails routinely, at least once in a week. For new parents, to trim baby’s nails can be dilemma, they will think that if it is not trim it surely can hurt their baby’s face, but if it is trim parents will feel worried that they can hurt baby’s fingers.
So, how to successfully trim baby’s nails without make any harm to their fingers? Maybe these things can be considered:

When?

• After bathing, why should after taking a bath? It is known that right after baby taking bath, their nails are still softer than usual. Cheer your baby out while you trim their nails, or you can ask your husband to do that. Try to shift their attention so that your baby will not pull their hands out.
• While baby’s sleeping. Of course, you can success trim their nails if only they are slept tight. If they are not, they might will be awaken or spontaneously pull their hands out.

Here are some tips to successfully trim baby’s nails:

• Use special baby nail-nippers, usually it is signed by circular tip and also not too sharp to be potentiated harm baby’s fingers.
• Push their meal under the nails, so it won’t be also trim, you should extra careful.
• Talk to your baby while you trim their nails, it makes both of you to not feel intense.
• If you hurt baby’s fingers, don’t be panic. Sometimes people feel nervous, so do you. To stop their bleeding, push the bleed-side by using cotton. In about one or two minutes, bleeding will stop. It doesn’t need to put in cast since it could postpone the healing process.

It is important to always pay attention to your baby’s nails,trim it if you find the nails have grown longer. Do not let your baby harm themselves by scratching their face using their nails. Hopefully these tips on trimming baby’s nails could be useful for you.

Nappy rash happens when urine is left too long on your baby’s skin and becomes ammonia when mixed with bacteria from your baby’s stools. It usually appears as a red rash around the bottom or genital  area, but can become inflamed with pus-filled spots in extreme cases.

Most babies experience some form of nappy rash over the first two years. The key is trying to prevent it from happening:

- Change your baby’s nappy more frequently
- Let her have a naked kick around without her nappy on twice a day.
- Don’t wash your baby’s skin with soaps or scented lotions as they break down the skins natural barriers.
- Don’t use talcum powder on your baby’s skin
- Use a barrier cream if there is a small rash, but avoid it if the skin has broken
- Dry the nappy area thoroughly after washing
- Use a non biological washing power when laundering reusable nappies

If your baby does experience nappy rash:

- Make sure her skin is aired for about 15 minutes between nappy changes
- Check the absorbency of your baby’s nappy, you may need to switch to a higher absorbency nappy at night
- If the nappy rash does not seem to be clearing up, make an appointment with your GP to rule out anything more serious.

Winter can be a very harsh time for an adult’s skin but for babies it can be extra harsh.

Your baby’s skin is very sensitive and you will need to take extra care for your baby if you live in a cold environment.

Winter time weather could cause irritation and your baby’s skin to dry out. It is easy for the moisture in their soft skin to disappear.

Cold wind has a way of depleting skin of its moisture and elasticity. There are certain things that you will want to do to prevent this from happening.

Baby bathing and Moisturizing during Winter Months - You will not want to take your baby out into the cold weather directly after giving them their bath. This can chaff their skin. Make sure that you apply enough moisturizer after their bath to keep the moisture in your baby’s skin.

Baby lotion is a good moisturizer to use and it will make your baby smell extra good, too. You will want to moisturize from head to toe without getting lotion in their mouth or eyes.

Ask your physician to recommend a good type of moisturizer if what you are using does not seem to moisturize good enough.

Winter Clothing for Baby – It is a good idea to have the proper clothing for your baby during the winter months. He or she will need a warm coat, hat, and gloves but not so warm that your baby will sweat.

Soft clothing is always best for a baby’s skin because it is so tender especially in the winter months. If you have a little girl make sure you put tights under her little dresses to prevent her legs from becoming dry and chaffed.

Little boys usually wear pants in the winter so this should keep their legs warm and away from the cold.

Socks should always be worn under your little boy’s pants though for extra warmth and protection. If it is snowing you can always bundle them up in a snow suit made especially for babies to protect their skin.

Tips for Prevention:

Try products that are rich in vitamins A and also D to soothe your baby’s skin if it is chapped or red looking. You should use products that are formulated for babies not adults. These products can come in lotions, creams, or ointments.

Also to stop your baby’s face from chapping you may need to cover your baby’s carrier when you go out with a loosely weaved thin blanket.

Make sure that it is loose over your baby’s carrier and that your baby is able to breath through the light blanket. This is very important! To keep moisture in your baby’s room you may want to run a humidifier during the winter months. This will not only help to keep moisture in your baby’s skin but will also help your baby if he or she has a cold and the skin under their nose is chapped from constantly wiping or blowing.

With a little preventive help your baby should have a very comfortable and enjoyable winter.

If you have a pet, especially a dog, before you are going to bring home baby there is some caution to be taken depending upon the breed of the dog.

Most dogs integrate happily with a new baby and it is up to the parents to be sure that baby is welcomed home by everyone in the household.

Before Baby’s Arrival

While the baby is still at the hospital it is a good idea to bring home a blanket that the baby has slept on while in the nursery.
This gives your pet a chance to get a whiff of the new member of the family. When the baby comes home the dog will already be familiar with the baby’s scent.

When Baby Comes Home

Your baby will threaten your dog’s place in the pack and you must do all you can to show the dog that you can still love him and the baby as well. When you are feeding baby don’t chase the dog away.
Let him lie at your feet or sit near you so you can pet him while baby is being nourished. Some dogs will welcome a baby happily while others will regard the new arrival with suspicion.

Experts recommend that in the weeks before the baby is to arrive you begin to spend less time with your dog so that they will not be surprised that you are not at their beck and call as before.

Many people feel that showering the dog with affection before the baby comes home is the way to do it but that will only cause resentment when baby comes home and the attention they were receiving is cut off.

Your Friendly Fido

If your dog has any behavioral problems that may affect the baby in a negative way it is best to take care of them before baby comes home.
You can hire a dog trainer and explain what is happening and they will guide you through the steps to make the baby’s arrival a happy occasion for everyone.
You don’t have to give up a pet just because a new baby is coming home. Love grows and moms and dads and pretty soon babies will be playing, loving and bonding for their lifetimes together.

Contact an animal expert if you have any concerns about your pet and your new baby so that you can have peace of mind when the time comes for Fido and baby to meet in person.

Many traditional cultures believe that massaging the new born baby is an absolute must, and even modern child rearing practices now highlight the several reasons why infants can benefit from massage:

1. Bonding with your new baby:

The new baby’s senses are not very finely attuned; but they do love being touched.

A mother’s soothing hands and familiar voice are a source of delight for a small baby who is bewildered to be out of the embrace of his mother’s safe and warm womb and out into a world of light, noise and all manner of unfamiliar sights.

Massage is one way for a new child and mother to bond in the most basic way that there is; by touch. Looking into your baby’s eyes as you massage his lovely new skin the baby recognizes and learns to love the most important face in his tiny world.

He finds comfort in the beloved voice of his mother that he has known from before his birth and in the firm touch of her warm hands as they massage him.

2.It will Ease baby’s Discomfort.

If a new born suffers from colic or distention of the abdomen, massage will greatly relieve his discomfort and perhaps cause him to pass gas so that his fretfulness will be eased. A restless, wakeful baby will likely be tired out by a massage and this will help him sleep better.

As the mother massages the baby she engages with him by murmuring to him, singing to him or laughing with him; thereby keeping him amused and entertained and diverting his mind from any discomfort he may be in.

3.Good for Baby’s soft skin and Circulation.

While it is not a good idea to use aromatherapy oils that an adult would typically use, most pediatricians recommend the use of an unscented olive oil for use on a baby’s skin that will keep the baby’s skin soft and moisturized.

Olive oil is also unlikely to cause any kind of allergic reaction or rash to develop on the baby’s sensitive skin.  Massage typically aids and improves circulation even among adults and using the proper technique to massage your baby will have just such a beneficial effect on your baby’s circulation.

4.Improves Growth and Development.

According to some studies, premature babies who are regularly massaged, have been seen to gain weight at a faster rate. They also showed better growth and development.  They also seemed more alert and active and were able to leave hospital earlier than other premature babies.

Cell phone is a very important thing in our daily life. It is one of the best inventions in modern era. It makes our communication easier and faster than previous. All of us know how much important it is and how many advantages we take from it. But besides it advantages it has some drawback such as it may cause cancer and some other diseases.

The fact is that our children are much affected by it as their body is under developing. To consider the demerit of it France Government already has ban cell phone for kids. Not only physical problem but also cell phone makes some other problems. Many children who get mobile phone most of the time they play games with it. As a result, they cannot give attention in their lesson. Some of them habituated to unnecessary talk with their friends. Many of them fall in love in their immature age. For this, they become excited and frustrated. A good number of them accustomed to dirty talk with opposite gender in night. So, in the morning they cannot go to school. So, this is very dangerous thing for our next generation. Sometimes, they steal money from home to load balance in their mobile account. Most of the time, they misuse the multimedia option of their cell. They capture unexpected image from hidden place. They watch pornographic film and image in their cell. Thus, they become used to immoral activities.

But why parents give cell phone to their younger children? Is it necessary for them? Almost every parents give cell to their child without any reason. They give it just as fashion or show to others their richness. Sometimes parents make a competition which children get more expensive handset. A few parents give 2 or 3 handset to show their affluence. But I want to ask the parents can they even think that why they give cell phone to their child? What is the purpose? Can a cell improve your child intelligence? Can it help to develop your kids’ education? So, why you give to the cell to the kids? To think about anything of your child, at first, you should consider about your child future. Cell phone is necessary for the people who really need but don’t for the kids.

Your child may not have much hair yet but the hair he or she has, need to be taken care of. Children usually don’t like having their hair washed, rinsed, and combed. But if you don’t take care of your little one’s hair, it can get dry, messy, or full of loops. Hair care is a significant part of looking after your baby appropriately. Baby hair care is a very simple process to perform. Here are some common and important tips for the care of your baby’s hair:

* Your baby’s hair needs special care, though it doesn’t take so much time. For the caring of your baby’s hair you need to know the type of your baby’s hair. Some babies are born with thick hair while others have little or no hair. Others, most of the infants are born with soft hair. So every type of hair needs specialcare.
* If your baby has curly hair or excess hair then you only need wash your baby’s hair frequently.
* When taking care of newborn hair it is very important to be awfully gentle. Try to avoid putting pressure onto the soft spot that is situated at the top of the baby’s head.
* Comb your baby’s hair to get rid of the tangles just before you shampoo the hair.
* For the shampooing don’t use the normal shampoo that is used by adult. In the market there are lots of special shampoos for babies, you can choose one of them for your baby. Baby shampoo does not contain sulfates or other additives that are found in adult shampoos. Baby shampoos also prevent harsh in the shampoo happens to get in the baby’s eyes. Always take a shampoo with a low ph balance for your baby.
* Keep the scalp of your baby clean for a healthy hair growth. But, do not wash your baby hair daily. You can give them gentle hair washes in few days interval. Try to shampoo baby’s hair as often, as it needed.
* Always remember that the skull of your baby is soft and sensitive. So always be gentle while you combing their hair.
* You must make the shampooing an enjoyable experience as most of the babies don’t like it. Your child will be more likely to practise correct hair and scalp care as he or she gets older.
* Some say that shaving infant’s hair increases hair growth. However, there is no proof till now that shaving hair makes hair grow faster and thicker.
* Trimmed means that when performing baby hair care the hair should be kept out of the child’s eyes and ears. When hair is allowed to grow too long unnecessary tangling can occur. An individual or professional can trim the hair of a baby.
* Kid’s scalp may have red skin. Wash the scalp regularly with a mild shampoo to get rid of the problem. Maybe the pediatrician will recommend some medications for your baby.

On top of part of our article we say that baby hair care doesn’t need much time or much care. And only following by these easy suggestions we can ensure that your baby’s hair is kept clean, stylish and beautiful.

Taking care of your sweet baby’s health is very important. You should always make sure they get all their shots so that when it comes time to go to school, they can be admitted.

You are probably thinking that I should have said that they should have their shots so they can be healthy, but that reason is debatable.

I believe that most of these shots that are given during the baby health care treatments are really poisonous. They are full of hormones and whatever else. Why would it be considered “healthy” if you are in fact shooting our babies up with the very virus you are protecting them from?

How can that possibly be “healthy”?

Also, what other medicines and viruses are concocted in these shots? We, as parents, really have no idea, yet we are told to do so by the government and our doctors.

My babies’ health care is very important to me and I wish I had the means to teach all of my children at home and therefore, avoiding dosing them up with all this poison.

It has long been proven that smoking is harmful to pregnant women, but nevertheless pregnant smokers are not uncommon. According to statistics 22% of women do not stop smoking during pregnancy.
It even turns out, that smoking before pregnancy may also cause damage.

Smoking threatens the conception
Smoking before pregnancy is also harmful and directly affects the reproductive function of not only women but also men.
In women-smokers often have irregular menstrual cycle, the ability to conceive and the duration of childbearing age is reduced.
In men, sperm production, its morphology and motility, as well as secretion of androgens are changed. Doctors say that smoking decreases the density of sperm and increases the concentration of sperm cells of abnormal shape and structure (“an increase in abnormal sperm morphology”).
Conception + smoking = congenital defects of children
During pregnancy, smoking causes birth defects of children, such as: cleft lip and palate bone, deformity of limbs, polycystic kidney disease, ventricular septal defect, deformation of the skull and so on. And even if the expectant mother stops smoking, the risk of birth of children with defects still remains, because smoking devastatingly affects the conception. So it is better to quit now!
How to quit smoking during pregnancy?
It turns out that nicotine is the chemical and physical dependence of the organism to a greater extent, rather than coffee or marijuana! But after learning about the pregnancy, to quit smoking is vital for your unborn child. During pregnancy, it is better to stop smoking without the use of pills and patches, since they also contain nicotine as in cigarettes. Recently, the most effective way is a book by Allen Kara “Easy Way to Stop Smoking”, letting to giv up smoking through self-correct mental attitude, without resorting to crutches like nicotine gum or patch. 90% read of the readers gave up smoking and did not begin within one year.