Greetings I do hope you had a splendid week, especially that it has started raining in some parts of the country.
Today’s article focuses on skin and hair care for babies something which many new parents take for granted.
Babies are still brand new, so yes you are excited but please also know that in their initial months you need not go overboard on products.
An important piece of advice is to avoid products that are scented or are fragranced.
Many fragranced products contain a lot of chemicals which are the source of allergies and nasty irritants that not only make babies skins dry but also cause skin reactions.
According to WebMed “Watch out for the word “fragrance” when listed as an ingredient on a body care product – it’s a catch all term for any of the chemicals used in making the aroma.
“A lot of the phthalates that people worry about are actually in fragrances,” Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, author of Mommy Calls: says.
“By cutting out fragrance, you cut out some of those additives.”
Advice to take note of when you get a new skin care product, dab a little on the baby’s arm and wait a little while to spot reactions.
Yes there are a lot of baby products out there that promise you miracles. But please, listen less, do not drown the poor mite in products.
Babies do not need special soaps and shampoos, its mostly marketing ploys. Worse in their first three months you might want to start by laying off the product.
You just need plain soap and water because with very young babies excessive bathing could dry out the little ones skin. Hair is a big deal for many parents especially parents to baby girls.
I know some parents who are so obsessed with seeing their little ones’ hair grow so fast that they will do anything literally.
First of all, I have a threat for you and that is stop putting chemicals into children’s hair.
Do not relax toddlers’ hair please, relaxers have been known to melt cans and you want to dump them in your Childs hair- No!!. Same goes for those parents who start bleaching their children’s skin at a tender age.
Dear parents stop it and leave the children to decide for themselves when they are old enough. Stop teaching children to hate themselves.
Most blackbabies are born with thick, coarse, curly or wavy hair that requires special care.
Due to texture and curl pattern black babies hair tends to be dry and prone to breakage – so treat it gently!
Here’s how to keep your baby’s hair clean, moisturised, and tangle-free: Asians and Caucasians wash their hair as much as once a day to remove excess oil.
As you know black people’s hair does not produce as much oil as other races.
Overwashing babies’ hair can strip away babies’ natural scalp oil and leave their hair badly dry, brittle, and frizzy.
So instead use a mild baby shampoo and only wash your baby’s hair once a week.
Biracial babies’ hair is usually less curly and they produce more oil, so if necessary, you can wash the hair twice a week.
To detangle kinky hair comb out the tangles carefully with a wide toothed comb or a brush with soft bristles.
The same rule you use when combing your hair applies even to babies.
Do not comb out babies’ hair when it’s dry but put a little oil like coconut, avocado oil or almond oil or a cream moisturiser to detangle the hair.
Baby Centre advises creating your own moisturiser by mixing light oil (sweet almond oil or light virgin olive oil) with natural ingredients (rosemary or lavender).
Distribute a small amount of the moisturiser onto your fingertips and gently sweep it through the hair and onto the scalp.
The leading baby site also says; “Your baby may be sensitive or allergic to some ingredients, like essential oils, so watch closely for unusual reactions or breakouts.
Avoid products with mineral oil or petroleum jelly because they tend to clog the pores.”
Babies rarely ever get dandruff; it is a condition called cradle cap (also called seborrheic dermatitis) or eczema (also called atopic dermatitis).
These two conditions are very commonly found in black babies.
“Cradle cap shows up in the first few months of life as crusty, white or yellowish patches on the scalp. It’s not pretty, but it’s harmless.” the Baby centre says.
It usually disappears on its own within the first few months of a baby’s life but you can try shampooing more often and brushing the baby’s scalp with a soft brush or a little cloth.
If it still does not budge, apply a little coconut oil or olive oil to the baby’s scalp and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes then lightly remove the scales before shampooing.
Please do not scratch, comb or rub vigorously as you may further irritate the little ones skin.
If it doesn’t clear or spreads to other areas, then go and see a doctor.
That’s it for today.
Lets chat in my email divadiarys@gmail.com, in my blog divadiarys.blogspot.com and on twitter @Arushapot.