Topic

Hygiene

Hygiene is important as it protects the baby from illness and makes him feel good. The hands of the mother, or those who care for the baby, must always be clean and have short nails.

 

Bath time

The baby needs to be bathed every day. In hot climates, you can bathe him several times a day. In places where the weather is cold, it is best to bathe during the hottest periods of the day, protecting the baby from the wind, so that he does not get cold.

To make bath time easier, it's good to have everything ready before putting the baby in the water. Make sure the water is not too hot beforehand. This can be done by placing your elbow on the table and feeling if the temperature is comfortable. Thus, burns are prevented.

The face and head should be washed before putting the baby in the water. This prevents leftover pee and poop from contaminating the water and causing eye inflammation.

The baby needs to be held firmly so as not to be scared. To make it easier, it's good to support him on one arm and bathe him with the other.

The folds of the neck, arms, and legs should be dried well to avoid diaper rash. It is good to separate a soft cloth or towel just for the baby. Baby powder should not be used, as it has no function.


Care for the baby’s clothes

The baby should be dressed in clothes that are comfortable and do not restrict their movements.

A small baby feels colder than an adult. Therefore, it is good for him to wear light clothes even in hot climates. In cold places, it is important to keep the baby warm.

A baby who has purple feet, hands, and lips after being fed, even though he is wrapped up, may have a heart condition, and needs to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.

Baby clothes and diapers need to be washed well, rinsed, and, whenever possible, placed in the sun to dry. It is best to wash them separately. All of this helps prevent diaper rash, allergies, and baby skin infections.


Diaper changes

Every time the diaper is wet, it needs to be changed. The baby's bottom should be cleaned, washed, and dried well after each diaper change. This prevents diaper rash and infections.

To clean girls, a damp cloth should be passed on the vulva, always from front to back. With this care, the poop does not contaminate the vagina or the pee hole.

In boys, it is important to gently pull back the skin of the penis, cleaning the remains of urine and feces that are between the folds. This prevents infections.

 

Diaper rashes

Everyday baths protect the baby's skin from diaper rash, which can become infected and cause other diseases.

To prevent diaper rash, the mother can make a homemade water paste, with cornstarch or starch (gum) mixed with a little cold water. This paste should be passed on the baby's bottom, which should be dry, after the bath and at each diaper change.

Umbilical cord cleaning

The umbilical cord usually falls off in the first 14 days of life. It must be cleaned every day until the umbilical cord falls off. For cleaning, it is best to use 70% alcohol, which can be purchased at the pharmacy or obtained from the health service.

To clean, it is necessary to dry the navel well after bathing and rub a gauze soaked in 70% alcohol in the area. Do not place a tape, bandage, or navel strap on the umbilical cord. This makes it difficult for the baby to breathe and doesn't let the umbilical cord dry and fall out.

If, after the umbilical cord has fallen out, there is bleeding, redness, or a bad smell in the area, you need to take the baby to the doctor immediately.

 

Mouth cleaning

It is important that parents start cleaning the baby's mouth even before the appearance of the first teeth. This cleaning is done with a clean, damp cloth, which is rubbed on the baby's gums, cheeks, and tongue after each feeding. The cloth should only be used for this purpose and kept very clean. Adult hands need to be well washed.

In some babies, white dots may appear in the mouth, looking like curdled milk. It could be a thrush. The treatment is carried out as follows:

  • a glass of very clean water;
  • a pinch bicarbonate of sodium;
  • soak the clean cloth inside this liquid and clean the baby’s mouth before breastfeeding;
  • soak the other tip of the cloth and clean the nipple and areola before and after breastfeeding;
  • after being used, the cloth should be thrown away.

It is necessary to take the baby to the health service if the white dots do not disappear.

  

Teething

Teething varies from child to child; there are children who are born with teeth and others who turn one year old without teeth. In general, the first tooth erupts around six months of age.

Before the first teeth appear, the gums are swollen and painful. As a result, the baby may become irritable and restless. It is necessary to continue cleaning the baby's mouth with a clean, damp cloth after the baby has fed, especially after the last feeding of the night. Remember that the adult's hands must be well washed.

 

Other important guidelines

  • Each family has a way of taking care of their children, but it is necessary that they have a daily routine with times for bathing, feeding, sleeping, and also for the baby to play. A baby can be nervous and insecure when there is a lot of change in his daily life.
  • The baby's food should not be blown out to have it cool or given with the same spoon that the adult is using to eat. This can transmit bacteria from the adult's mouth to the baby's.
  • When the pacifier falls on the floor, some people have the habit of putting it in their mouth and giving it back to the baby: this can also transmit cavities to the baby, in addition to the dirt that was on the pacifier contaminating the adult

"The Most High gave men science that they might honor him for his wonders". Eclo 38.6

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