4 Things to avoid with our baby

As parents, we always want the best for our children. There are things that, although they have been done “always”, are worth rethinking. It is about reflecting on whether we are really doing well or not. In raising children, the parental instinct can help us a lot to make the best decisions.

1. Avoid carrying it in your arms or carrying it

A very frequent "advice" from grandmothers, friends and family is "do not take the child who is going to get used to it." There is nothing worse than mom when they tell you not to do something that really comes out of you, from the most instinctive and that is, why not say it, the most pleasant: the The physical contact it is as necessary for physical and emotional development as food. And both one and the other are on demand, that is, they are offered depending on what the child needs or, in the case of physical contact, what the mother also needs to develop her role, her instinct and strengthen the bond. We can say that there is no excess limit, but there are negative repercussions if this contact is scarce. Babies should be held, carried and hugged, first, because they need it and, second, because the enjoyment is infinite for parents. In addition, the time of this intense need for contact lasts very little and, sadly, it never returns. That's right, the baby stage is not infinite, it is limited, short but intense. That seed of the mother-child contact strengthens the bond between the two, favors and stimulates the and emotionally nurtures mother and child. Backpacks and handkerchiefs can help us a lot. Of course, we must bear in mind that we should not carry or carry the baby in our arms if we are cooking or carrying dangerous things, such as toxic or hot substances.

2. Shake the baby

Babies are very fragile and sudden movements can cause injury, sometimes serious. Some people think that shaking can calm the baby, others even believe that they may like it and others can do it because they become impatient and get carried away by nervousness. It is a very dangerous practice that is classified as a form of child abuse since it can cause brain and internal eye injuries that are known as "Shaken baby syndrome". It is the most common cause of serious head injuries in infants, before one year. It is a phenomenon that occurs more frequently in children under six months but can also be seen in older babies, when they are played recklessly, throwing them up. The neck muscles of infants and children under the age of five are too weak to adequately control head weight. If they are shaken and the head jerks rapidly back and forth, it causes the brain is hit against the wall of the skull and may suffer injuries and eye injuries with their consequent sequelae.

3. Leave him alone in the car

Leaving young children in the car is never a good option as they expose themselves to serious dangers to their health. Sometimes you may think that nothing happens on a quick errand, but that's not the case at all. The most serious situations are forgetfulness of babies in the car that, on occasion, end with a sad denouement. Leaving children in the car is like leaving them in an oven. The temperature inside a vehicle it increases a lot in relation to the outside, especially if the sun shines on it. Car windows act like a greenhouse, catching light and the interior heats up quickly. For example, if the outside temperature is 27ºC, the inside can reach 55ºC in just 10 minutes. In this way, babies' body temperature can rise to 41ºC quickly. Such a high body temperature can cause a heatstroke (headache and vomiting), brain damage, dehydration, seizures, or cardiac arrest. To avoid "forgetting" always remember to check the back or even leave your purse, house keys or coat behind to force your attention to be focused on the rear seats before leaving the vehicle. It is also important when you get home to lock the car and not leave it within the reach of the little ones. As children grow up, as part of driver education, we have to explain the dangers of being trapped inside the car.

4. Abuse of colognes and cosmetics

Babies do not need to have them applied creams or perfumes daily. In fact, many components of cosmetics (even if they are formulated, theoretically, for babies) are toxic and their potential toxicity it is absorbed by the delicate skin of babies or orally, due to the tendency to suck the areas within reach. They should be used rationally and avoid abuse, since its use beyond hygienic purposes (number of products or number of daily uses) can be detrimental to the baby. The reasons to be very aware of what we apply to our children on the skin (moisturizers, oils, soaps or diaper creams) are:

• Baby skin is a lot more permeable than that of the adult since its horny layer is thinner.
• The organs are more immature, more sensitive to toxins and the ability to metabolize some absorbed components is more difficult.
• The diaper area it is permanently in occlusion and moist on many occasions, which favors absorption.

We must therefore opt for products that are as natural as possible, avoid applying mineral oils (derived from petroleum) and replace them with almond oil, for example. The use of wipes should be occasional and, if they are used, choose the most natural ones. The colonies should not be put directly on the skin (we can occasionally put them on clothing). The use of creams should be done when necessary, that is, when and not daily. Some ingredients that we must detect in the containers to avoid applying on the skin of babies are: PEGs, parabens, phenoxyethanol, ethylene oxide, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, phthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, BDP, DUB), the SLS / SLES, the DEA, TEA, and MEA, and the word fragrance or perfume.

• Babies should pick up, carry and hug, first, because they need it and, second, because the enjoyment is infinite for parents.
• However, shake the baby It is a very dangerous practice that is classified as a form of child abuse since it can cause brain and internal eye injuries that are known as “shaken baby syndrome”.
• Babies do not need to have them applied creams or perfumes daily. In fact, many components of cosmetics (even if they are formulated, theoretically, for babies) are toxic and their potential toxicity is absorbed through the delicate skin or orally.

Resource: Pediatric specialist Advance Medical collaborating physician.