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. . . Natural Choices for Good Health!
| A new baby! Here are some essentials
for the new arrival. Find out why some specially designed "Baby" products may not be good for baby at all.
Plus, get some great ideas on how to soothe a fussy baby at 3am! |
| What's Really Best for Baby? |
Baby Essentials | Soothe a Fussy Baby |
What's Really Best for Baby?Most baby care products are not good for baby! Johnson & Johnson products, for instance, like Baby Oil, Baby Lotion, Baby Shampoo, and Baby Powder, are just ordinary products (and not particularly healthy ones at that!) with baby powder scented perfume added. And you pay lots more for the "Baby" packaging! Read the labels! We've been duped by years (generations?) of marketing ploys.Baby Powder - was just talc (dangerous for baby) and perfume. Recently they switched to cornstarch and perfume--just use cornstarch, if you need to use anything at all. Baby Oil - is just mineral oil and perfume. Mineral oil, and all petroleum-based products (including Vaseline) are not good for baby! (Or you either, for that matter.) On the surface, petroleum products can clog pores, inhibiting the natural processes of the skin cells. But secondly, and more importantly, is what they do inside your body. Mineral oil, petrolatum, etc. are the byproducts of petroleum product manufacturing. They are used so extensively because, as leftovers, they are so cheap. Mineral oil gets its name not from content, but because it is derived from a mineral source. It could accurately be called De-mineralized Oil since it has no mineral content whatsoever! It is considered inert, and is essentially a void. Therefore, it is not directly dangerous like the toxic or carcinogenic dyes and additives in so many products. But, we rely on oils and fats to move fat-soluble vitamins to various organs. As these fats move through the blood stream, they pick up additional vitamins beyond those that are already (theoretically) in the oil until they have enough to deliver where needed. Most are delivered, but trace amounts are left in the oil by the time it is secreted out of the body. So some vitamins and minerals (albeit a small amount) are actually removed by these empty oils! Try natural oils and lotions, without petroleum products or chemicals. Baby Soaps and Shampoos - Babies don't really get "dirty" for a long time, and even when they start getting food and a little dirt all over them, they often wash up beautifully with just water. Regular soap is very drying, especially if you are bathing baby every day, and they don't perspire nor do they have the heavy body oils we adults have. However they are held by adults and get some oils from our skin. The hair and scalp need a mild, gentle shampoo and some gentle massage if baby has cradle cap. I recommend gentle soaps and shampoos, without chemicals and artificial ingredients. Read the labels--even many of the ones at health food stores have lots of chemicals with the "natural" or "organic" ingredients. Baby Wipes - if you buy commercial ones, make sure to read the labels! Go for the hypo-allergenic ones, without alcohol, and ideally without perfumes. Or make your own, or use a soft cloth with water, esp if you are washing your own cloth diapers, you can just wash them together. Dreft - has lots of perfumes, dyes and additives! Most authorities now agree that these chemicals are actually bad for a baby, or at the very least, allergy-causing. Dreft may be gentle to baby clothes (Carter's endorses them), but I prefer something gentle to baby. Many ordinary brands of detergent, especially the biodegradable ones, are much better! Also, Borax is very safe, and is a great detergent booster, deodorizer, etc. Baby EssentialsBesides the big things like car seat and furniture, here are lots of useful items:Diaper-Care Ointment that is gentle and effective, with zinc-oxide but not a bunch of other chemicals. Thrush in Infants Thrush is caused by an overgrowth of yeast, just like some diaper rashes. The most effective remedy is pro-biotics. Pro-biotics is the name of the group of good bacteria that live in our digestive systems and fight off the "bad germs" like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and the ever-present yeasts. When you take anti-biotics, these good bacteria are also killed along with the bad ones, so afterwards, it's very important to take pro-biotics. These good bacteria are in breast milk, however what we now pass on to them is significantly less than babies got a generation ago. The most well-known one is Acidophilus--it is often found in yogurt. There are special pro-biotics just for infants and nursing mothers, with a specific strain for babies, Bifidus Infantus. If you use a bottle, put it in, or put a pinch on your nipple or in baby's mouth just before nursing. For thrush or related diaper rash, I would give a pinch or two several times a day, every feeding if it severe. It is a wonderful thing to give infants anyway, since it helps their digestion as well, so I've given it to my kids regularly since birth. The best probiotics are found in the refrigerator of a health food store. I'm waiting for a new mail order option--check back! Bath Salts A wonderful way to soothe and relax little ones, or yourself, before bed. These salts from the Dead Sea also have healing properties for aches and pains. Try Lavender-scented to help a fussy one get to sleep, or get the unscented and add your own oils, like Tranquility aromatherapy oil below. Aromatherapy Oil Try this Tranquility scent as a massage oil or added to running bath water to help a fussy little one, or yourself, go to sleep. There are a variety of lovely scents for other situations as well. Baby Slings or Carriers There are whole philosophies of parenting ("baby wearing") built around slings, and they've been the norm for many cultures, for thousands of years. Just like anything worthwhile, it takes a little bit of practice! If you don't have the patience to get used to the sling, you may be better off with a good carrier that allows baby to sleep snuggled against you or face forward to see the world. Make certain that it is easily adjustable to fit you well, and that it is reasonably easy to get baby in and out. Other important features include the ability to nurse while baby is in there, and the ability to detach or attach the part that holds baby, so that you can put a sleeping baby down in the crib after a walk, or, when you go somewhere, you can lift a sleeping baby (already wearing the holster part) out of a car seat and snap baby right onto your chest. Tip: it's especially useful to wear a toddler in a carrier when dropping off or picking up another child from school, or another fun place, if you are in a hurry, or generally have trouble tearing the toddler away from all the exciting toys. Any of these baby carriers can be worn by either Mom or Dad, but they may have different preferences or need different sizes. Receiving Blankets You'll want to have at least 3 or 4, or more, on hand because you'll use them all day. Not only are they the right size for swaddling (have a nurse or midwife show you--you'll get real good at it in a couple days), but they're handy for putting baby down on, wrapping baby's back while nursing skin to skin, rolling up to prop up the side of baby's head in an infant seat, etc. Waterproof Pads It's very handy to have several to put on everything and save a lot of laundry. Soothe a Fussy BabyGo outside, even if it's cold, just for a second, or bundle up a little and walk a few minutes if it's feasible. Open a window if that's all you have.A small, rapid bounce or jiggle on your lap to give a vibrato or staccato sound to the cry (but gently, shaking can injure a baby). This startles, and sometimes fascinates baby. One of ours got annoyed, but stopped crying nonetheless. Music, a tape, or even T.V.–animals, ocean, race cars, basketball, etc. can all be exciting enough to create that diversion. Run a Bath, especially with calming Aromatherapy bubble bath or bath salts. Or light an Aromatherapy candle. Hand off the baby to someone else, even just for a minute or two. If no one else is available, consider putting baby down anyway, screaming, and walk away for that minute or two (tell baby you'll be right back). Get a drink of water, maybe a bite of food. Take a deep breath, make a plan, any plan, then go back and try again. Please support this site and buy from our links. |
 The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby -- from Birth to Age Two, Vol. 1
An excellent book that thoroughly covers breastfeeding techniques, benefits, etc., as well as all the baby basics: eating, sleeping, development, health, and comfort. This couple is most famous for their "attachment parenting" way of bonding with their children.
As one of America's leading pediatricians, Dr Mendelsohn maintains "that parents tend to rely too heavily on their pediatricians and that they can take a more active role in determining which ailments require an office visit and which can be dealt with at home." A straightforward book, concise and easy to read, with detailed information on childhood illnesses, major and minor accidents, and everyday ailments. His step-by-step advice helps parents to decide when to call their doctor. One chapter gives a different perspective on immunizations, without the extreme emotional content of many books on the subject, that alone is worth the purchase price. Other chapters cover vision, hearing and orthopedic concerns, fever, headaches, coughs, rashes, allergies, and more. If I'm buying just one book for new or expectant parents, this is it! |
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