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52 Tips for Natural Newborn Care

October 31, 2012 by JJ

Bellyitch Rewind

Parents,
especially those with a brand new baby, understandably want to take
whatever measures possible to ensure the health and safety of their
brand new bundle of leaky body fluids. Some find that a natural or
organic route suits their ideological and lifestyle needs the most, and
this list seeks to provide a few tips and tricks on how to care for a
newborn without fear of chemical irritation or contamination. Please
note that none of these are intended to take the place of professional
medical advice, nor does it discourage the use of medications or
vaccinations that may save an infant’s life. All it seeks to do is look
at a few different ideas and opinions out there regarding natural
newborn care that never overstep boundaries and attempt to serve as a
replacement for a visit to a nurse or doctor.

1.Avoid using most baby products.
WebMD
advises parents to keep their newborns away from harsh powders and
shampoos to protect their delicate skin and immune systems.
2.There is a right and a wrong time for infant massage.
Gagazine’s
article on infant massage explains how the time just after a bath or
diaper change is perfect for a little touch therapy. Try to avoid touch
therapy when the baby appears hungry or cranky.
3.Be gentle when cleaning nipples.
When
breastfeeding an infant, Medline Plus recommends that mothers prevent
drying and cracking nipples by avoiding soaps and drying with harsh
cloths or motions. Uncomfortable nipples negatively affect both mother
and child.
4.Cleanse baby acne with water.
As
a residual of connecting with his or her mother’s hormones, some
newborns break out into small acne patches. Avoid using oils or lotions
that can irritate it further, but very mild, all-natural soaps may work
in more severe cases.
5.Wash cloth diapers with baking soda and rinse them with vinegar.
Avoid
using harsh detergents when cleaning cloth diapers, even those without
artificial dyes or fragrances. A wash in baking soda and a rinse in
vinegar should suffice.
6.Train newborns for EC by laying them on diapers or pads.
Elimination
communication is a rather controversial practice that will not work for
everyone, but this article seeks to cover a variety of viewpoints to
allow parents to decide what they feel is best for their children. This
tip from DiaperFreeBaby.org suggests one way to transition a newborn to
the EC routine.
7.Wash newborn eyes with water.
Normal
tear duct issues need to be discussed with a pediatrician, but parents
needing to clean their newborn’s eyes can do so by simply wetting a soft
cotton ball and gently scrubbing the gunk away.
8.Use glycerin laxatives.
Newborns
and babies who struggle with constipation issues can have their systems
unlocked with glycerin laxatives, either as a solid or a liquid. Those
made with artificial chemicals may prove too harsh for their bodies to
handle.
9.Use steam to unblock nasal passages.
While
professional medical care may be needed in instances of severe illness,
parents can alleviate some cold symptoms at home. Congestion, for
example, can be cleared up using the steam from a hot shower.
10.Make newborns sleep on their backs.
One
preventative measure against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
involves having newborns sleep on their backs rather than their
stomachs. They may feel less comfortable, but it helps bolster their
chances of surviving the night.
11.Wash clothes thoroughly.
Another
WebMD tip, this time touting the importance of washing baby clothes in
dye- and fragrance-free detergent before dressing infants.
12.Infant massage requires a calm setting.
As
with adult massages, Gagazine believes that the infant version of the
ritual is best executed in a calm, warm atmosphere. Place the baby on a
soft blanket or towel in a draftless room away from a television or cell
phone, perhaps encouraging relaxation with soft music or speech.
13.Protect nipples with milk or lanolin.
To
prevent painful cracking, Medline Plus recommends leaving a little bit
of milk on the nipple after feeding to keep the area moist. Alternately,
cracking can also be avoided by applying 100% lanolin to the nipple.
Never use any artificial chemicals near the area where an infant feeds.
14.Read the signs of needing to expel waste when practicing EC.
When
not exacted correctly, EC can lead to disgusting, unsanitary messes –
and a newborns’ inability to verbally communicate only makes things more
complicated. Fortunately, parents wanting to stick with the diaper-free
movement can learn how to read their child’s body language and know how
to properly react to the incoming flow.
15.Use natural cleaning products around the home.
For
added protection against contact with harsh chemicals that can make a
newborn ill, take advantage of the disinfectant properties of natural
substances such as vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda.
16.Prevent chapped skin with natural products.
A
multitude of newborn- and infant-friendly products exists to keep
babies from suffering dry, irritated skin without the use of artificial
chemicals.
17.Weigh the pros and cons of circumcision.
Outside
of a religious context, the decision to circumcise or not stands as a
heavy issue with natural parents. Be sure to understand all of the
advantages and disadvantages of the procedure before making the choice.
18.Clean the umbilical cord with water and a Q-Tip.
Be
sure to use a Q-Tip wetted with clean – even sterile – water to keep
the umbilical cord free of bacteria. Alcohol, honey, and goldenseal
powder work as well.
19.Make homemade nasal drops.
Combine saline and water together for nose drops suitable for safe cleaning of a newborn’s clogged nasal passages.
20.Extra water works as a laxative.
As an alternative to glycerin laxatives, consider feeding a newborn a little extra water to unbind the constipation.
21.Bathe conservatively.
WebMD
recommends that newborns receive a gentle sponge bath 2 to 3 times a
week, as washing them too much compromises the health of their skin. Use
either no soap or extremely mild, natural soap to prevent any dermal
irritations.
22.When massaging, always keep at least one hand on the newborn.
According
to Gagazine, parents should leave at least one hand on their child at
all times in order to maximize the effectiveness of touch therapy.
23.Avoid “baby bottle tooth decay.”
Breast
milk makes for one of the healthiest, most natural ways to keep a
newborn healthy and strong, but blending it with foods and drinks pumped
full of refined sugar actually expatiates the process of tooth decay.
24.Know how to properly store soiled cloth diapers.
Become
familiar with the wet pail and dry pail methods of containing the odor
and bacteria associated with cloth diapers. Wet pails must be
contentiously kept covered in order to prevent drowning.
25.It is possible to practice EC part-time.
Parents
wanting to take the elimination communication route should know that
practicing such things on a newborn does not have to be an
all-or-nothing venture. It can be practiced in intervals to get the
child acquainted with the feeling for later training.
26.Keep the crib nearby – even at night.
The
American SIDS Institute recommends parents allow their newborn’s crib
to remain in their room for the first 6 months of life, as dong so
greatly reduces the risk of suffering the condition.
27.A little sunlight can clear up jaundice.
A
little extra bilirubin is normal in newborn infants, and a bit of time
in the sunlight – no more than 10 minutes, with 5 minutes each in the
front and the back – can clear up any jaundice that may crop up. Of
course, a physician should be consulted if it doesn’t clear.
28.Use warm compresses on ingrown nails.
While
ingrown nails may grow severe enough to warrant medical attention, mild
cases may be relieved using very warm compresses that alleviate a
newborn’s pain.
29.Be mindful of toy toxicity.
Safety
should be the number-one concern for all parents, regardless of whether
or not they follow a natural lifestyle. Numerous consumer websites
abound to help them pick the best toys to suit their child’s needs as
well as their ideological leanings.
30.Consider chlorine-free, flushable diapers.
Cloth
diapers may be the most eco-friendly option, but chlorine-free,
flushable disposable varieties can easily fill in for instances such as
meconium excretion or diarrhea when they may not always hold up.
31.Stick with soft clothing.
According
to WebMD, dressing children in clothes cut from coarser materials
heightens the risk of eczema, rashes, and other uncomfortable skin
conditions. Organic cotton, bamboo, ore hemp are all extremely
appropriate choices.
32.Avoid using lubricant on the head.
Due
to the sensitivity of infants’ skin, it may be a good idea to only use
natural lubricants with a pediatrician’s permission. If they give the
go-ahead, do not use any oils or lotions on the baby’s head.
33.Formula feeding tricks the body.
Medline
Plus recommends that women whose breast milk supplies start to run low
fight the temptation to supplement a baby’s diet with formula. Doing so,
especially when the newborn begins to experience a growth spurt, only
forces the body to think that it is producing enough milk and will cease
to bolster the supply.
34.Make homemade cloth wipes.
Making
gentle wipes at home with a combination of water, tea tree oil, and Dr.
Bronner’s organic, natural soap (or similar substitutesaves money and
leaves baby’s skin feeling smooth and clean. However, avoid using oils
and soaps on especially sensitive, acne-prone newborns.
35.Do not allow newborns to sleep in adult beds.
Likewise,
parents should not sleep with their newborn infants, either. Beds
intended for adults are not properly equipped with the safety features
needed to prevent injuries or death.
Get the others HERE at the EKGClasses.com site.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: natural newborn care, newborn care, parenting tips

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