- 05/July/2019
9 Tips To Maintain Your Baby's Hygiene - Ananthapuri Hospitals, Trivandrum
Confused about how to take good care of your newborn? Proper hygiene habits are crucial for your newborn’s well being as they help your baby be disease free. By hygiene, we do not just mean basic cleanliness, it means you need to take extra measures to make sure your child is away from the reach of infections.
Keep reading to know more!
There are no simple ways to take care of your baby. Newborns are highly vulnerable to infections as their immune system is still in the developing stage.
Here are 9 tips to keep your baby healthy:
Make sure your baby’s skin is clean and dry
In newborns, moisture tends to accumulate between the folds causing redness and irritation.
Use a sponge and gently clean between the folds. Do not miss out on their knees, their armpits, diaper area and around the mouth.
Also, be careful while buying new products for your child. The baby’s shampoo should be tear-free, hypoallergenic, alkali-free and paraben-free.
Keep your home and your hands sanitised
There is never “too much care” when it comes to taking care of newborns. Sanitise your hands well, clean them with baby wipes before touching your baby. This prevents germs from passing on to the baby. If you have any visitors, request them to sanitise their hands before they touch your baby.
Here are the most important things you should never miss to sanitise:
- Feeding equipment
- Baby’s sleeping area
- Baby’s play items
- Kitchen and Bathroom
- Doorknobs, table tops and beds
Change diapers often
It is necessary to change diapers every 2 to 3 hours as using diapers for longer periods generates heat. If you find that is is soiled, change it immediately. This is a crucial step as soiled diapers can lead to rashes and irritation.
Clean the diaper area from front to back, using baby wipes, to prevent any infections. Let it breathe for sometime before you put on the next one. It is advisable to use cloth diapers for newborns as it lowers the chance of skin irritation.
Trim your baby’s fingernails
Babies always put their fingers in their mouth. Keeping their nails trimmed prevents germs and dirt from getting into their mouth. It also prevents them from hurting themselves with their nails. Use a baby-clipper or baby scissor while cutting them. Do so when they are asleep so that they do not move much and you are able to trim it off without getting too worried.
Massage your baby
Massaging soothes your baby and encourages the baby to sleep well and long. Massaging has many other benefits for your baby. It promotes weight gain, reduces teething pain, aids digestion and improves blood circulation. Massage your baby just before or after your baby’s bath.
Stay away from large crowds
Newborns have weak immune systems. Therefore do not expose them to a large crowd at least for the first month as it makes them susceptible to many infections. Do not hesitate to ask strangers not to touch your baby’s hands or face. In case you go out, clean your baby’s hands with a wipe after you come back.
Supervise when your baby is with your pet
It is fine to have a pet at home when you have a newborn in the house but make sure that you are always there to supervise them. Ensure that your cat or dog does not lick the hands or face of your baby as it transfers germs, ultimately leading to infections.
Clean your baby’s eyes, nose and ears
Clean your baby’s delicate ears, nose and eyes very gently. Wet a cotton washcloth with warm water and clean the ear wax, mucous deposits in their nose and eye boogers. Use separate cloth for the ears, nose and ears. Keeping them clean helps them hear, breathe and see comfortable. It also prevents infections and keeps the baby healthy.
Clean Your Baby’s Toys
Most babies put their toys into their mouths. Using soap and water is a safe and inexpensive way to disinfect baby toys. After disinfecting the toys, wipe them with a clean tissue paper and lay them out to air dry. Wash your baby’s toys every week to keep them clean enough for your baby to play with.
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Children are our most precious assets & Investments for the future of this planet
At Ananthapuri, we provide comprehensive, critical and specialised health care service to all children and newborns round the clock. To book an appointment, call us at +91 9400332777 or visit our hospital at Chacka, NH Bypass, Thiruvananthapuram.