Visit our Canada siteby Jojie Garcia
When I became a new mom in 2015, it felt like hitting the ground running in a marathon. Suddenly, I had this little human being who depended on me for everything — from nourishment, to daily hygiene and care, to kisses and cuddles and so much more! The most daunting tasks for me then were breastfeeding and bathing my newborn daughter, and I remember asking many questions to the lactation consultant (who helped during those first feeds) and the midwife (who expertly gave my newborn a bath). Their tips made those first weeks manageable instead of totally scary.
MommyMundo and #BabyDovePH know that many new mommies feel this way! It is that understanding that keeps them bringing back Baby Love events that focus on breastfeeding and baby skin care! This past March 13, 2020, Ms. Abby Yabut, a certified lactation counselor, busted breastfeeding myths that persist to this day; and Dra. Krissy Dim-Jamora, the Director of the Philippine Dermatological Society Board of Directors, shared important information on keeping our babies’ skin healthy.
I’ve attended Abby’s breastfeeding seminars before (she was even baby wearing her youngest Zoe in one of them!) and I love how she always presents breastfeeding information within our Filipino context. When she focused on breastfeeding myths this event, a couple of them made me laugh because I definitely heard it from well-meaning family or friends! Abby emphasized how important it is for us mommies to seek reliable and accurate breastfeeding information as our babies’ health and nutrition are at stake. Here are the myths and truths Abby explained in her talk.
Next, Dra. Krissy Dim-Jamora walked us through basic skin care for babies, making bath time fun, and common skin problems of babies that we should look out for. Here are important takeaways!
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Baby skin is made up of smaller cells, hence much thinner and permeableIt absorbs water and other substances faster, including germs and irritants. This is why we should make sure that we clean their bodies thoroughly with water and gentle soap.
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Baby skin absorbs water fast, but loses it fast too! They also have yet to develop the natural moisturizing factor of skin which makes baby skin prone to dryness. A good chunk of their skin hydration comes from their nutrition, and you may supplement it with a baby moisturizer.
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It’s summer time, and we must help them keep their skin safe from the sun! Babies up to 6 months old can’t use sunscreen yet, so make sure that you dress them comfortably with enough covering. When they are ready for sunscreen, choose those with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as they are non-toxic, mineral-based components that sit on top of your child’s skin and physically block sun rays off.
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Make bath time fun for both you and your baby! Prepare bath paraphernalia and their change of clothes prior to bath time, so you can keep focus on your baby as you bathe them. Keep them close to you at all times and for utmost safety, never leave your baby alone in their bathing space. Follow a consistent bathing sequence: wash them from head to toe, rinse quickly, dry and swaddle them, apply hypoallergenic lotion to lock in moisture, and dress them.
Finally, here’s a quick cheat sheet of common baby skin problems and what you can do to ease your baby’s discomfort. Don’t forget to consult your pedia-dermatologist if the problem persists!
I hope these reminders from Abby and Dra. Krissy help you in taking care of your baby, day in and day out! See you at our next MommyMundo x #BabyLove event!
About the contributor
Jojie Perocho-Garcia has been an educator for 14 years now. She keeps her quarantine days busy with preschool and high school tutorials, reading, watching Kdramas, and being MamaJie to her husband Jeb and kids Alba (4yo) and Rogo (1yo). You may find her on Instagram and Facebook as @teachmomsy where she shares education tips, parenting reflections, and homeschooling highlights.
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