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How to choose the best baby skin care

As a future parent, you will take care that your little one has everything he/she needs, and this primarily includes car seat, crib, stroller, and many other pieces of equipment. But first and most important thing for proper care about your baby are baby skin care products.

Your baby must have appropriate cosmetic that will not harm him but will provide adequate skin care. First and most important product is baby cream. You will use it in huge amounts, because you apply it on baby’s intimate region every time you change the diaper.

Besides baby cream, let’s not forget wet wipes. They are also important because you first use them when you start diaper change-to wipe off residues of pee or poop off baby’s skin, before applying cream. The best wet wipes are those without alcohol as alcohol dries baby’s skin.

However when choosing infant skin care products, keep in mind that cosmetic manufacturers always put at least several synthetic chemicals to enhance overall quality of product, and these chemicals can be potential threat for baby’s delicate skin and health.

Every mother wants to assure maximum safety in baby skin care. Natural and organic cosmetic products are leading trend in the world, and they will surely replace all current conventional and synthetic cosmetic products in a very recent future.

What are advantages of natural and organic baby skin care products?

After birth, baby’s skin is not protected enough, while being exposed to many harmful outside factors, it can’t handle on its own. Baby’s epidermis is very thin and porous, so potentially harmful substances can easily penetrate through baby’s skin because its dermis is not fully developed due to lack of collagen and elastin fibers.

Babies and toddlers absorb more of infant skin care products into skin and blood stream, thus being under higher risk of system toxicity-and this is the more reason why you must buy high-quality cosmetic products. Baby cosmetic products have to be adapted to their highly sensitive skin, because baby skin is more porous and immune response is lower.

Usual baby skin care involves baby cosmetic products that are mixture of numerous chemicals that create foam, nice smell and smoothness, as well as numerous conservatives and colors. It is no wonder that almost 75% of newborns in USA experienced rash in first few months of life, and pediatricians explain this with often use of synthetic ingredients, conservatives and artificial perfumes/fragrances in baby skin care products. Such products are foamy baths, shampoos, fragrance massage oils-products that are most popular among baby skin care products!

These days, moms are more conscious and want to avoid any risk involved with synthetic chemicals or questionable conservatives such as parabens that can negatively affect baby’s development. It is no wonder that organic and natural baby skin care is absolute must-have!

In organic cosmetics anything that poses risk for human health is forbidden, as well as ingredients that are questionable and unchecked; it doesn’t accept methods of processing of natural materials that are even slightly risky for human health (such as Nanotechnology, GMO, sterilization with radiation, etc.).

Most popular natural ingredients in baby cosmetic these days are those from organic growth such as organic almond, Aloe Vera, jojoba oil, flower of sweet orange, as well as herbal oils of primrose, olive, Sunflower. It is interesting to mention that Shea butter is replacing Vaseline in baby creams because there are more and more info that Vaseline can clog pores and irritate skin, and as petrochemical derivate is becoming related to development of certain cancers.

If your baby or toddler has sensitive skin prone to redness and irritation, or if he suffers from atopic dermatitis, than colloid oat meal is a real cosmetic treasure.

How to Buy a Baby Diaper

One of the most burning dilemmas of all future moms is what baby diaper to choose. The main question is: disposable diapers or cotton diapers?

If you go for cotton diapers, you can get them with an adjustable waist. These diapers are made for babies from 3 to 17 kilograms, and you adjust size with Velcro tape. Along with these diapers, you need protective panties that protect clothes from leaking. They can be bought in an appropriate size. It is important to keep in mind that you have to buy at least 30 cotton infant diaper so you have a stash for a few days because washing and drying these diapers takes some time. You also have to get at least 4 protective panties that you will get periodically as the baby grows.

If you choose disposable diapers, you should buy them in an appropriate size in your local market.

Using cotton panties can be complicated in practice. Diapers, pads, and protective panties have to be prepared in advance, while disposable baby diapers are easy to put and take off.
With cotton diapers, the cleaning process takes time because you have to sort them, wash them, dry them and iron them, while disposable diapers you just throw away.

Buying cotton panties is much simpler, though. Once you get your stash, you don’t have to worry if you will have enough of them. Disposable diapers have to be bought constantly and you always must care you don’t stay without them.
When we analyze expenses for the purchase of disposable diapers, they are divided to the entire period of diaper use, in comparison to start investment with cotton diapers being larger, but one-time. When you sum up expenses for diapers, you will save at least 50% with cotton diapers, in comparison to expenses for disposable infant diapers.
Disposable diapers cause much more damage to the environment, except for the amount of water we use to wash cotton diapers.

Cotton diapers are much healthier for your baby because they are made of cotton that lets the baby’s skin breathe, while disposable diapers are simply “plastic”. Unlike cotton diapers that are quite uncomfortable, the baby barely feels the disposable diaper. This is the reason why babies that use cotton diapers will stop using them sooner than disposable diaper users.

If you choose disposable diapers, you primarily want to get those that will not cause irritation, so make sure to read the material used for diapers. Always make sure you get the right size. You will easily get the right size as every diaper package is clearly indicated with the baby weight it is made for. If you are not sure that particular size is good for your little one, in the beginning get the smaller size to determine the right one. The elastic band around the legs and waist shouldn’t be too tight nor too loose (because liquid could go where there is loose space).
Another thing to consider when buying diapers is its power of absorption. The big advantage of disposable diapers is their ability to maintain the sensation of dryness for a long period of time. A dry baby is a happy baby and the baby sleeps longer.

Choosing the Best Baby Feeding Products

Directly feeding of mother’s milk off of the mother’s breast always has advantages over any other formula or type of food. If a mother chooses to use a bottle during the baby’s first months, there are certain tactics to transfer to breastfeeding again easier. For example, in most cases it is best to choose a bottle that has a nipple with low flow and that is long enough for the baby to suck into deep into the mouth as it is done with the nipple during breastfeeding. Softer nipples can be a better choice than a harder one. The baby should be firmly supported during feeding. Some sources claim that the baby should be bottle-fed in a position in which the baby would be breastfed.

When you start feeding, it is recommended to offer the bottle just as you would offer to the breast: by touching the baby’s mouth with the nipple so that the baby opens its mouth wide. Only then you should allow the baby to take the nipple deep into mouth and not to push the nipple into the mouth. If the mother uses a bottle with a wide-base nipple, it is good that the baby takes the nipple deep enough to place the lips onto the base.

Speaking of various baby feeding products, let’s discuss the baby bottle. It is best to choose a bottle that has a nipple with a slow flow and that is long enough so that the baby can get it deep into mouth, just as it would take the nipple deep into mouth. A silicone nipple on a bottle has shown as a better choice than a rubber one. When you buy a bottle, it is good to choose one that is made of strong, durable material (that won’t break easily), and one that can be boiled because you have to regularly sterilize bottle.

Basically, the nipple should physiologically adapt to the baby’s jaw and leave enough space for the tongue to move/suck. The flat part of the nipple that has a lower surface is mildly rounded upwards which enables the tongue to be in a natural position, while at the same time promoting development of the upper and lower jaw. It is also important that the nipple is soft and bendable. It is recommended that the neck of the nipple (part of the nipple closest to its protector) is narrow enough to put as little pressure as possible onto the jaws and teeth.

Latex nipples are made of quality natural material. Processed latex, as a material, is extremely durable and elastic. Thanks to its long durability, latex is particularly good for children that already have teeth. The downside of latex, as part of baby feeding products, is that it should be kept away from sunlight/UV lights because it causes faster aging of this material. However, there is a change of color of the latex nipple/pacifier (this is a sure sign you should get a new one and this should be done every 1-2 months tops). Another positive side of latex is the fact that it is a natural material and that it can be disposed in an ecological way.

On the other hand, silicone nipples/pacifiers are made of higher quality synthetic material. This transparent silicone material is temperature-resistant, and direct sun light doesn’t have any effect on material aging. However, silicone is quite sensitive and can easily be damaged. You should replace the silicone pacifier as soon as you notice the first bite marks or of any other damage.

How to Buy Baby Crib Bedding

Considering that baby skin is very sensitive and gentle, it is important to carefully choose everything that will be in contact with it (natural and quality materials are a must). The clear advantage of baby bedding made of organic cotton is that it is not treated with any chemicals which means that baby skin is completely protected of absorbing harmful chemicals and toxins. Natural cotton bedding is very soft and gentle baby skin adapts to it easily. The biggest advantage of it is the fact that it is hypoallergenic and it doesn’t absorb dust and other dirt. Besides this, organic cotton bedding is long-lasting so you can use it until the baby transfers to a bigger bed.

When parents choose baby bedding for baby cribs, it is good to keep in mind several basic facts. For one, baby duvet and pillows are not recommended for babies under 1 year old because these can cause overheating or accidentally cause suffocation. Instead, use a baby blanket. This way you can easily regulate the temperature: if it is hot, use a thin blanket, and if it is cold, use two of them. Also, since you are not going to use pillows, you don’t need a sheet for it.

When buying bedding for a baby crib, make sure to prepare at least 2-3 cotton sheets. For the first months in the crib, it is also good to buy one cotton protection bedding for crib sides.

It is also important to choose a baby crib that is appropriate for the size of the baby. If you buy a baby bed that is initially too big for your little one, don’t add pillows or blankets around the sides to decrease available space around the baby because the baby could accidentally suffocate on them. It is better to buy a smaller crib for the first few months of your baby’s life.

When placing the baby in the crib, put the baby in so that her feet nearly touch the bottom of the crib. All the blankets and sheets should be rolled under the mattress, so that the baby can’t get them from under the mattress. The baby’s head shouldn’t be covered. This is because babies regulate their temperature over the head, so don’t forget to put on a cotton cap on her head when putting her to sleep.

Another option is to buy a sleeping bag that is ideal for restless babies that often move blankets off of themselves.

Toys in the baby crib

It is not a good idea to place toys in the baby crib. No matter how pretty they are, they can accidentally fall over the baby’s head and cause overheating or accidental suffocation.

How to decrease risk of SIDS in baby crib?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death for babies 1 months old and over. Although research on causes for SIDS is still ongoing, there are some practical methods you can apply to decrease the risk and make the baby crib a safe place for your little one:

If you are a smoker, stop smoking. If you can’t stop, never smoke near the baby or in the room where the baby stays. This also applies to the father and other family members and friends that come to visit
Never allow overheating. You will do that by controlling the temperature in the room where the baby sleeps. The ideal temperature is between 16-20 °C. Use a thermometer to follow room temperature
Don’t cover the baby’s head when putting her to sleep
Place the baby in the bottom of the crib so that the baby’s feet will nearly touch the bottom. That will prevent the baby from getting under the blanket while she turns in sleep
The baby’s crib shouldn’t be in the parent’s bedroom
Avoid co-sleeping
If you are concerned about your baby’s health, visit your pediatrician