Massages and Bath time

International Health Distribution, founders of IHDistribution.com, strongly promotes that a baby’s skin deserves to be pampered, nourished and protected. IHDistribution skin care products are formulated with gentle and safe ingredients for fundamental skin needs. Following are some general tips for baby care to help you along with the process.

Infant Massage

According to Ken Howard and Jyothi Larson for Your Baby Today, no new parent needs to be told to cuddle and touch her baby. There are specific kinds of touch- infant massage that can help preemies gain weight or fussy babies settle down. Research has shown that a massage can calm colicky babies, improve sleeping patterns, and help premature or ill babies who have trouble nursing latch on and breastfeed successfully.

But even if the newborn is full-term and easy-going, massage can benefit your baby. "Any loving touch is good touch," says Susie Plechner, a certified infant massage instructor and spokesperson for the International Association of Infant Massage, "but massage is one of the best ways to bond with your baby."

To get started with the massage, lay your baby on her back, either on a blanket or soft surface next to you, or on your lap, with her head near your knees. Talk to her in a soothing voice to help her relax. Babies have extra-sensitive skin so p ut a dab of Aloe Magic (distributed through International Health Distribution) in the palms of your hands, then:

1. Start with the legs. Hold one foot in one hand and use the other hand to "milk" the leg, moving from ankle to thigh. Then, hold the thigh with both hands and use a very gentle twisting and squeezing motion as you move your hands from thigh to foot. Now roll the leg between your hands from knee to ankle. To finish, lightly stroke the legs from thigh to feet.
2. Tummy time. To massage your baby's abdomen, slide your palm and fingers in a hand-over-hand circular motion, moving gently from the rib cage downward. Next slide both hands around the abdomen in clockwise, circular movements.
3. If your baby has gas, try the time-tested tummy relaxer. Picture an upside down U over your baby's abdomen. Start with a downward stroke for the "I" on baby's left side, then stroke along the imaginary upside down "L" and then along the upside down "U."

Bath time!

A baby does not need to be bathed every day but m ost babies love a nice warm bath. It's soothing, and it's relaxing. And because babies love skin-to-skin contact, bathing offers a great opportunity for a warm and loving interaction between parent and your little one.

Tips for good, healthy fun

1. How often should baby have a bath? Check with your doctor; more than likely, he or she won't recommend a daily bath for your newborn. The frequency depends on your climate, your baby's health, and the time of year. Sponge baths are a good idea until baby is about 6 weeks old. Use warm water and a soft cloth to clean all those baby parts that need special attention first the face and then the neck, hands, and diaper area. Of course, bathe more often as the situation requires after all, babies can get a bit messy. When your baby starts to eat solid foods (at around 4 months), you'll need to bathe him more often.

2. TLC for all. Sponge-bathe your baby until the umbilical cord falls off. For circumcised baby boys, wait until the circumcision has healed (about 10 days) before giving him his first full bath.

3. Temperature is important. Your baby can't regulate his body temperature as well as you can, so always bathe him in a warm room. The water should be at body temperature. Always check the bath water temperature with your wrist before you place baby into the water.

4. Get a grip. A wet baby is a slippery baby, so use both hands to bathe him. To keep baby from slipping in the sink or tub, lay a towel beneath him to act as a soft bath mat. Always start washing his face first.

5. Choose a mild soap and shampoo. A newborn's skin is very sensitive, so use only mild, no-tears baby soaps and shampoos.

6. Be prepared. Collect bath items so they're close at hand before you begin a bath.

7. Hair care. Until your baby is several months old, shampoo his hair about once a week. Use a mild no-tears formula, and place a washcloth on his forehead to help keep drips out of his eyes.

8. Cradle-cap care. For the first few months, you may notice little flakes on your baby's scalp that are caused by cradle cap. Simply remove the flakes by gently brushing his hair with a soft brush after you've lathered it with shampoo. Then rinse.

9. Pat dry. When bath time is done, bundle up your baby in a clean, soft towel, and dry him off by gently patting his skin and hair. Enjoy the wonderful fresh smell of your little one after.

10. Water safety. Never leave your baby alone in any amount of water- even for a second. Warn siblings against turning on faucets while baby is in the tub or sink to avoid accidental burns.

Where to bathe?

A portable bath is ideal for your baby's first water experiences because there are no faucets for him to bump against. You can set one on the kitchen counter or on a table in a warm room. Place a towel underneath to catch any water spills, and remember to line the bath with a soft towel to prevent your baby from slipping.

• The kitchen sink will do if your baby will fit in it comfortably. Watch out for the faucets, and line the sink with a towel.
• The bathtub will be your choice when baby grows too big for the sink, which will happen when he's about 3 to 6 months old. You'll need extra safety gadgets for this larger expanse of water. If your baby can sit up, place him in a bathing seat. Or lay him on a bathing mat (a big sponge works great) set in shallow tub water. Take a cordless phone into the bathing area so you can answer calls without leaving your baby's sight. Never leave your baby in a tub unattended.

If diaper rash is a problem for your infant, you can try International Health Distribution ’s Aloe Magic. It gently relieves the baby from sore, dry, chapped skin. It is rich in antioxidants, herbs, and botanicals. It is also excellent for minor burns, cuts, scrapes and sunburn.

Seborrheic DermatitisSymptoms: Scaly, red patches on the scalp, underarms, behind the ears and in the folds of the neck. (When the rash appears on the head, it's usually called "Cradle Cap," a form of eczema. No one knows what causes the unsightly but painless rash in infants, but it may be related to hormonal changes that take place during the last few weeks of pregnancy.)

Baby Care-HairTreatment: Wash your baby's hair with a mild shampoo, and then use a soft baby brush to gently remove the scales. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), using baby oil (or any other type of oil) is unnecessary and may even worsen the rash since oil can build up on the scalp. International Health Distribution’s Body Wash is gentle and mild. It moisturizes and conditions as it cleanses, never leaving the skin feeling stripped or dry.

IH Distribution LLC, who brought you this article, has a full line of professional skin care products for serious skin care issues: all products (including anti-aging products) can be purchased with a 30 day money-back guarantee

www.ihdistribution.com

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