Mom’s Little Helpers: Finding The Right Way To Soothe Baby’s Skin
There is nothing quite so heartbreaking as your baby being in distress or pain. It tugs at our heartstrings, the very essence of who we are and overwhelms our desire to protect and care for them.
One of the most common ailments to affect babies are skin problems (http://www.parenting.com/article/5-common-infant-skin-conditions). The reasons are varied, though there’s no doubt that diapers have a significant influence on the issue. Then there is also the fact that their skin is new, not yet used to the harshness of the world, making it more liable to break and turn red.
Watching this happen is upsetting for any parent. You know your child is uncomfortable, yet there is not much you can do about it. You can’t go without diapers nor can you suddenly give their skin a few more years of development to rely on.
There’s such a plethora of information out there to try and handle these problems. It seems everyone has their golden product, the one thing that cleared up their baby’s skin issues. Everyone has opinions on what works and what doesn’t; unfortunately, these frequently contradict one another. So if you’re looking to avoid harsh steroid creams (which you should) and try alternative ways of handling the problem, you might struggle to know where to turn.
Rather than throwing a thousand and one new suggestions at you, I thought it would be more useful to look at the concepts behind these suggestions. Then, you can go through the tips to see what matches up with what you and your baby really need. Here are the things you need to ask yourself when you are given, or choose to read, advice.
“What’s in it for them?”
Admittedly, this is not something you need to ask if it’s your sister, friend or your babysitter making the suggestion – save this skepticism for online. If you find one company or website pushing a singular product as the cure-all, then that’s reason for doubt. Are they focusing in on this one product because it’s as good as they claim? Or are they just pushing this product because they stand to benefit from it finally?
Sites like http://www.babycaremag.com/baby-products/best-laundry-detergent-for-babies/ are far more useful, as they provide a rundown of options rather than obviously pushing an agenda. The truth is there is no perfect product that will solve issues for every person, so look for a broad scope of interest.
“Do they actually know – or do they just want to help?”
Sometimes, people may give advice more to try and console you than because they know what they’re talking about. If they make a random suggestion such as: “I’ve heard coconut oil might work for that?” then that’s more likely what they’re doing.
There’s nothing wrong with this, of course – it’s good that they want to help! But first-hand evidence from parents who have experienced the same issue is more valuable. Always focus on someone’s individual experience rather than a general suggestion of what might be beneficial for skin issues. Baby skin is a whole different kettle of fish to a normal skin complaint, after all.
