New parent – No problem (New Parents Starter Pack)

Each parent has their own way of caring for their babies, when they know how it is done. Perhaps you are a first-time parent and are unsure about how to safely care for your child’s hygiene, or maybe you are looking for a good suggestion for baby/ children's products. Look no further as we cover commonly asked questions, go through general tips and suggestions and lastly our recommended products from the Petit & Jolie baby and child skin care which will give you a kick start to your journey of parenthood.   

 

Baby/Child Hygiene: Questions

1.      How often should I wash my new-born?

2.      How long should I wash my baby for?

3.      What types of products should I use on my baby?

4.      What can I use if my baby/child has sensitive/dry skin?

5.      How often do I change my baby’s nappy?

6.      Should my baby use reusable cloth nappies or disposable nappies?

7.      What is nappy rash and how can I treat it?

 

Answers:

1.      How often should I wash my new-born? - According to raising children.net.au it is recommended to wash a new-born 2 – 3 days a week, this is due to the fact that you baby’s skin is extremely sensitive at this point in time and washing them too frequently could cause irritation to the skin.

 

2.      How long should I wash my baby for? - between 5 to 10 minutes should be enough time for a bath. If you leave your baby in the water for too long, they may begin to get wrinkly, what happens here is that moisture/liquid is being trapped between 2 layers of skin and if left from pro-longed amounts of time, the skin can burst leaving the fresh layer of skin exposed to possible bacteria and thus infection. This is applicable to anyone and everyone, so keep this in mind for yourself the next time you or your child takes a bath!

 

3.      What types of products should I use on my baby? - Using good products does not have to be expensive, you just need to know what to look for. Firstly, it is recommended by the NHS that you use warm water and a cotton ball to clean baby well, we would recommend the Petit & Jolie Konjac Sponge – Very soft sponge, environmentally friendly and suitable for a baby’s sensitive skin.  Beingtheparent.com suggests you could start to use mild cleansing products on you baby after 12 months.

When looking for products that are safe to use, there are some ingredients that that you should avoid such as: parabens and phthalates.  Parabens are used in products by manufacturers to preserve the product by stopping fungus and bacteria growing according to gonewmommy.com, however the concerns are that they can penetrate the skin easily and are absorbed into the bloodstream; they mimic oestrogen and thus affect the mechanism of normal breast cells and potentially influence their abnormal growth, leading to increased risk of breast cancer (source: www.bcpp.org/resource/parabens). Fragrance mixes often contain synthetic chemicals including phthalates. Phthalates essentially have the same effect on the human body as parabens, but they may not be as easy to spot in the ingredients list. Why? Did you know: Fragrances can be listed just as “fragrance” on the baby lotion as an ingredient? Manufacturers do not have to disclose fragrance ingredients (such as phthalates) as it can be considered a trade secret!    

We recommend that you try out the Petit & Jolie: Baby Body Lotion – organic cream made to moisturise a baby’s sensitive skin and Bath Hair & Body Shampoo – A natural gentle cleanser for both hair and body with a unique formula that prevents dehydration. 

4.      What can I use for my baby’s dry/ sensitive skin? - Organic is the way to go! Remember, baby’s and children’s skin are much more sensitive than ours, therefore you want to take care of it in the best way possible. Some suggestions, coming from the Petit & Jolie product range are: Baby Bath Oil – the full emulsion leaves skin soft and supple after bathing and is suitable for very dry skin; Massage Oil – protects the delicate skin, good for massaging and it contains natural oils; Nourishing Cream – provides extra nourishment and protection.

 

5.      How often do I change my baby’s nappy?  - New-borns urinate approximately 20 times per day according to reviewthis.com, so you should change their nappies every 2 to 3 hours at most.  

6.      Should my baby use reusable cloth nappies or disposable nappies? - Both options are fine, it really depends on you! Some parents prefer to use reusable nappies because it is more environmentally friendly or they feel as though they are less likely to cause nappy rash because they don’t use any harsh chemicals or dyes. However, many busy parents prefer to use disposable nappies because of their convenience. 

7.      What is nappy rash and how can I treat it? - Nappy rash is a rash that occurs when the baby’s skin has been in contact with its faeces for a long time; they nappy rubbing against the baby’s skin may cause irritation when it is not changed often enough. To prevent nappy rash, you can try frequently changing the nappy; carefully cleaning the baby’s bottom and making sure that it is dried properly and usage of protective ointments. A kind suggestion would be to use the Petit & Jolie Baby Diaper Cream – this product contains beeswax which provides an extra layer of protection against moisture on the bottom. 

 

 

8.      What is nappy rash and how can I treat it? - Nappy rash is a rash that occurs when the baby’s skin has been in contact with its faeces for a long time; they nappy rubbing against the baby’s skin may cause irritation when it is not changed often enough. To prevent nappy rash, you can try frequently changing the nappy; carefully cleaning the baby’s bottom and making sure that it is dried properly and usage of protective ointments. A kind suggestion would be to use the Petit & Jolie Baby Diaper Cream – this product contains beeswax which provides an extra layer of protection against moisture on the bottom. 

 

Summary:

There are many things that you may be curious about but having the basics is all you really need at the beginning and the rest will come with time. Do also check out Petit & Jolie's child skin care range, they also have gift sets which could make the perfect present for you and your baby.

Written by Paloma Santos