Thursday, September 10, 2009

Wash your hands

The entire time you spend with your baby is composed of touching, holding, feeding, swaying, and slightly tapping him to sleep, carrying, and cuddling him. How can you not? He's just an adorable little angle with your husband's nose, your eyes, your mom's skin color, and your dad's hair all rolled into one. Since most of these activities require you or your husband to make contact with your baby, the first rule in raising a healthy, illness-free, clean, and freshly smelling baby is to wash your hands before each contact. Especially on the first two weeks of your baby's experience out in the world, bacteria and viruses can easily latch on to the soft, supple skin and small body.

Wash your hands with mild soap under running water for at least a minute before carrying or touching your child. You can easily pass on bacteria or viruses to your baby especially if you have just come from outside the house. Your child's immune system is not yet fully developed, making him extra susceptible to almost all kinds of harmful microorganisms. So it is important that you exercise extra caution in how you handle you child.

Ask everyone, visitors especially, who want to hold you baby to do the same. You may also have a mild liquid antibacterial soap and fresh tissues ready for visitors who want to see you little bundle of joy. Allowing visitors only after six to eight weeks will give your baby ample time to establish her immune system. Be careful not to let your baby come in contact to a sick person too.

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