Top 10 ointments and potions every mom should have on standby
TAKING baby home from the hospital is one thing, but navigating those first few months and coming out a winner is another. A new baby doesn’t just come with coos and giggles — there will be a frustrating cycle of colic, skin rashes, sleepless nights and stuffiness that can turn the most patient parent into a scrooge. And unlike with an older child, you won’t be able to just administer a dose of cough and cold medicine and move on. In fact, many doctors will not prescribe medication for a child under six months unless it’s absolutely essential, so parents will have to try non-medicated ways to treat illnesses like the common cold, which babies will get a lot.
As such, your best bet is to get the below tried and proven essential oils and potions that are used in baby care, and which parents swear by. So stock your baby’s medicine cabinet with:
1. Olive oil
Olive oil is known to help the skin and hair, and massaging your baby’s skin with it will improve hydration. It’s a great moisturiser for baby’s skin, and a few drops can be added to baby’s bath. Olive oil is also good to use for getting rid of cradle cap — it will loosen and soften the scab so you can easily comb it from the hair.
2. Eucalyptus oil
This is one of several essential oils (others include peppermint and lavender) that can help when your baby has a cold and has trouble sleeping. You can place a little bit on the crib linen, or add a few drops to your humidifier. If you don’t have a humidifier, add a few drops of the oil to a bowl of hot water and place it under baby’s crib. The steam will release the scent into the room, and it will help to relieve stuffiness and open the baby’s air passages.
3. Zinc oxide
Many diaper rash creams contain zinc oxide. This works to repel water from the skin and create a safe barrier for healing.
4. Hydrocortisone cream
Hydrocortisone cream is often used to help reduce the inflammation, redness and itchiness of eczema, heat rash, and other rashes on your child’s skin. It can also be used with topical calamine lotion for insect bites and rashes.
5. Gas drops/gripe water
Gripe water or gas drops is a must-have for those colicky first few weeks. Gas drops are actually a lifesaver for the parent whose formula-fed child experiences colic and gassiness from ingesting milk protein in the first few weeks after birth.
6. Petroleum jelly
This can be used as a barrier cream to repel water and prevent diaper rash. Slather it on the diaper area at each diaper change, and especially at bedtime if you expect to not be changing the baby for a few hours.
7. Acetaminophen
Non-aspirin, sugar-free liquid pain relievers (acetaminophen and if six months or older, ibuprofen) will help when baby has pain and fever from vaccinations. Always keep a bottle at home.
8. Moisturising cream
Have an eczema-relief moisturising cream on hand for when baby has any irritation — from eczema to heat rash.
9. Saline drops
Saline drops are used to loosen mucus before you use the bulb syringe when baby has a cold. This can be bought over the counter.
10. Baby-safe insect repellent
A baby-safe mosquito repellent is one of those must-haves, especially in the current climate where the rains will cause new mosquito infestations. Ensure that you get an organic repellent that will not irritate your baby’s skin.
