Babies & Toddler

Posts Tagged ‘Babys’

When parents bring their newborn baby home from the hospital everything in the home changes. Everything focuses in on the baby and his/her safety. This becomes the number one issue. 

It may not be until the first spit-up or poop that the question of the baby’s safety and laundering baby clothes get connected. How do parents protect their baby’s tender sensitive skin from skin irritation, rashes, and allergies?    

Parents add new words to their vocabulary including non-toxic, hypo-allergenic, chlorine free, dye-free, fragrance free, or scent free. 

In order to keep your baby safe and problem free first speak to your pediatrician. Identify the possibility of any inherited skin sensitivities or allergies you may have passed on to your baby genetically. Seek his/her recommendations about laundering your baby’s clothes.

Second, when washing your infant’s clothes – diapers, sleepwear, undergarments, onesies, coveralls, rompers, socks, bibs, layettes, etc, refer to the care label for cleaning and stain removal instructions. The same is true of any material that the baby comes in contact with—sheets, blankets, comforters, towels, washcloths, etc. Babies are messy by nature, and they have a knack of adding all sorts of stains—formula, baby food, juice, and what ever comes out of them— to their clothing any time of the day or night. This will require many trips to the laundry room.

After safety issues have been addressed then the stain removal and cleaning issues remain.  Choosing a detergent that is going to be tough on stains yet gentle on your baby’s skin is not as simple as one might think.

Do you choose an environmentally safe laundry detergent that protects you baby and the environment together, but can be bought only at special stores at a more costly price?  Do you purchase a baby specific laundry soap like Ivory Snow or Dreft that adds to your already tight monthly budget? Or do you use your ordinary laundry detergent, and make sure it is the dye-free, fragrant free type that you can use with all your household washings and stay on budget?

For cleaning and whitening purposes some mothers use baking soda to their wash to soften the fabrics, remove odors, and give the clothes a fresh clean more natural scent. Other mothers wash all the baby’s whites with a safe amount of bleach for cleaning and germ removal purposes.

So much to think about and decide when protecting your baby and this is just the laundry.

Only one sperm can successfully penetrate the egg at conception out of 200,000,000 sperms. Conception is probably the greatest event that can occur in the world.

Conception Days 1 and 21

At the moment of conception all the features of that person are set. The first cell divides in two and each of the new cells divides again and again as they travel to a protected area of the womb. The woman’s menstrul cycle is suppressed when the hormone (Hcg) is secreted. The foundations of the spinal cord, nervous system and brain are laid out. Close to day 21 the heart starts to beat. The future sex cells start to group together.

Days 26 to 52

Blood starts to flow through the baby’s veins. There is a growth of the thyroid gland. The small lungs begins to take shape. The nose starts to develop and the mouth takes shape. The baby’s brain divides into 3 parts. facial muscles develop and the joints form. In addition, electrical activity is present in the brain and almost 100% of the muscles are present. Close to day 52 the baby starts spontaneous movements such as squinting, furrowing the brow, touching the face, opening the mouth, frowning and sucking.

8 Weeks Through 11 Weeks

Around 8 weeks the baby is the size of a thumb and the heart has a steady beat. The knees, elbows and skull are forming. Moreover, the kidneys function and liver produces blood. A staggering 4500 structures are present and the skeleton of the legs, arms and spine begins to stiffen as bone cells are added. The thyroid gland switches and there’s early muscular development. The number of connections between muscles and nerves has more than tripled since the week prior.

Week 12 To 15

The little one can actually swallow and responds to skin stimulation. Fine hair begins to grow on the upper lip, chin and eyebrows. The baby is active and may have facial expressions that may resemble the parents.

Month 4 Thru 9.5

The baby might suck its thumb; the nostrils and toenails also become visible. The ovaries of the girls contain the beginnings of eggs. Around 4 months the baby can experience pain and discomfort. At 5 months each side of the brain has a billion nerve cells and the testes descend in boys. During the 7-month the eyelids begin to reopen, which prepares the baby for seeing the world. The eyelashes have now become developed. The Childs fingernails reach to the tip of the finger. At 9.5 months the child is ready to come out and triggers labor then birth occurs.

It’s important that a baby’s development stages occurs without problems because dealing with birth defects can be incredibly hard for parents.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided herein should not be construed as a health-care diagnosis, treatment regimen or any other prescribed health-care advice or instruction. The information is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any other health-care profession and does not enter into a health-care practioner/ patient relationship with its readers.

Besides factor of genetic, intelligence a baby also depend on environmental factor. Among others, well nutrition, immunize, and excitement or stimulation. Baby getting excitement precisely and continual will influence growth of baby’s brain. There for, hopefully growth of physical and intellectual of baby will pass through of base ability or genetic potency.

Research proves that excitement and experience accepted at first year of baby will have an affect on the brain function and growth later. Intelligence of baby also can be optimal by brain gymnastic. Brain gymnastic is practice which is dynamic body movement. This gymnastic push activity balance both of brain cleft concurrently. Potency both of brain is expected will be well-balanced, so that intelligence of baby also become maximally.

During these days, many people is only using left brain so that right brain potency do not be exploited maximally. The Stimulation can be conducted since baby in womb, that is since pregnancy age three months. The Stimulation can be like voice and touch. Some researches indicate that baby who getting stimulasi in womb will have higher intelligentsia 14 poin than which do not get stimulation

In principle, all utterances, attitude, and deed of nursemaid or mother repeatedly will be recorded at baby brain so that will be risky for baby to imitated. What is baby see, hear, or feel will become new experience for baby so that baby will try to do his own.

SINCE year 2001 have been found brain gymnastic which can optimal of brain potency and growth. Brain divided to become two, right cleft brain and left cleft brain. Right brain function to be intuitive, to feel, music, dancing, creative, and body expression. While left cleft brain undertake to think rational and logical, analyzing, talking, orienting to time, and things detailed.

Everyone can be doing Brain gymnastic, including baby. In fact, Brain gymnastic on baby is very simple. For example, moving legs and hands by traversing with medium of toy. Such as robot, doll, ball, balloon, or any kind of matching with child age.

The highest ability to learn will be reached if two kind of brain, two eye, and two active ear can cooperate each other very well. Besides that, body movement also have tobe co-ordinated and well-balanced. Convention of crossed movement is core of brain gymnastic.

Did you know that everyone takes things for granted in this world? You may not even realize you do it. But do you ever really stop to think about the sun coming up in the early morning or how the moon rises in the evening? These things are only some of what the scores of people on Earth take for granted. It’s not different than a baby shower being thrown and you knowing what to buy because you know it’s a boy or a girl. Yet, this is not always the case. More parents are opting to not to find out the sex of their baby until he or she is born. This leaves many baby shower guests heading out to buy a gift and not knowing what to get.

You must think back before the time of ultrasound machines because it has only been around for the last 25 to 30 years that we had this technology. What do you think people did then? Have we become that spoiled in learning what the sex of the baby is just to shop for what the baby will need?

Besides it has been known that ultrasounds are not 100 percent accurate. What could be mistake as a boy’s penis may actually be a girl with the umbilical cord between them. It is a possibility. Moms, Dads and even doctors have been tricked when going into the birthing/delivery room and getting the surprise that while they were preparing for a little Johnny, Emily was born instead. They even bought all boy clothes because that’s what they thought they were having.

Situations such as this should tell people that too many others are taking advantage of the technology that is out there. Even those who are not pregnant take advantage of it because it makes it easier to shop for the baby clothes. One suggestion to those who do not know what the expectant mother’s baby sex is…go buy neutral colors.

First off, avoid the pinks and blues entirely. This decides it is one over the other when this is not the case. Go with other colors. There are outfits coordinated in a unisex fashion, meaning greens, yellows and colors of such in between. Even red will do. Here is a hint: use the Mexico and Italy flags’ colors to help guide you to buy those unisex baby clothing. Oddly enough, pale blue clothing is okay for a girl. This color enhances certain features and can be used. However, with that being said, never place any type of pink on a boy. You cannot pass pink off as neutral. Remember no frilly type of outfits, as those tend to lean toward the female end of clothing.

You can always buy a gender specific outfit if you prefer and give the receipt to the mother-to-be if you wish. This is still acceptable! There are no guarantees that she will keep it and if you worked hard to find the gift, it was like wasting your time shopping.

Having a baby can be joyous, but there are times when your baby will frustrate people with loud crying and fussiness. Outside the normal baby behavior that frustrates people, colic in baby’s can be another factor to certain baby’s that will cause stress for the baby as well as the parents.

Colic in baby’s can be determined by checking for some of the common symptoms. If the baby cries for a continuous period of time without stopping, this may be a symptom. Make sure you have tried numerous methods to control the crying before checking off this as a symptom that the baby has. Another symptom to look for is the time of the day it occurs.  Colic in baby’s will occur at a certain time of the day, and it will start suddenly. After crying for awhile, the baby will stop crying instantly as well. Check if the crying is sudden and what time it starts and stops at since this may help determining colic in baby’s.

Babies with colic will look as if he or she is in a lot of pain. Baby’s do not usually express discomfort due to pain. It is usually because of common things such as being hungry, so it is possible to tell if the baby is in pain or discomfort because they did not get what they want. Baby’s with colic will also feel very irritable and not be able to sleep. If the baby’s has a problem with sleeping for a period of time or not get enough sleep, it may be a sign that the baby has colic.

All natural baby colic relief products, such as Baby’s Bliss™ Gripe Water – an all natural, herbal supplement, safe for baby’s sensitive tummy, are very effective at treating colic.   This colic remedy is made with organic fennel and ginger with sodium bicarbonate and fructose. The Gripe Water should be given to baby when it appears that he or she is becoming uncomfortable, especially after eating, as this tends to be the time when we see colic in baby’s.    This product can also provide infant gas relief.

Colic in baby’s is very painful for the baby, so finding out if the baby has colic or not is important. There are numerous causes for this, and the causes are something people cannot control. The baby could have an immature digestive system, the baby could be swallowing a lot of air while the baby is eating, or other reasons such as the mother consumes certain food that may contain harmful chemical. The good news is that there are treatments for colic in baby’s.

There are numerous colic cures and treatment for colic in baby’s.  Homeopathy is one of the safest and easiest methods in treating colic in babies.  A benefit of using a homeopathic colic formula is that there are no side effects that people have to worry about.

Determining whether the baby has colic is significant. Since the baby will be suffering lots of pain, it is necessary that colic in baby’s is determined and treated quickly. It is not healthy for the baby to grow up with extreme pain that makes the baby feel very uncomfortable. Since the treatments are natural and easily accessible, treating colic in baby’s should not be a problem. Good luck in treating colic in baby’s!

About Baby’s Bliss™ and Mommy’s Bliss™: Baby’s Bliss™ and Mommy’s Bliss™ is a U.S Corporation with offices in San Rafael, California, just north of San Francisco. The company began in 1999 when Roshan Kaderali, CEO and founder, formulated Baby’s Bliss™ Gripe Water-the first and the original all natural colic remedy in the States. The product quickly gained popularity and the company now has two full lines of product, Baby’s Bliss™ and Mommy’s Bliss™ dedicated to bringing bliss to families … naturally. For more information on Natural Baby Skin Care  and bad diaper rash be sure to visit http://www.babysbliss.com

* Disclaimer: The information available on this website should not be used as a substitute for professional or medical care for the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment for you or your child. Please consult with your doctor, pediatrician or pharmacist before trying any prescription or OTC product. This information is provided only to help you be as informed as possible.

Many parents only have a vague idea of all of the baby gear they’ll need for their baby. The basics include a car seat (assuming you have a vehicle), a stroller (unless you plan to wear your baby in a wrap, and even then most babies are too heavy to wear by the time they are a year old), an infant seat or high chair (somewhere to place your baby for feeding time and snack time), and a place to sleep. Depending on the parent you speak with, you’ll find that there are many different options for what a baby should sleep in. You have your standard crib, a playpen (often referred to as a Pack ‘n Play, which is actually the name of Graco’s playpen and not a synonym for playpen or activity yard), bassinets, Moses baskets (these are only appropriate for babies who are not sitting up) and cradles. There are also in-bed and bedside cots for those parents who wish to co-sleep with their babies. These sleeping choices are perfect and convenient solutions for breastfeeding mothers, as they put baby within arm’s reach. Not having to get up and go across the room or down the hall for a hungry baby at two in the morning is always a relief!

Most parents will tell you that the best solution for sleeping is a crib outfitted with luxury baby bedding. A crib grows with your baby, and many convert into toddler beds and even full-sized or queen-sized beds. The crib is the queen of baby furniture, simply because it lasts so long and provides a truly safe haven for your baby. Cribs feature adjustable bottoms and sides. This means that infants can have their crib mattresses raised up so that Mom and Dad don’t have to lean too far into the crib to pick them up or place them down. For babies who are pulling themselves up and young toddlers that are standing, the crib mattress can be dropped to a very low height, so that there is no risk of the child being able to push themselves over the railing and out of the crib.

Once you do select the appropriate Baby Furniture for your child to sleep in, you’ll need to think about baby bedding. Luxury baby bedding is one choice that many new parents, mothers especially, will often make room in their budget to splurge on. This is because baby bedding is a once-in-a-lifetime investment for your baby, as you only need one dust ruffle, one crib bumper and headboard cover, one blanket or quilt and a few different crib sheets. Not only is luxury beautiful, it also feels super soft on your baby’s skin. While Luxury Baby Bedding is often more expensive than standard crib bedding, you’re paying for exceptional style and quality materials that will last with even the most active of babies.

When my children were babies, I never suspected that there were toxic chemicals in their baby shampoo.  I figured that these companies had been around for decades and could be trusted to be safe.

Well, I was in for a shock when I discovered that not only was baby shampoo unsafe, but so was baby bath, baby lotion, and baby powder.  Now my mind was reeling – what was in MY shampoo and body wash?  What about all the other personal care products my family and I used on a daily basis?  Were those long and unpronounceable words on my bottle of lotion representative of dangerous chemicals?

I found this list naming the most common and most dangerous chemicals and started comparing the names to the ingredient list on my lotion bottle, my shampoo and conditioner, soap and shaving cream, toothpaste and mouthwash.  Talk about an awakening!  I have been putting on my body over 160 toxic chemicals a day, just in personal care products.

The Environmental Working Group did a study in 2004 on a unique group of individuals:  newborn babies.  Umbilical cord blood was collected from 10 babies born in August and September of 2004 from hospitals in the U.S.  This study revealed 287 chemicals in the group:  pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage.

“Of the 287 chemicals we detected in umbilical cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. The dangers of pre- or post-natal exposure to this complex mixture of carcinogens, developmental toxins and neurotoxins have never been studied.”  http://archive.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/execsumm.php

A developing child in the womb, or an infant, is much more susceptible to harm from toxins than an adult.  Their organs are rapidly developing and their defense system is incomplete, and they are not able to withstand the onslaught of these chemicals. Read the whole study here.

Another study conducted by EWG, discovered 16 chemicals from 4 chemical families in the bodies of 20 American teen aged girls.  Teens have been found to use an average of almost 17 personal care products per day – the average adult woman uses about 12.  Teens using up to 17 products daily are exposed to approximately 174 unique cosmetic ingredients.  Read this study here.  Teens are also developing rapidly, and are thought to be particularly sensitive to the hormone disrupting properties of these chemicals.

So what are these chemicals, and what harm do they actually do?

Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol – Found in anti-freeze and your deodorant.  PG penetrates skin and weakens protein and cellular structure. It’s strong enough to remove barnacles from boats!  The EPA considers PG so toxic that workers are required to wear protective clothing and to dispose of PG by burying it in the ground. PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the EPA warns against contact to prevent brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities, but there isn’t even a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than in most industrial applications.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) – Used in garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers – and in your baby’s bath products that foam.  Animals exposed to SLS experience eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS. It may damage the skin’s immune system and can be transformed into a potent class of carcinogens. Your body may retain the SLS for up to five days and maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs, and brain.
DEA (diethanolamine). MEA (Monoethanolaniine) & TEA (triethanolamine) – Hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates.  Restricted in Europe due to carcinogenic effects, yet they are still used in the U.S. Americans may be exposed 10-20 times per day with shampoos, shaving creams and bubble baths. Dr. Samuel Epstein (Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois) says that repeated applications of DEA-based detergents result in major increase in liver and kidney cancer. The PDA’s John Bailey says, “The risk is significantly increased for children.”
Sodium Hydroxide – This is caustic lye found in drain cleaners, and is now found in our toothpaste!  I even found this in an all-natural shaving cream.
Triclosan – A synthetic “antibacterial” with a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange!  It is widely used in soaps, toothpastes and deodorants, has been detected in breast milk, and one recent study found that it interferes with testosterone activity in cells.  Toxic effects measured in the parts per trillion: That is only one drop in 300 Olympic-size swimming pools!
DMDM & Urea (Imidazolidinyl) – Two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde, and found in baby bath soap, nail polish, eyelash adhesive and hair dyes.  They have a long list of adverse health effects, including immune-system toxicity, respiratory irritation and cancer in humans, and they can cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) – Carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that reduces the skin’s natural moisture. Increases the appearance of aging and leaves you vulnerable to bacteria. It’s also used in spray-on oven cleaners and cleansers to dissolve oil and grease.
Parabens – (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, isobutyl-) – Parabens appear in a wide variety of toiletries.  A study found that butylparaben damaged sperm formation in the testes of mice, and a relative, sodium methylparaben, is banned in cosmetics by the E.U.  Parabens break down in the body into p-hydroxybenzoic acid, which has estrogenic activity in human breast-cancer cell cultures.
Alcohol, Isopropyl (SD-40) – Made from a petroleum derivative, it’s found in shellac and antifreeze, as well as personal care products. A drying, irritating solvent that strips skin’s moisture and immune barrier, making you vulnerable to bacteria and viruses. Promotes brown spots and premature aging. Fatal ingested dose is one ounce or less.
Mineral Oil – A petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic wrap, clogging the pores. It interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging.  Baby oil is 100% mineral oil!
FD&C Color Pigments – Synthetic colors from coal tar are known human carcinogens used as active ingredients in dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams. Coal-tar-based dyes such as FD&C Blue 1, are used in toothpastes, and FD&C Green 3, are used in mouthwash,
Fragrances – The catchall term “fragrance” may mask phthalates, which act as endocrine disruptors and may cause obesity and reproductive and developmental harm. Can contain up to four thousand ingredients (including animal urine), many toxic or carcinogenic. Causes headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing, vomiting, and skin irritation. Fragrances also affect the nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.

So, in our baby’s shampoo and bubble bath, that our babies and small toddlers are soaking in while they play, are fragrances, FD&C colors, parabens, sodium hydroxide, imidazolidinyl urea, among others.  As noted above, some of these cause problems with the reproductive organs, and our babies are sitting in this for 10-15 minutes, playing during their bath time!

This is by no means an exhaustive list.  You would have stopped reading a long time ago; it’s just too overwhelming. I do hope this report spurs you on to do your own investigating and, like I did, a thorough cleaning out of the bathroom cabinet.

Resource: EWG.com