Good Baby TipsTips for keeping your baby happy and healthy

Diaper rash is the most common kind of skin inflammation (dermatitis) that infants face. Every baby has it at one time or another. But fortunately, it is rarely a serious condition and can easily be treated at home. Do not get worried if your baby develops diaper rash but do not treat it lightly either. Take immediate measures for its treatment.

How would I know my baby has diaper rash?

Diaper rash mostly appears in the diaper area. Your baby has diaper rash if he has mild redness and scaling on or around his buttocks, thighs and genitals. In a more severe case of rash pimples, blisters and sores can also form. If the rash gets infected the skin might become bright red and swollen. If it is still left untreated, the rash might start to spread even beyond the diaper area. If your baby’s skin looks like any of these, he has diaper rash.

Another symptom of diaper rash is that part of the diaper area affected by the rash gets slightly warmer. The baby also becomes very uncomfortable, especially during diaper changes. He also cries and makes a lot of fuss while the diaper area is being washed or touched.

What causes diaper rash?

There are several causes of diaper rash as the diaper area is the most suitable damp and dark area for rash to develop. The causes of the rash vary which is why sometimes its treatment fails. The major causes of diaper rash are as follows:

• Irritation: The most common cause of diaper rash is simple skin irritation. The baby’s skin is much more sensitive than an adult’s and is very prone to irritation. This irritation can be caused by the rubbing of the diaper against his skin if it is fit too tightly. It can also be caused if the baby is left in a wet pamper for too long. The prolonged exposure to ammonia and moisture can cause irritation and make the skin look red. A baby is more prone to diaper rash if he has frequent bowel movements as stool is more irritating than urine. You can know that your baby has a simple case of irritation if the diaper area is red but the folds of skin, a more protected part, are not red.

Other than this, irritation can also be caused by any new product that you introduce to your baby. Sometimes some new brand of wipes or diapers does not suit his skin. At other times it could also be a new soap, detergent or bleach that you use to wash his cloth diapers. Diaper rash can also be caused by some ingredients in baby powders, lotions and oils.

• Changes in Diet: Sometimes babies can also develop diaper rash when solids are introduced in their diet. Solids can change the constituents of the stool or lead to more frequent bowel movements, both eventually causing diaper rash. If a baby is breast-fed his diaper rash could also be a response to something in the mother’s diet.

• Use of Antibiotics: Sometimes when antibiotics are used to kill bacteria causing diaper rash a balance is not maintained. This imbalance can worsen the rash. If a child is breast-fed, the mother’s use of antibiotics can also cause him diaper rash.

• Bacterial or Yeast Infection: A mild diaper rash can grow and spread to areas outside the diaper too. The damp and moist area of the diaper is most suitable for the growth of germs, bacteria and yeast. Once the rash gets infected by yeast it becomes bright red and pimply. A bacterial or yeast infection can be differentiated from a mild irritation rash as it is present even in the folds of the baby’s skin where irritation rash is not.

• Plastic Pants: Rash can also be caused by plastic pants that tightly fit over diapers. These pants raise the heat and moisture level in the diaper area, making it a more suitable place for diaper rash to start and germs to grow.

How do I control and prevent diaper rash?

The most important factor in aiding the healing of diaper rash is to keep your baby’s diaper area clean, cool and dry. Practice the following healing and preventive measures to reduce the chance of your baby developing rash.

• Change Diapers Promptly: Keep checking your baby’s diaper frequently and change it as soon as it gets wet so that his skin is not exposed to the moisture and ammonia for a long time.

• Clean the Diaper Area: Whenever you change his diaper make sure to clean the diaper area well. Use plain, not hot water, with or without a mild perfume-free soap. Do not use wipes that contain alcohol or fragrance and make sure the baby’s diaper are is completely dry before putting on a new diaper. Do not scrub his bottom with a towel. Scrubbing can irritate the skin. Pat him dry or leave to air-dry.

• Air-time: Giving your baby some diaper-free time always helps with rash. The most appropriate time, when there is least chance of messy incidents, is right after his bowel movement.  You can also lay him on a big towel and engage in playing with him while he is bare-bottomed.

• Avoiding Plastic: Rash can also be caused by over tightening the diaper. Keep it a little loose so that the diaper area can breathe. You can also use a larger sized diaper for this purpose. Avoid using diapers with plastic edges or plastic pants that fit over diapers as they trap in the heat and moisture.

• Washing Cloth Diapers Thoroughly: If you are using cloth diapers, washing them thoroughly and keeping them clean is very important. Soak heavily soiled cloth diapers before washing them and use hot water to wash them. Use a mild detergent and skip fabric softeners as they may contain fragrances that could irritate your baby’s skin. Double rinse your baby’s diapers if he already has a diaper rash or is prone to developing diaper rash. You can also put half a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle to get rid of alkaline irritants.

• Creams & Ointments: Use creams with zinc-oxide and petroleum at every diaper change to keep the moisture from reaching your baby’s skin. Some steroid creams can also be used but never apply them without consultation with a doctor.

• Wash Your Hands Thoroughly: After changing your baby’s diaper, wash your hands thoroughly every time to avoid the spreading of bacteria to other parts of the baby’s body or to your other children.

• Avoid Cornstarch or Talcum-powder: Both these products are not recommended for diaper rash. Talcum powder can get into the baby’s lungs and cornstarch makes a yeast infected rash worse.

When do I call the doctor?

Diaper rash is usually not a serious condition and it can be treated by following the simple home remedies suggested above. However, sometimes the diaper rash gets worse or persists for longer and you need to consult with a doctor. If your baby has the following symptoms, he needs professional medical attention. Do not delay taking him to see your pediatrician.

• The rash has appeared on the baby’s skin in the first six weeks.
• The rash seems to be infected.
• Pimples and small ulcers are formed.
• The baby is suffering from fever.
• The baby isn’t eating as he usually does or appears to be losing weight.
• The rash spreads to areas outside the diaper, such as arms, face or scalp.
• The rash persists for more than one week even though you have tried the home remedies listed above.

Cloth diapers or disposable diapers?

Parents often have this question, whether they should use cloth or disposable diapers. As far as diaper rash is concerned, there is no convincing evidence in favor of either. Some doctors suggest that cloth diapers are better as they do not hold too much moisture and allow more air to pass. Some suggest that disposable diapers are better as they are more absorbent and keep the baby’s skin drier. So it is a parent’s call which kind to use. If you use disposable diapers make sure to check if that brand suits your baby. Change and try another if a certain brand doesn’t seem to work out. If you use cloth diapers make sure to wash and clean them thoroughly as suggested earlier.

In both cases, the most important thing is that you check your baby’s diaper frequently and change it as soon as it gets wet and keep the baby’s bottom as clean and as dry as possible.

Heat rash is a mild skin condition often suffered by babies when they get over heated. It is also known as prickly heat or miliaria. Parents often worry if their child is in pain because of heat rash. It is not a serious condition and not painful but it can get very itchy if proper measures are not taken. Even though the condition is not serious itself it is an indicator of the fact that your child’s body is too hot. If you do not take immediate action to cool him down, other more serious conditions like heat exhaustion, heat stroke or dehydration might take place.

What is heat rash?

Heat rash appears on a baby’s skin as hundreds of tiny pink or red eruptions, each surrounding a pore. Sometimes they resemble tiny water blisters. The rash usually occurs on the baby’s cheeks, neck, shoulders, skin creases, diaper area and wherever clothes fit him snuggly. Although heat rash is more common is hot and humid climate, it can also occur in cold weather if the child is over heated due to heavy clothing.

How is heat rash caused?

Heat rash is caused by excessive sweating and a hindrance in the passage of that sweat out of the skin. The sweat glands normally release sweat through the duct onto the skin’s surface. When perspiration cannot reach the skin’s surface because of folds of skin or tight clothing, the sweat may break through the walls of the ducts and become trapped inside the internal layer of skin, causing inflammation. This is known as heat rash. Babies and younger children are more likely to get heat rash because their sweat glands are not fully developed yet.

How can heat rash be treated?

Most heat rashes clear up themselves in a few days. If it persists for longer, seems to be getting worse and is not responding to medicine, consult you baby’s doctor. Usually the baby can be relieved of the rash in the following methods:

• Avoid heat: Foremost, it is important to get rid of what causes the rash; heat. Move to a more airy place if you are indoors. In outdoor areas look for a cooler and shadier place and try to get the child some rest time if the rash is being caused by him running around in a hot and humid weather.
• Avoid heavy clothing: If a baby starts to get very hot and develops heat rash remove his clothing if possible. If not then dress him in lighter clothes. Always opt for cotton and natural fibers instead of nylon or polyester which trap heat. When a baby has developed heat rash try to give him as much nappy-free time as possible.
• Keeping the skin cool: To directly cool the affected area of the baby’s skin give the baby a cool bath. After a bath, let the skin air-dry and do not use towels, they can cause friction and irritation with the rash. Like a little nappy-free time, allowing the child some nude time also quickens the healing process.
• Applying cream: Use calamine lotion directly on the baby’s skin taking special care to avoid the eyes. You can also use a hydrocortisone cream if your doctor advises so for a severe rash. Avoid using any other cream or lotion on the baby’s skin as it traps moisture and makes the rash worse.

Some important things to remember about heat rash are that when adopting the above ways to cool down your baby’s body temperature, keep an eye out for it. The baby might get chilly and need to be warmed up again. To avoid heat rash, make sure your child is wearing light clothes whenever you venture outdoors in a hot and humid climate. Clean the sweat prone areas with wet wipes to avoid clogging of the pores by excessive sweat. Heat rash can also be caused by fever. If your baby has fever, in addition to following these above steps investigate into and treat the baby’s fever which is the real cause of the rash. Remember, heat rash is caused by fever but fever is not caused by heat rash.

Before buying a stroller it is important to look for features mentioned in this article. However, the foremost of your concerns should be a stroller’s safety features. These days strollers are much safer than they used to be. However, due to unsafe features, poor manufacturing quality and parents’ carelessness, thousands of children die or get injured in stroller accidents every year. By following the tips given below you can ensure that you buy a stroller that is safe for your child and use it safely afterwards too.

• Safety Belt: Always purchase a stroller that has a safety belt with a crotch strap and get into the habit of using it whenever you put your baby in the stroller. Infants might not seem very active but using a safety belt is always a good measure because it saves the baby from many accidents. A seatbelt should fit securely around the sides and front of your baby’s waist. For this purpose a buckle design in the form of a T is most suitable. The T is attached to the crotch strap with the right and left waist belt parts buckling into that T separately. The most effective seat belt to restrain a child from climbing out, standing up or slipping out of a stroller is a five point strap that does not only include a crotch strap and waist belt but two straps that fit into the buckle after passing over the baby’s shoulders.Some strollers have belts that fasten across the stroller rather than around the baby, leaving a gap on the sides that might enable a toddler to get out. Always choose a stroller with buckles and restraint systems that secure a child tightly.
• Stroller Balance: Always choose a stroller that has a wide, long wheelbase and a seat that is mounted deep into the frame. This gives it more stability and the stroller resists tipping backwards when pressed lightly on the handles. For ensuring safety, never hang baggage with the stroller handles, it makes it more likely to tip backwards. Do not use a stroller for two children unless it has two seats and is meant to be used so. Putting any baggage over the canopy is also dangerous as it can collapse and cause injury to your child.
• Brakes: When purchasing a stroller make sure you buy one that has the rear wheel locking mechanism that works by engaging sprocket arrangement at the wheels rather than solely relying upon the breaks pressing on the tire. Pressing breaks are generally unreliable because they can permit unwanted rolling of strollers backwards or forwards even when the break is in contact with the tire. But, whichever breaking mechanism the stroller may have, do not rely on it to hold a stroller stationary on an inclined surface.
• Frame Safety: The frame of the stroller should not have any hazardous sharp edges. The small fingers and toes of your child can get stuck and hurt between metal parts and coils of uncovered springs. X-joints, where two tubes of the frame come together, can be particularly dangerous as they can act like scissors and can trap a child’s fingers or toes. Make sure the plastic caps at the ends of the handle are also tight and secured to that the baby does not remove them or choke on them.
• Secondary Safety Latch: When you set up the stroller there is a locking mechanism that keeps your stroller open and prevents it from collapsing. Many strollers have one locking mechanism. Some offer two locks or an automatic safety catch which means that it would take two locks to be released to fold the stroller. So even if the main lock fails, there is a secondary lock to prevent the stroller from folding and causing serious injury to your child.
  Some strollers, especially older models, have unsatisfactory metal slip rings that slide down over the overlapping edges of the frame’s tubing to hold the handle erect. These can easily become mispositioned or slide out of place causing the unit to collapse. These designs of strollers are not recommended from a safety point of view.
• Your Child Near a Stroller:  When your child is near his stroller exercise caution in handling it. Do not open or fold the stroller near him, the scissoring action can trap small fingers and cause injuries. Do not let children play with strollers either. It is dangerous to let children give each other rides in strollers and treat them as toys. Be careful when adjusting the reclining backrest and exposing the bracket which is shaped like a rooster comb when your child is in or around the stroller.
• Your Child Inside a Stroller: Do not try to carry a stroller with your baby in it. There is a big chance of tripping, hurting yourself and your baby. Avoid trying to carry the stroller with the child up or down the stairs. The stroller could easily fall with the child and cause serious injury. When shopping in malls, instead of using the escalator with strollers (in fact strollers are prohibited on escalators in many places) use elevators. Do not reverse the stroller handle while your child is in it. There is a chance that when you move the handle from front to back or back to front your child’s fingers, hands or arms may get caught between them. Always check that the locking mechanism of the handle is securely engaged.
• Using the stroller according to the baby’s age: If your baby is younger than seven months do not let him sleep in a stroller unattended as infants can slip through the leg opening, causing entrapment or possible strangulation. Stop using the stroller when your child weighs more than 36 pounds. A child usually weighs that much around 3 years of age. He then becomes too active or too tall for safely using a stroller.
• For Multiple Occupancy strollers follow the correct entry and exit sequence: For a multiple occupancy stroller (a side-by-side design or tandem style) follow the manufacturer’s instructions for loading and unloading children. If these instructions are not followed there is a chance of misbalance in weight and the stroller becomes more prone to toppling over and causing injury to your child. 
• Never leave your baby unattended in a stroller.

Strollers can help make parents’ lives a lot easier but choosing the right stroller for a baby and then maintaining it for long lasting use requires parents to have adequate knowledge. Strollers have come a long way from their initial heavy-weight designs. There is a wide variety of light-weight and durable strollers available today to suit a child’s needs and lifestyle and it becomes increasingly difficult to make a decision about which one to buy. The following buying tips can help you find the one most suitable for your child.

Buying Tips:

Choosing one stroller out of the several types that you will find in a store can be a hard job. Follow these tips to make the right choice more easily.

• Safety Features: Safety, as with all other baby accessories, is the foremost concern of a parent. First of all, before buying a stroller, ensure that it has adequate safety features for your baby. (For details of these features go to this article.)
• Walk the Stroller: Before buying the stroller you like walk in the store to get a feel of it. Walking a stroller will help you decide whether you are comfortable with or not. For instance the handle height might not be adequate for you. A comfortable handle height is usually at the waist level or a little below. For taller parents or those who have a significant difference in height, strollers with adjustable handle heights are very convenient so that both the parents can walk them easily. Handles covered with foam also add to the comfort of the parent or caregiver.
• Steering Ease: Before making a purchase check that the stroller runs easily and can be pushed in a straight line without veering by using one hand only. A good stroller also does corners smoothly, this is important when strolling a baby in crowds. Usually the bigger the diameter of the wheels the easier it is to negotiate curbs and sidewalk irregularities. Make sure all four tires are aligned. In case of double wheels, all eight wheels should make contact with the floor and rotate when the stroller is in motion. Also try walking the stroller at a fast pace to see if your feet bump against the wheels.
• Weight: When buying a stroller it is importance to keep its weight and folding ability in mind. There are several models of lightweight strollers these days that weigh less than 20 pounds and have the same features as heavyweight strollers. These strollers are also foldable and can easily be stored in a car’s truck for traveling. If you have a smaller car, keep in mind the size of the trunk and make sure the stroller you purchase will fit in the trunk when folded. It is always hard for parents to choose between a plastic or metal stroller. Metal strollers have sturdier frames and last longer. However plastic strollers are lighter in weight. It is a tradeoff between weight and sturdiness and the parent has to decide for him/herself which to buy. Perhaps if the stroller will be used for several children then a metal one would be a good choice. A plastic stroller can be more convenient for parents who travel frequently.
• Convenience Features: For s stroller to be convenient and easy to use there are a number of features that you should look for. Always look for a stroller with an adjustable seat. As your baby grows the inclination of the seat that is comfortable for him changes. So the angle that was comfortable for your six month old baby will not be comfortable for a one year old. A stroller should always have an extra storage area for the baby’s accessories or even parents’ use if he/she goes shopping. Before buying s stroller check that it has a good balance and does not topple over if you hang a baby bag with the handles. A stroller must always be made of a washable fabric as no baby is above making mess. Sooner or later the stroller will get dirty enough to want washing. The stroller must also include a canopy to protect the baby from sunshine or rain.
• Multiple seats: Sometimes when a couple has twins or two children close in age, they need to buy a stroller that can accommodate both. There are strollers available with up to four seats but those are rare. The most common ones with multiple seats are those that have two seats. These seats can be side by side or tandem style. The side-by-side style is appropriate for twins but not for children of different ages as they weigh differently and the heavier side has a chance of toppling over. The tandem style outsells the adjacent seat style because even with children of different weights it has no chance of toppling. Furthermore, the tandem style, when folded, occupies almost the same amount of space as a normal one seat stroller. However, a stroller with adjacent seats occupies double the space.
• Price: Lastly, price is always an important factor in deciding which stroller you want to buy. Remember, expensive strollers are sturdier and have better materials in manufacturing. They last longer. So if the stroller is intended to be used for several children, an expensive one would be a good long-term investment.

Stroller Maintenance

A stroller suffers outdoor wear more than any other baby equipment. Following are tips to keep a stroller clean and prolong its life and usability.

• Park the stroller inside after use and protect it, as much as possible, from dust, dirt and dampness.
• Check the stroller for loose screws, worn out parts or torn stitching from time to time and mend it immediately.
• Clean metal and plastic surfaces regularly with a damp cloth.
• Oil the moving parts of the stroller, for example axles, hinges, joints etc. occasionally with light household oil.
• To clean vinyl upholstery use mild soap and water, rinse thoroughly afterwards and allow it to dry naturally.
• Strong detergents, bleaches, solvents and abrasive cleaners may damage vinyl and fabric.
• Avoid soaking the stroller completely with water as it may soften pressboards and seat pans etc.
• Follow any special cleaning instructions if given by the manufacturers.