Diaper Rash : Causes And Treating

Diapers were a wonderful invention, controlling infants' waste products in a relatively convenient, clean, and healthy way. Still, ever since children began to wear diapers,  rashes  has been the most common skin disorder of infancy.

Causes:

Skin wetness is the common denominator underlying the various causes of diaper rash. Urinary wetness increases skin friction, raises the skin pH, makes the skin less cohesive, and makes it more permeable. These effects combine to intensify the action of stool enzymes or other irritants that then inflame the skin.

A surprising number of different entities fall under the label of diaper rash.

Treating:

Every baby is going to battle diaper rash at some point, and you don’t have to resort to using that stinky white cream that feels like you can never wash off your hands.

Unrefined coconut oil is a super easy diaper rash cream. Coconut oil has natural anti bacterial and anti fungal properties, so it will help to heal up the rash, and protect the skin at the same time. If you use cloth diapers you’ll want to be careful about using coconut oil though, because it could cause oily build-up on the diapers and make them repel. Your best bet is to use a liner to keep the coconut oil off of the cloth diaper.

Also, diluted Apple Cider Vinegar can be used to heal diaper rash. You can mix about a teaspoon of ACV with a half cup of water in a little bowl and then dip a washcloth in the mixture and lightly pat it onto your baby’s bum. Apple Cider Vinegar also has anti-bacterial qualities that help to fight diaper rash, but be aware that it may sting when you put it on your baby’s skin, if the rash is severe.

Finally, air and sunshine speed up the healing of a diaper rash. When the weather was nice I would sit outside with Blair in my lap on a prefold cloth diaper, just in case, with the sun shining on her bum. Diaper rash thrives in dark and moist areas, so if you can increase air circulation and expose the area to light, that will help the skin to heal more quickly.

How to Care for Infants

In short

Infants are small, helpless, and needful newborns and need their parents or caregivers to take care of them.They need a lot of attention. Sometimes, providing that care as a new parent or caregiver can seem daunting. Take a deep breath, it gets easier once you learn about your infants basic needs and how to provide for them.

Step 1

Eating is pretty much a new infants favorite way to spend "awake time". Newborns grow very quickly and have a need to consume milk, either from a breast or bottle, to help support and sustain that growth. Breastmilk or formula is a choice each parent should make before a newborn arrives so they can be prepared with the appropriate knowledge and equipment that will be needed to feed a newborn. Make sure to ask the nursing staff or a lactation consultant if you need help feeding your infant before leaving the hospital.

Step 2

Dirtying up diapers is the result of all that eating! Plus, it's a good indication that your infant is getting enough nutrients and formula. Each baby should have about 8-10 wet and/or dirty diapers a day through the first six weeks of life. After about six to eight weeks you may see this decrease to between 4-6 wet diapers a day, and some baby's may only have a bowel movement once every week or two! Make sure you are prepared with some diapers before your newborn arrives; pull them out of the pack and familiarize yourself with the way the diaper goes on and closes. Be prepared for "accidents" when your still getting use to changing your baby.

Step 3

Bathing an infant everyday is not necessary. Since most newborns do not get down on the floor and crawl around in dirt, bathing is not essential to everyday care. However, it is a good idea to give your infant a wipe down (especially in the diaper area and under chin/neck folds) just to ensure baby is clean and sanitary. A gentle bath at night before bed may help an infant relax and sleep better.

Step 4

Umbilical cord care is an often unpleasant but necessary task with newborns. Each time you change a baby's diaper you should use a cotton swab or ball to cleanse around the umbilical cord. Be careful not to pull or tug on the umbilical cord as this could force it to come off before has healed into a belly button. Also, when you are cleaning the umbilical area, be sure to watch for unusual discharge or blood as this may indicate an infection or tear. By the time your baby is two months old, this will fall off and you won't have to worry about it anymore!

Step 5

Toys are not necessary to newborn infants as they cannot see far and have little interest in anything but people and faces. If you want to buy toys for your infant, pick things that are contrasting, like a soft black and white block with some red on it, as colors are very hard for newborns to make out.

Step 6

Infant massage and skin to skin time are important bonding times when caring for an infant. As a parent, you want to do all you can to make your baby feel safe, secure, and loved, so take some time out of the day to rub your baby down with lotion or hold him/her up against your bare skin (baby's skin should be bare also). This contact is reassuring to a newborn, who is used to being inside of mom's belly and hearing and feeling the constant presence of another human being.

Step 7

Sleep is important for both new parents and new babies. New babies should sleep about 16 hours a day, but they usually sleep in spurts. Don't get frustrated with your infant because they won't sleep, there is probably a reason why. Most babies need to be fed about every 2-4 hours because they have small stomachs. Uncomfortable wetness or dirty diapers can also wake a baby. Sometimes, babies just want to be held or comforted. Develop a strategy with your partner for taking care of an infant when you are both tired. Ensuring that everybody is well rested will make life with an infant much easier.

Tips

• Child-proof your home before your infant starts crawling. Get down on the floor and look around from a baby's viewpoint. What can you see? If you can see it, chances are your baby will too, which means they will want to play with it and taste it.
• Be prepared to start teaching your infant limits when they begin to move around. If baby tries to play with an electrical wire or outlet (covered or not) or anything else that may present a danger, tell your baby that it is not safe and invite him/her to engage in a different activity.
• Always be prepared for anything and everything.
• Be prepared with a car seat for your baby when you leave the hospital. Most hospitals will not let you leave with a newborn if you do not have a car seat installed in your car.
• Create a "care box" using a small box, crate, or basket filled with things for your infants essential needs to take with you around the house. Include 4-5 diapers, a wipe case, rubbing alcohol, nail clippers or scissors, petroleum gel and gauze (if baby is boy and will be circumcised), bottles (if formula feeding), a change of clothes for your infant, and a burp cloth. Use the box around the house to avoid the need to interrupt relaxation time and reduce the need to turn on lights, create noise, and disturb sleeping partners or children.
• Make sure your car seat is installed properly. Contact your local fire department, police station, or insurance agent for car seat safety check locations.

Things You'll Need

• A place for baby to sleep. Cribs, playpens, or bassinets work well. If you plan on co-sleeping make sure you've read up on safe co-sleeping guidelines, like those published by Dr. Oz
• Diapers
• Formula and Bottles (If you plan on bottle-feeding)
• Breast Pump and Bottles (if you plan on pumping, especially useful if you plan on returning to work)
• Diapers
• Wipes or soft washcloths
• Baby lotion
• Baby clothes
• Baby nail clippers and/or scissors
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Cotton balls or swabs
• Petroleum gel and gauze (need for care after circumcisions)

• Related wikiHows

  How to cut Baby`s Nail
  Baby Care Tips
  Newborn Baby Care
  Breastfeeding: Getting Started
  Bathing Your Baby
  Nappy Changing Tips
  Baby`s Daily Massage

How To Cut Baby`s Nails

How to Trim Baby's Nails

Trying to figure out the easiest way to trim your baby’s nails? Many moms worry about how to cut baby’s nails. It is difficult to trim the nails of a squirmy little guy or gal. Your baby’s nails grow really fast and if left untrimmed, she may scratch her adorable little face (or yours) and you don’t want that to happen. So what’s a mom to do? If you have never trimmed a baby’s nails, you may think its no big deal, and it isn’t, but it does take practice. Minor fingernail-trimming mishaps do happen with lots of moms but it’s okay. Don’t worry, trimming takes practice and even the best of moms have given baby a nail trimming “booboo” before. Here are some mommy tips for trimming your baby’s nails.

Nail Trimming Do’s and Don’ts

• Do use baby nail clippers, baby nail trimming scissors, or an emery board.
• Do push down on the pad of her finger. Make sure that none of her skin is showing when you cut the nail. You only want to cut the nail.
• Do cut along the shape of the nail. Round any rough edges with an emery board.
• Do cut toenails straight. Even though ingrown toenails are not likely with a baby, you still want to try to cut them straight across.
• Do not worry if you have an “oopsie”. It happens. If you accidentally cut baby’s finger apply pressure to stop the bleeding. You can use a clean cloth or bandage and apply a little antibiotic ointment after the bleeding stops.
• Do not use regular adult nail clippers. They are very sharp and may cut the tip of baby’s fingers.

Mommy Tips for Trimming Baby's Nails

Trim baby’s nails after she has a bath.

Her nails will be softer and easier to trim.

Get someone to help.

Have daddy or an older sibling help occupy baby while you work on trimming her nails. Distract baby with a toy or something she likes. Try to occupy her free hand with something.

Trim baby’s nails while she is sleeping.

Some moms find it easier to cut baby’s nails while she is asleep. It doesn’t always work but if you wait until baby is down for the count sometimes you can get them trimmed without waking her.

Don’t trim just file.

You may find this a lot safer and less scary. If you file baby’s nails with an emery board you may not need to trim. You can simply file them down until they are not rough or jagged.

Some mommies bite baby’s nails instead of trimming.

You may find this easier than trimming with clippers. (There are mixed opinions on this. If you ask your mommy friends they may suggest this. Your pediatrician may not be crazy about this method.Any time you put baby’s fingers into your mouth you are introducing germs, which could lead to infection.)

Trimming Baby`s nails

Although trimming your little one's nails can be a bit unnerving, especially at first, keeping nails short is important to your baby's safety. Because they lack muscle control, infants can easily scratch and cut their own delicate skin while happily waving their hands and feet. It's also important to keep babies' nails trimmed once they start interacting and playing with other kids who could be scratched, especially in childcare settings.

Some parents find it easier to accomplish the nail-trimming task with a partner: one person holding the baby to keep the little one from squirming and the other trimming the nails. First, find a good position that allows you easy access to your baby's hands. This may mean placing your baby in your lap, sitting with him or her in a rocker, or even waiting until your baby's asleep. Make sure you are in an area with good lighting so that you can see what you're doing.

Hold your baby's palm and finger steady with one hand and cut with the other. You should cut your baby's nails with baby nail scissors, which have rounded tips for safety, or baby clippers. Many baby nail-care kits also come with nail files or emery boards, but if you cut your baby's nails short enough and make sure to keep the nail edges rounded instead of jagged, it isn't necessary to use these. However, if you're hesitant to try baby nail scissors or clippers and your baby will sit long enough to cooperate, you can use an emery board to file the nails down without the risk of giving your little one any nicks.

If you accidentally draw blood (a common occurrence with fussy, fidgeting babies), don't worry. Using a sterile gauze pad, gently apply pressure to stop the bleeding. But don't put a bandage around the tiny cut — babies will inevitably put their fingers in their mouths and can dislodge the bandage and choke on it.

Because babies' nails tend to grow quickly from infancy to toddlerhood, they may need to be trimmed as often as once or twice a week. Some newborns need their nails to be trimmed even more often than that during the first few weeks of life.

For more How to trim your baby's nails

How to trim your baby's nails

Should I trim my baby's nails?

Newborn babies tend to have long, fast-growing nails, and you may worry that your baby will scratch his face with them. 

However, resist trimming your baby's nails before he is a month old. It's hard to tell which bit of the nail growth is still attached to the quick, and the tip will bleed if you trim too low. The nail may then become infected. Instead, use special mittens, put socks on his hands, or keep him wrapped up so his hands aren't near his face. 

When his nails have hardened a little, once he is about eight weeks, you can trim them, though do this carefully. If you accidentally nick the skin, try not to worry. Gently hold a piece of clean, damp cotton wool to the site and apply a little pressure. The bleeding will soon stop. 

Little fingernails grow so quickly that you may have to cut them or pinch them off more than once a week. His toenails will grow more slowly and require less frequent attention.

How do I trim my baby's nails without nicking his fingers?

The easiest way to trim your baby's nails may be to just peel the ends off with your fingers. They're so soft that the surplus will come away easily. 

Otherwise, you could buy a pair of baby scissors or nail clippers with specially rounded ends. Cutting his nails may be easier if there are two adults involved. One could gently hold him and keep him from wriggling too much while the other trims his nails. 

You may also want to try cutting your baby's nails while he is feeding or sleeping, so he'll be calmer. Press the finger pad away from the nail to avoid nicking his skin, and keep a firm hold on his hand as you cut or clip. Cut the nail around the curve of the finger, and his toenails straight across. However don't cut down the side of his nail, as this may cause ingrown nails and infections. 

You can also use an emery board to gently file your baby's nails. If they're not too long, this may mean you won't need to cut them. An emery board can neaten off any jagged edges after cutting, too. 

Top 10 Baby Care Tips

Congratulations! A baby is sure to light up any home, but knowing how best to accommodate your new son or daughter is key to a happy transition. Sure, your child is a little person, but don't expect Junior to pull up a beanbag and nosh on nachos with dad at all hours of the night. Not only will you need to put some thought into your child's feeding and sleeping routines, you've also got to make sure any siblings are ready to step up their game as well. And, oh yeah, did we mention the diapers? Well, hold on … there's more.


Travel

Babies thrive on schedules. Even when traveling, do your best to stick to the regular routine and schedule to keep your little one in the best mood possible.

 Sleep

Sleep begets sleep. First-time parents don't believe it, but a healthy nap-time routine makes for a better night's sleep. Overtired babies have a hard time falling asleep and wake more often in the nighttime. Begin establishing a healthy, sleeping pattern as early as two weeks. Your newborn might not be ready for a schedule, but keeping the routine demonstrates early on what you expect in terms of adequate baby rest.

Skin Care

Sunscreen isn't recommended for children under 6 months of age. Keep them in the shade until you can safely protect their skin.

Siblings

Accentuate the positive. A new baby means a lot of changes for the family. Praise your older children for their help, patience and understanding, and they will adjust to the new family member with ease.

Play

There is nothing wrong with the basics: patty-cake and peekaboo are games that have been used for years to entertain babies, while helping their brains grow. Your child will respond to the stimulation and enjoy the interaction.

Pets

The family pet needs to adjust to the new family member. Bringing home a blanket or outfit the baby has worn is always helpful, but also keep Fido to his normal routines. Skipping the long morning walk is fine for a day or two, but lack of exercise and attention will only make the animal resentful. Find a routine that works and stick with it.

Feeding

Consider starting your child off with a vegetable rather than a sweet fruit. Introduce vegetables as soon as you start solid foods to get your child's nutrition off on the right foot. Keep shedule.

Diapers

Most babies experience diaper rash in their lifetime. Whether it is caused by a new food, wet diaper or side effect from medicine, the red, chapped skin is painful to baby and worrisome for Mom and Dad. The best treatment? A dry bottom. Make sure your child is completely dry after a diaper change, even if it means going naked for a few extra minutes. Change diapers more frequently, and use one of the many over-the-counter products to soothe and calm the skin.


Crying

Babies cry. It's no secret. It's their only method of communication. After you check all the basics of hunger, diaper and noise, remind yourself that your child has been in a quiet safe womb for a long 40 weeks. Swaddle him or her in a blanket, hold them snugly and rock softly. Recreating that little nest will help calm a fussy newborn and hopefully, provide some much-needed sleep.


Bathing

You might need a daily shower to wake up, but baby needs a gentle bath and massage every other day or so. Skip the soap, and use a gentle made-for-baby cleanser to protect baby's sensitive skin.

Your Newborn's Hearing

A baby's hearing is one of his or her most important senses. Hearing is vital for learning language, which is the main avenue of human communication. 

A baby's body, although seemingly so very fragile, is actually quite complex and highly developed. The ears gather sounds from the environment and these move through to the inner ear. The sounds then cause the ear drum to vibrate, which are processed by the inner ear into electrical impulses, and these signals are sent to the brain via the auditory nerve. The brain converts these messages into meaningful information—sound.

Amazingly, even an unborn baby is capable of hearing. Although the sound is muffled (mainly from the volume of amniotic fluid), studies have shown that even as a newborn, babies can recognize familiar sounds, from their days in the womb. This is most likely the reason that many babies are settled by being held close to their mother's chest and listening to the rhythmic, soothing, sound of her heartbeat. 

A newborn baby is also capable of recognizing the sound of his or her mothers voice. A newborn baby when presented with the familiar sound of the mother's voice, and that of a stranger, has been shown to distinguish between the two voices, and prefer that of his or her mother. 

A newborn baby will startle and cry if exposed to a sudden and loud noise. By the age of three months, when a baby hears a loud noise, in addition to startling, he or she may also blink rapidly in response. 

At the age of four months, your baby may be able to turn his or her head in the approximate direction of a sound. This is more noticeable with the sound of the main caregiver's voice. 

When a baby is five or six months old, he or she is starting to refine his or her sense of hearing. The baby will have been learning to pinpoint the location of the sound, and will turn towards it with greater accuracy. 

When the baby reaches seven months of age, he or she is able to recognize and discriminate between a range of familiar sounds, and begin to associate them with meaning. For example, the noise produced by banging a spoon against a bowl, may signal to the baby that it is mealtime. 

Check out these pages ---

• Newborn Baby Care
• Breastfeeding : Getting Started
• Bathing Your Baby
• Your Baby`s Daily Massage

Newborn baby care

Newborn baby care is by far one of the greatest challenges every mother faces…and it is not easy to face the challenge. The problem arises as the baby cannot speak and is very fragile; hence, the mothers need to be very careful while handling the little newborn delight.

Here are a few tips for the new mothers out there to make the process a whole lot simpler.

Newborn baby care tip for bathing a newborn

Bathing a newborn is very important to keep the little one clean and safe from allergies. But this is a tedious process. Babies cannot be bathed as 5 year olds. For all you know, the newborn may choke on water. It is terrifying, yes, but it is a wonderful way to bond with your baby

Sponge baths are better suited for newborns. Use a clean, soft cloth or sponge to wipe your baby and make sure you buy baby friendly soap products. Use only lukewarm water.

For those who prefer giving the baby a proper bath, follow the following procedure

• Make sure you wash your hands well before you bathe your baby. 
• Fill only half of a small tub (also known as baby tub) with lukewarm water.
• Dip your baby slowly in the tub. Remember to use one hand to support the newborn’s head and neck.
• Use very little soap, and make sure the soap is baby friendly.
• Take every care possible to avoid getting soap in the baby’s eyes.
• Use cotton to clean the areas around the eyes
• Gently rinse your baby by pouring water below the baby’s neck. DO NOT pour water on the baby’s face.
• After the bath, lift him gently from the tub, supporting his head and neck with one hand, and wrap him with a clean towel. Use Turkish towels.
• Gently apply a little powder on the neck and diaper area.
• Clothe the baby in comfortable soft clothes.
• Prefer Bathing Your Baby.

Newborn baby care tip to keep the baby healthy

Most parents panic when the baby gets sick, and it is but natural. It is hard to see the little bundle of joy suffer from something. But remember…do not panic! Take your newborn to a pediatrician immediately. For the first few years, make appointments with pediatricians regularly to keep a regular check on the baby.

              Vaccinations are necessary. Get your baby vaccinated as soon as the doctor says so. Do not feed your baby formula milk. For the first few months, your baby should be breastfed. Breast milk provides the baby with maximum immunity and keeps him healthy for almost a lifetime!

Newborn baby care tip to change diaper.

One of the thing many parents dread is changing the diaper. Always keep in mind that it is your baby’s stool. There is nothing to be disgusted about.

Here are some tips to ensure you are doing it right

• Remove the diaper and dispose of it immediately. Never reuse diapers. It exposes the baby to several infections.
• Use a wet paper towel to clean the baby’s buttocks. Use as many as required.
• Pat the baby dry gently with a clean dry towel.
• Apply talcum powder. This prevents the baby from getting rashes.
• Use a fresh clean diaper.
• Refer Changing Diaper

Newborn baby care tip to keep mosquitoes away!

Mosquitoes have become a menace these days. And their favourite target are babies. Mosquitoes also are carriers of diseases, so it is very important to protect your baby from these blood-sucking creatures!

Mosquito nets are the most effective tool. It’s probably best to surround your baby’s bed or cradle with a mosquito net.

DO NOT use mosquito repellent sprays, mats or coils, as the fumes tend to trigger an allergic reaction. Mosquito repellent creams are your best bet. Use a cream from a well-known brand and make sure it is gentle enough to be used on baby’s skin.

Toys for your newborn

Everybody wants to pamper their babies with lots of toys. But precautions have to be taken here as well. Here are some tips that have to be followed

• Never buy toys with sharp edges. It will hurt the baby. Only buy toys that are soft and have no sharp edges.Stuffed toys are every baby’s favourite.
• Keep away from toys made of fur. Poorly made fur toys can be hazardous to your baby. The fur can set off a wheezing reaction.
• Pacifier is a must. As the baby’s teeth are about to grow, he will want to gnaw on something. Make sure the pacifier is sterilized.
• Refer Baby Development Toys

These are some very simple tips to make newborn baby care an enjoyable experience. So here’s wishing the best of luck to all the new mothers out there.

When should I start cleaning my baby's teeth?

You should start cleaning your baby's teeth as soon as that first pearly white sprouts (for most babies that's around 4 months). "At first, just use a piece of gauze moistened with water to wipe plaque from your baby's teeth and gums," says Howard Reinstein, a pediatrician in Encino, California, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. You don't need to use toothpaste, but try to clean your baby's teeth twice a day.

Once your baby has several teeth, you might try using a small toothbrush with just two or three rows of very soft bristles. Ask your pediatrician whether to use toothpaste, and what type of toothpaste. If you live in an area where the water is fluoridated, he might advise against using toothpaste that contains fluoride. If your water isn't fluoridated, he might prescribe fluoride drops or tablets and recommend fluoridated toothpaste. Either way you should know that fluoride can be toxic to children if ingested in large quantities. (Poison control centers around the country get thousands of toothpaste-related calls each year.)

To prevent problems, keep toothpaste out of your child's reach, and use only a half-pea-sized drop when brushing. Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste rather than swallow it — a concept that's hard for very young children to understand.

Teething signs and symptoms

Children experience teething differently – from when teeth emerge to the types of symptoms and how much pain they feel.

Here's how to spot the signs that your baby is teething, so you can offer remedies to treat the discomfort.

Signs that your baby is teething

Symptoms can last for just a few days, right around the time a new tooth is coming in, or as long as several months, as a group of teeth make their way through. For a few lucky babies (and parents), teething doesn't cause any noticeable signs at all.

What's tricky is that there's no single set of teething symptoms. "No more than a third of babies have any one symptom," says pediatrician Deb Lonzer, chairperson of the Department of Community Pediatrics at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. "So, one third of the kids might drool, another third might be irritable, and another third might have trouble sleeping."

For this reason, the following list of symptoms is just a guideline.

Signs your baby is teething may include:

• A tooth visible below the gum
• Swollen, bulging gums
• Trying to bite, chew, and suck on everything she can get her hands on
• Drooling
• Irritability
• Rubbing her face
• Difficulty sleeping
• Turning away food
• Grabbing her ears

If you observe several of these symptoms together, the likelihood that teething is the culprit is higher – but there's always the chance that something else is to blame.

What not to chalk up to teething

If your baby is suffering from diarrhea, fever, or a runny nose, don't dismiss it as merely a sign of teething, especially if the symptoms persist for more than 24 hours.

Even though plenty of parents swear that these symptoms seem directly related to their child's teething, there's no scientific proof that they are linked. A comprehensive analysis of 78 studies published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood in 2007, for example, found no connection between high fever and teething.

So if your child exhibits diarrhea or fever, call his doctor to rule out anything more serious.

When to worry about a late teether

The first pearly white typically peeks through between 4 and 10 month of age, but it's also perfectly normal for it to show up a little later. If your child's teeth are slow to appear but her bone growth, skin, and hair are normal, there's likely nothing wrong.

Still, if your baby reaches her first birthday with no tooth in sight, mention it to her doctor, who may refer you to a pediatric dentist. Occasionally, children can be missing a primary or permanent tooth, but it's not usually a long-term concern. By the time your child is 8 or 9, you can consult with an orthodontist who will review the options, which include closing the gap with braces or fitting an implant.

Late teething doesn't signal problems with a child's overall development. And there's actually a potential upside to being a late bloomer, says pediatrician Paul Horowitz, founder of Discovery Pediatrics in Valencia, California: The later these teeth come in, the less time they have to develop decay before they fall out and make way for a child's permanent teeth.