Chennai: Babies are prone to infections as their immune system is still developing. Therefore, parents should take care and ensure that their baby is protected from infection-causing germs and bacteria.
Talking to new moms about the importance of maintaining hygiene, Dr Pratibha Babshet, Ayurveda expert, The Himalaya Drug Company, says, “maintaining hygiene helps reduce the chance of your baby falling ill due to the germs and virus s/he is exposed to every day. So, to ensure baby’s safety, parents should maintain good hygiene, especially mothers, since baby spends a lot of time with her.”
She also recommends parents to wash hands regularly, as hands carry germs and bacteria that often cause common cold, flu, and other infections. “Washing your hands properly and regularly for a minimum of 20 seconds with water and soap is essential to remove harmful bacteria and germs. Wash your hands before feeding your baby, after changing a nappy, after touching pets or any surface. It is equally important to encourage your toddler to wash hands. Always keep a sanitiser with you, just in case you don’t have the option to wash your hands,” adds Dr. Pratibha.
Parents should keep in mind to clean the surfaces with disinfectants because baby comes in contact with floor surfaces and almost everything in the house while playing or crawling. Bathing is also an important aspect when it comes to hygiene.
“A good bath is necessary to keep your baby clean and tidy. Make sure you replace your baby’s bath towel every 3-4 months. It is equally important for the mother to maintain basic hygiene, which will prevent germs from passing on to baby,” says Dr Pratibha.
Highlighting the need for hygiene when it comes to day-to-dayroutine, she further advises new moms tochange baby’s diaperevery 2-3 hours and clean or wipe baby’s bottom, wash baby clothes regularly and separately from adult clothes since germs can be transmitted from those to baby’s clothes.