New Parents | Health And Wellness Tips

Title:

Title:
Bathing A Newborn Baby

Word Count:
572

Summary:
Do you want your baby handed to you immediately after the birth or should he be cleaned first? In recent years most babies were wiped down with a towel immediately after birth before mum or dad got a chance to hold them. Nowadays choice is the keyword! It’s your decision.

Keywords:
baby, bathing, parenting, advice

Article Body:
Do you want your baby handed to you immediately after the birth or should he be cleaned first? In recent years most babies were wiped down with a towel immediately after birth before mum or dad got a chance to hold them. Nowadays choice is the keyword! It’s your decision.

Research shows that the greasy film covering your baby, vernix, is a wonderful source of moisture for your baby’s delicate skin. And if you don’t wipe it off, it is reabsorbed. So your baby will be less likely to develop dry skin patches. Pre-term babies have much more of this protective layer than full-term babies.

In the womb your baby is submerged in amniotic fluid, so vernix is absolutely necessary for providing waterproof protection. After birth, however, mother nature may need a helping hand!

Returning home can be daunting for new parents. Giving baby his first bath can be terrifying!

Your baby does not need a special bath although many parents are well tooled up for the new arrival. A clean sink or the big bath will suffice!

Probably the main worry for parents is getting the water temperature correct. After ensuring you have all baby’s bits and bobs at hand, such as a changing mat, towel, fresh nappy, vest and clean clothes, place the baby in a safe place.

Run cold water into the bath first.

Top it up with hot water. Swirl the water around to avoid hot spots.

Dip your elbow into the water to check the temperature. It should be lukewarm. As the skin on your elbow is very sensitive it is a reliable way to test the water.

If you like you can add a little moisturising, hypoallergenic, baby bubble bath. Swirl it around with your fingers. Young babies do not need bubbles to play with!

Undress and wrap baby in a warm towel. Holding him over the bath, cup some bath water in your free hand and gently run it over his head. Shampoo is not necessary for very tiny babies as it can irritate their scalp.

Dry the baby’s head thoroughly. Babies lose a lot of heat through their heads. Wet heads lose more heat.

Placing baby’s neck in the crook of your elbow, and your hand holding the back of one of his legs, gently lower him into the water. (TIP If you are right-handed it is easier to place babies neck in the crook of your left elbow. Holding his left leg with your left hand, wash him with your right hand. The reverse is the case if you are left-handed.)

Some babies hate being bathed but many really enjoy it. He may become so relaxed that he falls asleep!

Cupping some water in your free hand gently trickle it over his body. Your do not need to rub or scrub as babies do not get dirty. They just need to be freshened up!

Be careful as he will get very slippery once he is wet!

Only keep baby in the bath for a short time as he will get cold quickly and never leave your baby unattended in the bath for even the shortest space of time.

Lift him out and wrap him up in his warm towel.

Quickly dry him and place a fresh nappy on him before he has any little accidents!

Finally, give him a big cuddle and dress him quickly…

And there you have it – baby’s first bath!

New Parents: The Benefits of Owning an Air Purifier

Are you a new parent? If not, are you expecting to become on in the future? If so, when that moment comes, your life will literally change forever. Like most parents, there is a good chance that you would do just about anything to ensure the health and safety of your new baby. When doing this, do you know what an air purifier can do for you and your child?

There is a good chance that you have heard of air purifiers before. If you havent, they are machines, which are electronic. The goal of these machines is to help clean the air indoors. This is often done with filters and collection grids. These filters and collection grids tend to trap bacteria and air particles, preventing them from circulating around inside your home. Of course, clean air is important for all, but it is especially important for young children.

If the air inside your home or your childs room is unhealthy, whether it be due to smoking, pets, or a lack of fresh air, do you know the impact it may have on your child? Smoking, pet hair, and the lack of fresh air has been known to cause numerous health problems. These problems may include asthma. That is why it is important that you do everything in your power to keep the air inside your home, or at least the air inside your childs room clean and pure. If you are a smoker or a pet owner, the best option may be to quit smoking or get rid of your pets, but if that is not an option an air purifier may do.

When it comes to purchasing an air purifier, especially if you would like it to have benefits to your child, you have a number of different options. Air purifiers tend to come in two main styles. These styles include individual room air purifiers and whole house air purifiers. Individual room air purifiers tend to clean the air in a specific amount of space, usually anywhere from 200 to 500 square feet. Depending on the size of the room in question, certain air purifiers may even be able to clean the air inside one or two rooms. As you might assume, whole house air purifiers are air purifiers that clean the air inside a whole house. This is done when the air purifier is connected to a homes heating and cooling system.

Once you have decided whether you would like to purchase a whole house air purifier or an individual room air purifier, you will have to decide on a specific air purifier make and model. When doing this, you will want to keep a number of things in mind. Perhaps, the most important thing to keep in mind is the overall cost of owning an air purifier. A number of air purifiers are filter-less, but not all are; in fact, most require a filter. In many cases, you will find that these filters need to be replaced, every so often. It is important that you examine the cost of all replacement parts, including the filters. It is the only way to ensure that you are really getting a good deal.

In addition to examining the overall cost of an air purifier, you will also want to examine your uses. If you would just like to have the air inside your childs room be fresh and clean, you should be able to purchase just about any air purifier that is currently on the market. However, if you would like an air purifier to remove the remnants of cigarette smoke or pet hair, you may need to look for an air purifier that specifically treats them. What you plan on using your air purifier for is important; it is the key to making your purchase worthwhile.